Montana
Montanans (still) concerned about housing costs, property taxes, poll says • Daily Montanan
“A whopping” 73% of voters say they don’t believe elected leaders are adequately addressing Montana’s housing crisis, according to poll results released Thursday by left-leaning Middle Fork Strategies.
“Montanans are tired of being priced out of their communities and feeling like the politicians that they elected to represent them are instead giving breaks to big corporations and the wealthy at the expense of working families,” said Brandon DeMars, Middle Fork’s executive director, in a news release.
Findings show Montanans are largely concerned about the same issues, the cost of living and cost of housing, along with inflation, property taxes and public education, Middle Fork said.
But compared to other recent surveys, “pessimism about the direction of the state continues to grow,” said a news release about the poll.
Middle Fork describes itself as a “multi-issue advocacy and research organization” with goals to hold those in power accountable and “empower progressive voices.”
The poll was released on the same day a property tax task force convened by Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte delivered its proposal with ideas for property tax relief for the 2025 Montana Legislature to consider.
In a statement Thursday, Gianforte said his office will do its part to address the crisis in housing.
“While we need the federal government to do its part to fix the inflation it’s caused, we’ll do our part to address the affordability crisis,” Gianforte said. “Getting property taxes under control is one part of it. I know the members of this task force share my commitment to addressing rising property taxes and helping more folks achieve the American dream.”
The poll was conducted by Searchlight Research among 600 likely voters from July 28-Aug. 1, Middle Fork said in its news release. It has a +-4% margin of error.
Searchlight Research describes itself as “a full-service public opinion research firm specializing in electing Democrats at all levels and advancing progressive causes.”
The poll asked questions about support for abortion, the housing crisis, and political preferences for the Montana Legislature, among other topics.
Of voters surveyed, 41% said abortion should be legal and generally available; 15% said regulations are necessary, but “it should remain legal in most circumstance.”
Also, 31% said abortion should be legal “only in the most extreme cases, such as to save the life of the woman are in the cases of rape or incest,” the poll said. And 10% said abortion should be illegal.
Middle Fork said the findings on abortion match trends in other research.
“Additionally, an overwhelming majority (83%) favor keeping in vitro fertilization, or IVF, treatment legally available to everyone, underscoring the strong disapproval of proposals to restrict or ban it,” Middle Fork said.
Abortion is legal in Montana because it is protected through privacy in the Montana Constitution and the Montana Supreme Court’s decision in Armstrong vs. State of Montana.
However, a constitutional amendment is slated to be on the ballot this year to protect reproductive rights including abortion.
The poll also found 57% of voters surveyed don’t believe public education is adequately funded. It found 14% strongly agree that it is properly funded.
Generally, the poll also said 57% of voters believe the state is “on the wrong track” compared to 36% who say Montana is going in the right direction — and 52% who said Montana was on the wrong track five months ago.
In 2023, Republicans held a supermajority in the Montana Legislature, and the poll shows most voters still would support a generic Republican for office. It found 50% of voters would support a Republican over a Democrat for the legislature, and 44% would support a Democrat.
Republicans are expected to lose seats in November but retain a majority. Gianforte is also up for re-election but has been far ahead in other polls against Democratic Ryan Busse, according to a couple of surveys posted on 538 including one funded by the Montana GOP.
The Middle Fork poll also showed the following:
- 85 percent oppose cuts to Social Security benefits.
- 74 percent oppose the creation of a sales tax in Montana.
- 73 percent favor reauthorization of the state’s Medicaid expansion program.
- 66 percent oppose legislation allowing tax dollars to be taken away from local public schools and given to private charter schools.
At the headwaters of the Clark Fork River, Superfund cleanup and aging irrigation equipment have broken up habitat for native trout and caused populations to plummet.
Now, a partnership of conservation groups and government agencies plans to reconnect isolated fish habitat from Deer Lodge to Butte.
About 8 miles east of Deer Lodge, Casey Hackathorn, Montana State Director for Trout Unlimited, gestures at an old pin and plank diversion dam. During low water flows it creates an impenetrable barrier for trout trying to move upstream to spawn.
“This one is pretty symbolic of the kind of problem we have at multiple sites here,” Hackathorn says.
This is one of four diversion dams set to be replaced thanks to $4 million in federal grants. The money was largely allocated through the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
Once the dams are replaced, nearly 30 miles of river habitat will be connected. Allowing unimpeded access to spawning grounds
“It’s basically a generational opportunity to really fix this aging infrastructure for people and for fish,” Hackathorn says.
A few hundred yards upstream offers a glimpse at what the improved system will look like. A six-inch tall net diverts water into a spinning pump that carries it to irrigation ditches. This new diversion structure is so small you can barely see it from the water’s edge, and allows fish to pass through it year round.
Hackathorn hopes the improvements will be a boon for fish, anglers, and anyone else who wants to get out on the water: “The long term goal is to have a fully restored watershed, and improved fishery, and we anticipate people wanting to recreate here.”
The grassy lawn outside the Flathead Fairgrounds’ Trade Center occasionally turns into a steer spa.
Competitors gathered Wednesday morning hours before they were set to walk their calf before a judge to wash, blow-dry and apply adhesive to the animal’s hair, making them look their best. It’s called fitting the calf, Brady Boll said.
The process of raising and showing an animal is integral to the Northwest West Montana Fair, where hundreds of young people — often through 4-H or FFA — gather after months of hard work in hopes of winning a blue ribbon.
