Busse announces property tax plan, slams task force

COLSTRIP, Mont. — Montana Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ryan Busse unveiled his property tax plan Thursday and unloaded on current Gov. Greg Gianforte.

Busse laid out a three-step proposal virtually, along with lieutenant governor candidate Raph Graybill and former Democratic Gov. Brian Schweitzer, just hours after Gianforte’s property tax task force released its written report.

Busse's plan calls for a cut to the tax rate, lowering taxes and eliminating red tape.

The three men focused on the Republican-controlled legislature’s decision not to lower the tax rate for residential properties last session. A Montana Department of Revenue memorandum from 2022 estimated rates would need to be reduced from 1.35% to .94% to keep tax rates the same.

Busse also took aim at the task force, which recommends levies be passed by 60% of voters instead of a simple majority.

“Between his raising property taxes, which they just did, and this ardent, overt attempt to make it difficult on local governments to do what the people of a community want to do, that’s about as anti-local control as it gets.” Busse said.

The task force is “a wasteful diversion at best,” the Democratic candidate said, claiming in many cases taxes would go up under the group’s newly unveiled plan.