Cuts ribbon on Protech Steel facility in Great Falls

GREAT FALLS, MT – At a ribbon cutting for a business expansion in Great Falls, Governor Greg Gianforte on Feb 5th, touted his tax cut proposals to lower the income tax rate most Montanans pay and to deliver immediate property tax relief to Montana homeowners.

“Our tax cuts will help business owners and their hardworking employees keep more of what they work hard to earn and delivering immediate property tax relief,” Gov. Gianforte said. “By reducing the tax burden, workers have more money in their pockets to make ends meet.”

Founded in 2014, Protech Steel is a manufacturer of steel panels, roofing, siding, trim and accessories. Protech Steel serves the western United States and has three facilities in Montana, including in Billings and Helena.

Speaking to employees, contractors, and community members, the governor discussed the impacts of his tax cut proposals on Montanans.

In November, the governor unveiled his Path to Security and Prosperity, the budget for the State of Montana for the next biennium. In it, the governor proposed lowering the income tax rate for hardworking Montanans at every income level and providing property tax relief for Montana homeowners for their primary residence and small businesses through a homestead rate cut.

The homestead rate tax cut, recommended by the governor’s 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.

“Given that our facilities are in some of Montana’s largest cities, our employees feel the pinch of rising property taxes, so these proposals translate to real relief,” Protech Steel CEO Calvin Stoltzfus said.

Stoltzfus added, “One of the things that we deal with is a business is, at the end of the year, if you made something, you cough a lot of it back in taxes. So it's nice to have a governor who understands that we want to try and invest as much of that back into the business - because it's a way for the business to expand, it's a way for us to grow, it's a way for us to meet the needs of our community and also to employ our community that we're proud to be a part of.”

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.

“Thanks to our pro-jobs, pro-family agenda, and the resiliency of Montanans we’re unleashing innovation and spurring success in our businesses, workers, and communities,” the governor concluded.