“It’s not just a big part of the fair though,” said 18-year-old Boll. “It’s a big part of my life.”
Boll, a graduate of Flathead High School, has been showing steers for the past eight years. This year, her steer, Stetson — with a filled-out belly and a black coat — won grand champion.
Showing an animal at the fair teaches a kid, early on, how to take constructive criticism and apply it to their lives, she said. Boll looks forward to taking those lessons and applying them to her work at a private trade school in the future.
“Any kid that goes through 4-H or FFA makes the world a better place,” she said.
Boll stood outside of the Trade Center early Wednesday morning, washing Stetson and preparing to show him in front of Sierra Meyers, the judge of the beef show, who is also judging other events this year.
There are two main aspects for judges to look for when it comes to steers, Meyers said. The first of those is showmanship, or a judgement based on the individual showing the animal themselves. Things like maintaining eye contact and intentionally setting the animal up well are good things.
The second is how marketable the steer is. Muscle equates to meat, Meyers said, so the more muscle the better.
One of the coolest aspects of the fair’s showmanship events is the advocation for agriculture, according to Kaitlyn Bennett, the beef and dairy superintendent of the fair. It is sentimental knowing that the kids today are the upcoming generation of agriculture, she said.
Ryder Clouse, a 15-year-old student at Flathead High School, was also preparing his steer outside of the Trade Center. This year is Clouse’s third year showing steers; he previously would bring pigs to show at the fair. Every year, however, he was drawn to bovines, and now gets opportunities to raise them.
“It’s been an adventure,” Clouse said.
Genetics also play a big role in the success of showing, said Carly Tranel with her steer Alan.
“My favorite thing about him is his conformation and his genetics,” Tranel, 17, said on Wednesday. Conformation is the desirable muscular and skeletal structure of an animal.
Tranel, who is part of Glacier Stars 4-H, started showing animals when she was 8 years old and has shown steers for six years, the inspiration coming from her family and their own history of raising animals on their land.
Last year, Tranel won the grand champion steer title.
While it is a lot of hard work, Tranel said, the competition aspect is a lot of fun. She hopes to bring a calf that she breeds herself to the fair next year.
“It’s great to watch them have success,” said Jannell Plummer of Glacier Stars 4-H. Born and raised in the valley, Plummer has three children of her own — all three are showing a steer this year.
Six classes entered the show ring. Competitors walked their calves around, making sure their chins were pointed up, adjusting their feet to stand square. The event is a series of walking, stopping and setting up.
Come Saturday, buyers come in and bid on the animals while the competitors bid them farewell. In 2023, the Flathead Livestock Market Sale Auction surpassed $1.2 million in sales.
“Stress is high, the animal is big, but sometimes, the payoff is amazing,” said Plummer.
Reporter Kate Heston can be reached at kheston@dailyinterlake.com or 758-4459.
Casey Kreider
Ione Plummer shows her steer during senior beef cattle showmanship at the Northwest Montana Fair on Wednesday, Aug. 14. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Madison Brist shows her steer during senior beef cattle showmanship at the Northwest Montana Fair on Wednesday, Aug. 14. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Beau Siderius speaks with judge Sierra Myers during senior beef cattle showmanship at the Northwest Montana Fair on Wednesday, Aug. 14. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Jayla Wise speaks with judge Sierra Myers during senior beef cattle showmanship at the Northwest Montana Fair on Wednesday, Aug. 14. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Brady Boll shows her steer during senior beef cattle showmanship at the Northwest Montana Fair on Wednesday, Aug. 14. Boll won grand champion in her division. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Rylee Glimm shows her steer during senior beef cattle showmanship at the Northwest Montana Fair on Wednesday, Aug. 14. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Grace Holtmeyer shows her steer during senior beef cattle showmanship at the Northwest Montana Fair on Wednesday, Aug. 14. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Brady Boll shows her steer during senior beef cattle showmanship at the Northwest Montana Fair on Wednesday, Aug. 14. Boll won grand champion in her division. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Carly Tranel shows her steer during senior beef cattle showmanship at the Northwest Montana Fair on Wednesday, Aug. 14. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Madison Brist shows her steer during senior beef cattle showmanship at the Northwest Montana Fair on Wednesday, Aug. 14. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Samuel Plummer shows his steer during senior beef cattle showmanship at the Northwest Montana Fair on Wednesday, Aug. 14. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Alexis Johnson shows her steer during senior beef cattle showmanship at the Northwest Montana Fair on Wednesday, Aug. 14. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Samuel Plummer shows his steer during senior beef cattle showmanship at the Northwest Montana Fair on Wednesday, Aug. 14. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
One of the state’s largest health networks plans to open a new health care facility next year in Missoula. The addition is Providence Montana’s response to an increasing population and demand for care.
The new Providence Southgate Health Center will move into Missoula’s former Bed, Bath & Beyond near Southgate Mall. The 20,000 square foot facility will feature urgent and primary care clinics as well as the Providence Heart Institute general cardiology clinic. It will also house radiology and lab services.
The company says the $18 million project has been in the works for two years and is intended to improve access to health care due to rapid population growth in Missoula and Ravalli Counties.
A Providence spokesperson tells MTPR there’s currently a shortage of 14 to 20 primary care physicians in both counties.
The health center is on track to open next summer.
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