Governor’s taxes only rose 19% in 2023, while neighbors’ taxes rose more than 70%
And: ‘Nobody said you could keep the change,’ Busse, Graybill say of $47+ million in taxpayer money held by Dept. of Revenue
KALISPELL, Mont. – Why, exactly, does Governor Greg Gianforte pay so much less in property taxes than his next-door neighbor in Bozeman?
That’s the question Ryan Busse and Raph Graybill are asking Gianforte, after highlighting the fact that Gianforte’s property taxes increased only 19 percent in 2023, while his next-door neighbor’s property taxes skyrocketed more than 70 percent.
An emotional video featuring Gianforte’s neighbor is available online here: youtube.com/watch?v=
In a letter sent to Gianforte today, Busse and Graybill, running for Governor and Lieutenant Governor, are asking the governor to “clear things up” for Montanans:
“As a billionaire, it may be difficult for you to understand why it’s so upsetting to your constituents that you pay less while your neighbors pay more,” the candidates wrote. “Why exactly was your 2023 tax bill so much less than your neighbor’s? Is it because your property benefits from any exemptions? If so, what exemptions are they, and how do you justify them?”
Busse and Graybill also noted that according to a new report from the Montana Legislative Fiscal Division (page 3), Gianforte’s Department of Revenue has returned to taxpayers only $144.2 million of the $191.8 million earmarked for property tax rebates by House Bill 816.
“What exactly do you have planned for the remaining $47.6 million that belongs to Montana taxpayers?” Busse and Graybill wrote. “Nobody said you could keep the change.”
Public records show Gianforte’s neighbors paid a staggering $11,683.81 in property taxes in 2023, 70.6 percent more than the $6,848.47 they paid in 2022. Gianforte paid only $7,088.91 in 2023, a 19 percent increase over the $5,947.63 he paid in 2022. Gianforte’s property is 11.4 acres; his neighbor’s property is 10.19 acres.
“Make no mistake, this situation is a direct impact of your failure to relieve Montanans from your skyrocketing residential property taxes,” Busse and Graybill wrote.
The full letter is online HERE and appears below:
March 11, 2024
Governor Greg Gianforte
1320 Manley Road
Bozeman, Montana 59715
Governor Gianforte:
We recently shared a troubling interview with your neighbor, who lives directly across Manley Road from your primary residence in Bozeman. We suspect you’ve seen our video, because your people have been trying to make political hay with it on social media. But in case you haven’t, you should watch it here: youtube.com/watch?v=
As you know, and as public records show, the property tax increase you imposed on Deborah’s property increased by $4,835.34 in 2023, bringing her total property tax bill to a staggering $11,683.81. This is 70.6 percent more than the $6,848.47 Deborah paid in 2022. It’s also $4,160.34 more than the $675 property tax rebate that some—certainly not all—homeowners received in 2023… if they were savvy enough to cut through your red tape and figure out the complex “opt-in” process to get their money back.
Make no mistake, this situation is a direct impact of your failure to relieve Montanans from your skyrocketing residential property taxes.
Worse, while Deborah paid nearly $11,700 in property taxes in 2023, records show you paid only $7,088.91. While Deborah’s property taxes went up more than 70 percent, yours went up only 19 percent—less than the median residential property tax increase of 21 percent—even though your property is just across the road.
As a billionaire, it may be difficult for you to understand why it’s so upsetting to your constituents that you pay less while your neighbors pay more. So to clear things up for your angry constituents, we invite you to answer a few simple questions:
Why exactly was your 2023 tax bill so much less than your neighbor’s? Is it because your property benefits from any exemptions? If so, what exemptions are they, and how do you justify them?
Finally, it appears your Department of Revenue has returned to taxpayers only $144.2 million of the $191.8 million earmarked for property tax rebates by HB816. What exactly do you have planned for the remaining $47.6 million that belongs to Montana taxpayers? Nobody said you could keep the change.
On behalf of the People of Montana, we look forward to your quick and transparent response.
QUICK FACTS:
- Pronunciation: Ryan BUSS’-ee
- Home: Kalispell, Mont.
- Office Sought: Governor of Montana
- Affiliation: Democrat
- Website: busseformontana.com
- X (Twitter): @ryandbusse
- DOB: 2/23/70 (53)
- Occupation: Writer, Consultant, Firearms Expert and Former Executive (Vice President of Sales, Kimber America: 1995-2020)
- Family: Married to Sara for 24 years; two sons: Lander (18) and Badge (15)
- Alma Mater: Bethany College (Kansas)
- Chevy Odometer: 280,000 miles
- Hunting Dogs: Aldo and Teddy
- Bio: Ryan Busse is an author and former firearms executive who helped build the gun company Kimber from Kalispell between 1995 and 2020. Over his 25-year career Busse directed the sales of nearly three million Kimber firearms. His memoir, Gunfight: My Battle Against the Industry that Radicalized America, was published by PublicAffairs (Hachette) in 2021. Busse was born near the Kansas cattle ranch homesteaded by his great-grandfather. He is an avid hunter, angler and champion of public lands, and has held leadership positions with Backcountry Hunters and Anglers and Montana Conservation Voters. Busse and his wife Sara live in Kalispell and have two teenage sons.