our policies
Proposals
1
Tiered Homestead Exemption:
Exempt 25%-75% of property value from taxation for residential properties at or below the area median home value in a given county. This reverses the disproportionate tax burden on Montana residents while evening out tax responsibility across Montana homeowners, industry, and corporations.
MUST’s homestead exemption differs from other proposals in that it creates a percentage-based exemption for all homes below the median value by county. It offers greater relief than existing proposals and alleviates pressure on low and middle value property owners across the state.
What is a homestead exemption? Learn more >
2
High Value Home Property Tax Rate Adjustment:
In present law, the tax rate on residential properties is 1.35%. For homes valued above $1.5 million, the rate is 1.89%.
This proposal raises the property tax rate on properties valued over $1.5 million ensuring that the owners of luxury homes in Montana pay their fair share.
3
Return Lodging Tax revenue to Montana homeowners and renters:
Reallocate existing Lodging Tax revenue from hotels, vacation rentals, and campgrounds from tourism promotion programs to property tax relief. This ensures that tourists in Montana pay for the infrastructure they use and Montana residents pay for.
MUST proposes expanding eligibility requirements for Montana’s existing Elderly Homeowner and Renter tax credit by eliminating the age requirement and lowering the income threshold. This provides an existing pathway for lodging tax revenue to alleviate property tax burden for renters and homeowners alike.
In FY23, the Lodging Facility Use Tax generated nearly $60 million, of which $35 million went to the Department of Commerce’s programs promoting MT as a tourism destination. The Lodging Sales Tax generated $51 million for the state’s general fund in FY23. Diverting a portion of lodging tax revenue back to infrastructure, housing, and property tax relief in local communities ensures local residents gain from the benefits of tourism rather than bear the burdens.
