Gov. Gianforte, the buck stops with you | Sheila Hogan

Your property taxes are on the ballot this year.

By that, I mean the one Montanan responsible for increasing residential property taxes by as much as 111% is on the ballot: Gov. Greg Gianforte.

Let's not forget: Gianforte and the Republican supermajority in the Legislature inherited a $2.6 billion surplus. Then they ignored the Department of Revenue's recommendations to lower the property tax rate for Montana families.

Gianforte's property tax crisis could have all been avoided. Instead, your property taxes skyrocketed while select industries and corporations, and millionaires and billionaires like the governor got a tax break.

Instead of owning his disastrous policy decisions and fighting for us, Gianforte tried to trick Montana homeowners by creating a do-nothing task force and more red tape.

The governor's task force didn't even recommend cutting property taxes, as Democrat Ryan Busse has. The task force has yet to provide any relief to Montana taxpayers. And instead of cutting taxes, Gianforte forced homeowners to "get some of their own money back" through the tedious and confusing process of applying for a "rebate". This rebate isn't automatic and it often isn't enough to cover Gianforte's tax hike. Many who qualify never even got their money back.

When asked why property taxes are so high and what his administration is doing about the crisis, Gianforte falsely blames local elected leaders. Gianforte has gone so far as to send out taxpayer-funded letters to homeowners blaming cities and counties for his property tax debacle, which prompted Republican leaders to call out the governor for lying.

To add injury to insult, somehow Gianforte's taxes on one of his mansions went down by 7%!

Earlier this year, MTN News investigated Gianforte's property taxes. MTN examined public tax documents of "more than 40 homes" surrounding Gianforte's privately owned mansion (618 Madison Avenue) in Helena, and found that "all but a few saw sizable increases, while the Governor's property decreased by seven percent." What's worse, Gianforte won't tell Montanans how he's somehow scoring a tax break while Montana families are being priced out of their homes and communities.

Increased property taxes have a ripple effect. Tax-strapped homeowners are saying "NO" to school and public safety mill levies, which hurts our public schools and police forces. Hardworking Montanans are tightening their belts, retirees are considering re-entering the workforce, and Montanans are leaving the state because they can't afford to live in Gianforte's Montana.

The buck stops with him.

This November, I'll support Ryan Busse, who has pledged to relieve Montana taxpayers the first day he's in office.

Sheila Hogan is executive director of the Montana Democratic Party. She grew up in Butte and now lives in Helena with her husband, Jim.