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Gianforte-backed tax bills set for first hearing in Montana Legislature

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Gianforte-backed tax bills set for first hearing in Montana Legislature


HELENA — Gov. Greg Gianforte has made tax reduction a central a part of his funds plan, touting proposals for $1 billion in property and earnings tax reductions. Now, a number of the key concepts in that plan are set for his or her first hearings within the Montana Legislature.

Earlier this month, Gianforte held a information convention the place he referred to as on lawmakers to take fast motion on tax reduction proposals.

“In the end, this isn’t the federal government’s cash, it’s the cash of hard-working Montanans who earn it,” he stated. “We’re dedicated to placing a refund in Montanans’ pockets by means of everlasting, long-term tax reduction and rebates.”

Three of the governor’s priorities could have committee hearings on Tuesday. The Senate Taxation Committee will hear testimony on Senate Invoice 121, sponsored by Sen. Becky Beard, R-Elliston. It might make two giant modifications: dropping the highest earnings tax charge from 6.5% to five.9%, beginning in 2024; and greater than tripling the state earned earnings tax credit score for lower-income households.

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Throughout the 2021 legislative session, lawmakers handed a invoice that can scale back the variety of state earnings tax brackets from seven to 2 as of 2024. The 2 charges had been set to be 4.7% and 6.5%.

In line with an evaluation from the Governor’s Workplace of Finances and Program Planning, decreasing the highest charge – which leaders say most Montanans pay – would cut back state earnings tax collections by $127.8 million the primary yr and $150.6 million a yr by 2027.

The state earned earnings tax credit score relies on a federal program for low- and moderate-income households. Presently, Montana permits folks eligible for the federal credit score to say 3% of that quantity from the state. SB 121 would enhance that to 10%. The governor’s funds workplace estimated the change would increase the claimed credit from $4.7 million a yr to $15.8 million a yr.

“Montanans are struggling to make ends meet and have been paying extra earnings taxes than the state must fund important providers,” Beard stated Monday in an announcement from Senate Republican management. “This can be a frequent sense conservative strategy, giving Montanans a increase by completely reducing the taxes they pay.”

The Home Taxation Committee will maintain hearings Tuesday on two different proposals. Home Invoice 222, sponsored by Rep. Tom Welch, R-Dillon, would supply a property tax rebate of as much as $1,000 every of the following two years on a Montana property proprietor’s main residence inside the state. Gianforte stated that might return about $500 million to taxpayers.

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Home Invoice 212, from Rep. Josh Kassmier, R-Fort Benton, would vastly enhance the exemption for Montana’s enterprise tools tax. Presently, companies should pay a tax on all kinds of kit, from farm implements to mining and oil and fuel equipment to business furnishings and fixtures. Smaller companies are exempted if their whole tools values lower than $300,000. HB 212 would increase that restrict to $1 million.

The Legislature already elevated the exemption from $100,000 to $300,000 within the 2021 session, and Gianforte stated these will increase would hold greater than 5,000 companies, farms and ranches from paying any enterprise tools tax.

Gianforte has additionally proposed different tax modifications, together with a toddler tax credit score and a credit score for adoptions. Nevertheless, his proposals aren’t the one concepts for tax reductions.

Final week, the Home Appropriations Committee held a listening to on Home Invoice 192, from Rep. Invoice Mercer, R-Billings. It might put aside $250 million for property tax rebates – a single $1,000 cost in comparison with HB 222’s two funds – however one other $650 million for particular person earnings tax rebates. People would obtain as much as $1,250, and married {couples} would stand up to $2,500.

Mercer instructed MTN it made sense to dedicate a number of the surplus to paying again particular person earnings taxpayers, since that’s largely the place the excess got here from. He stated utilizing $900 million for rebates would nonetheless depart properly over $1 billion accessible for lawmakers to make use of for different wants. He stated as a result of his invoice was utilizing one-time-only funds, he would not consider it could intervene with a long-term lower within the earnings tax charge.

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Moreover, Senate GOP leaders are highlighting one other invoice, from Sen. Greg Hertz, R-Polson, that might simplify the state’s company earnings tax calculations to make use of a single issue primarily based on gross sales.

With extra tax proposals coming, it’s clear determining simply how a lot state income to offer again to taxpayers – and the way to do it – can be an enormous debate proper by means of the top of the session.





