Reduce Taxes by Reducing Corporate Welfare

MT Needs TIF Reform

Sign The Letter

Dear Official(s),

I am writing to express my deep concern about the misuse of
Tax Increment Financing (TIF) districts in Montana and the devastating impact it is having on hard-working families, small businesses, and communities across our state. TIF was intended to revitalize blighted areas, but instead, it has become a tool for corporate welfare that benefits wealthy developers while
leaving ordinary citizens to shoulder the burden.
Examples of TIF abuse include:
- In Bozeman, TIF dollars funded high-end downtown projects while basic
  infrastructure in other areas was neglected.
- In Missoula, over $10 million in TIF funds were diverted to luxury hotels and
  office buildings, even as property taxes rose for families and small
  businesses.
- In Billings, $2 million in TIF was handed to a private developer for a
  project that offered questionable public benefits.
Meanwhile, taxpayers across Montana are struggling to keep
up with rising property taxes. Schools, fire departments, and local governments are underfunded, while developers and corporations profit at our expense.
I urge you to support meaningful TIF reform to:
- Restrict TIF districts to truly blighted areas.
- Increase transparency and accountability in TIF spending.
- Return diverted tax revenues to local governments and taxpayers, reducing the tax
  burden for families and small businesses.
- End the era of corporate welfare in Montana.
Montanans deserve better. We need a fair and transparent
system that prioritizes the needs of our communities over the interests of politically connected elites. Please act to reform TIF and restore trust in our government.
Thank you for your leadership on this critical issue.
I am writing to express my deep concern about the misuse of

Sincerely

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Montanans are being crushed by rising property taxes while Tax Increment Financing (TIF) districts funnel millions into the pockets of wealthy developers and politically connected elites. This broken system diverts funds meant for schools, roads, and public safety to subsidize luxury hotels and office buildings, leaving families and small businesses to bear the burden.

TIF was intended to help struggling, blighted communities but has become a tool for crony capitalism, enabling deals that benefit a select few at everyone else’s expense.

Examples of TIF Abuse:

Missoula: $10 million + subsidized luxury hotels, offices buildings, and banks while schools and infrastructure were left underfunded.
Bozeman: TIF funds went to upscale downtown projects while affordable housing and road maintenance were neglected.
Billings: A $2 million TIF grant for a private development raised concerns about the lack of public benefit.

This isn’t capitalism—it’s cronyism, and Montanans are paying the price.

The Impact:

Property taxes rise for families already struggling to make ends meet.
Schools and essential public services lose critical funding.
Small businesses face unfair competition from subsidized corporations.

The Solution:

We’re calling on the Montana Legislature to reform TIF laws and return power to taxpayers. Reforming TIF will:

Lower Property Taxes: Redirect millions in diverted revenues to local governments.
Increase Accountability: Limit TIF to genuinely blighted areas with strict oversight.
End Corporate Welfare: Stop using taxpayer dollars for private profit.
Reinvest in Public Priorities: Fund schools, infrastructure, and services that benefit everyone.

By stopping TIF abuse, we can lower taxes, provide families more disposable income, foster a fair economy where small businesses thrive, and fund public services responsibly.