Great Falls, MT – At a small business in Great Falls, Governor Greg Gianforte on Mar 5th, touted his tax cut proposals to deliver meaningful property tax relief to Montana homeowners and small businesses with the Homestead Rate Cut.

“Through the Homestead Rate Cut, we can deliver permanent property tax relief to provide more certainty in the family and business budget,” Gov. Gianforte said. “We must deliver meaningful relief for Montanans who live and work here. They’re counting on us to get this done, and we should.”

Founded in 1946, Central Plumbing, Heating, Excavation is a fourth-generation Montana family business that employs over 170 Montanans and offers residential and commercial applications for mechanical design, plumbing, piping systems fabrication, HVAC, and excavation services to its customers in Bozeman and Great Falls.

At the Great Falls facility, the governor held a press conference with CEO Pat Bahnmiller to talk about the impact of the property tax cut proposal for small businesses.

The Homestead Rate Cut, recommended by the governor’s diverse, bipartisan Property Tax Task Force, is projected to lower property taxes for Montana homeowners by 15% and small businesses by 18%. According to estimates, it will directly reduce property taxes for more than 215,000 primary residences, more than 32,000 small businesses, and provide indirect relief for over 130,000 renters.

“At Central, we pride ourselves on providing a quality product for a customer that’s gives them the best result. And we take more pride in the fact that the individual that work here can support their families,” Central Plumbing, Heating, Excavation CEO Pat Bahnmiller said. “At a time when families are reeling from inflation and being squeezed from additional property tax, the relief you’re offering would be huge. It’s a good idea.”

Last week, the House passed the Homestead Rate Cut, House Bill 231, with bipartisan support. This week, the Senate referred the bill to the Senate Taxation Committee.

Highlighting the impact of the governor’s efforts to increase the business equipment tax exemption, Pat added, “That tax has been squeezing us for a while, so we are really in favor of that.”

The governor’s budget expands the business equipment tax exemption from $1 million to $3 million, eliminating the business equipment tax burden for more than 700 small businesses, farms, and ranches. This increase comes on the heels of the governor’s first-term investments that eliminated over 5,000 small businesses, farms, and ranches from the business equipment tax payroll.

Since taking office, the governor and the legislature have worked together to enact a pro-jobs, pro-family agenda.

Under Gov. Gianforte’s leadership, more Montanans are working now more than ever before, unemployment remains near historic record lows, the state has experienced record job and business creation, and wages have grown at the second fastest rate in the nation.