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Inside the high-stakes race for a Montana Senate seat

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Inside the high-stakes race for a Montana Senate seat


Inside the high-stakes race for a Montana Senate seat – CBS News

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It’s not just the presidency that will be decided on Election Day. Voters will also decide which party controls the Senate. Right now, Democrats hold a one-seat edge, but the party is defending 23 seats. The seat most at-risk is that of Montana Democrat Jon Tester, who is facing a stiff challenge from Republican Tim Sheehy. Here’s what to know about the race.

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Montana man charged with murder in brutal campground killing – Times of India

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Montana man charged with murder in brutal campground killing – Times of India


This is an AI-generated image, used for representational purposes only.

BOZEMAN: A 41-year-old Montana man was charged with murder Friday in a brutal slaying at a remote campsite that had been initially reported as a possible bear mauling by people who found the victim’s body.
The suspect allegedly told authorities that he arrived at the campsite northeast of Big Sky, Montana, on Oct 10 intending to stay the night but found it occupied by 35-year-old Dustin Kjersem.
Kjersem, who didn’t know the suspect, welcomed him to the campsite and offered him a beer, according to Gallatin County Sheriff Dan Springer.
But sometime later the suspect driven by an unknown motive hit Kjersem with a piece of wood, stabbed him in the neck with a screwdriver and hit him with an axe, Springer said.
The victim’s girlfriend and another friend found his body Oct 12 and reported it as a possible bear attack. It turned into a homicide investigation after wildlife agents found no sign of a bear in the area.
After DNA found on a beer can from the campsite was matched with the suspect’s DNA, he was tracked down this week and arrested in Butte, Montana, Springer said.
He was being held on $1.5 million bail, according to sheriff’s department records.





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The annual Montana Millionaire drawing sells out in record time as players try their luck

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The annual Montana Millionaire drawing sells out in record time as players try their luck


Montana Lottery players lined up for a chance to win $1 million on Friday morning.

The lottery announced that ticket sales for the annual Montana Millionaire drawing would start at 5:30 a.m on Nov. 1.

The lottery game had 500,000 tickets available for purchase. Within three hours, tickets were sold out.  

“The demand for Montana Millionaire this year has been absolutely incredible,” Bob Brown, the director of the Montana Lottery, said in a statement. “We knew tickets would sell fast, but under a 3-hour sellout for 500,000 tickets is truly unprecedented.” 

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On the lottery’s Instagram page, players are seen in long lines for a chance to try their luck at the million-dollar game.  Only four people can win the grand prize.

To have a chance at winning a prize, interested players paid $20 to play the game, the lottery said.  

“The Montana Millionaire lottery is back, and this year is the biggest yet!” Three Amigos Mexican Restaurant & Cantina, a retailer for the Montana Millionaire tickets, wrote in a Facebook post. “With 500,000 tickets up for grabs and FOUR massive $1 million grand prizes, 2024 could be your lucky year.” 

Montana Millionaire players could also win ‘Quarter Million Monday’

Players will also have a chance at winning $250,000 in the “Quarter Million Monday” drawing on Dec. 2, the lottery said.  

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All players that purchased a ticket on Nov. 1 are eligible for the “Quarter Million Monday” drawing on Dec. 2 and the “Grand Prize” drawing on Dec. 26, the lottery said.

Montana Millionaire game sold out quickly in 2023  

The Montana Lottery said that tickets for the 2023 game sold out in five hours.  

In 2024, the lottery added 120,000 more tickets for players to purchase.  

What are the odds of winning Montana Millionaire?  

The overall odds of winning a prize in Montana Millionaire are 1 in 73.5, the lottery said.  

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Here is a table that shows the odds of winning for each drawing.  

Can’t see the table? Click here to view it.  

The lottery said that the odds for the “Quarter Million Monday” drawing Prize will depend on how many tickets are sold before the drawing deadline.

How to play Montana Millionaire

To play Montana Millionaire you must purchase a $20 ticket. Tickets can be purchased at any Montana Lottery retailer (i.e. convenience stores, bars/taverns, grocery stores, and casinos), the lottery said. In addition, players can purchase tickets at all of the lottery’s self-service terminals throughout the state.  

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Unlike traditional lottery games, Montana Millionaire does not have a play slip or numbers for players to choose, the lottery explains. Instead, every player that buys a ticket will be given a number that ranges from 000001 to 500000.

The deadline for the limited-ticket game was originally set for Dec. 25 at midnight, the lottery said. However, once tickets are sold out they are gone.

Ahjané Forbes is a reporter on the National Trending Team at USA TODAY. Ahjané covers breaking news, car recalls, crime, food recalls, health, lottery, and public policy stories. Email her at aforbes@gannett.com. Follow her on Instagram, Threads and X (Twitter) @forbesfineest.





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