An annual nonpartisan civic survey of Montanans – what we think, what we want, and how we want to shape the future of our state.

We got tired of people telling us what Montanans think.So we decided to just ask you.

The State of Montana is a nonpartisan survey from Last Best Future, a nonpartisan nonprofit that brings together people, ideas, and projects to positively shape Montana’s future.

We partnered with Montana State University’s Social Data Collection and Analysis Services, which fielded a representative sample of 484 Montana adults from across the state. MSU weighted the results by age, gender, education and how rural a county is, so the results reflect Montana.

The 20-question survey is short and sweet, but covers the things that matter to Montanans. The results give a good statewide picture, with a margin of error of about 4.4 percentage points, but any city-specific or demographic-specific insights are less precise. You can use the lens to see how any group answered. And you can see the full survey or download the data with weights yourself.

Democracy isn’t a spectator sport. We aren’t here to tell you what to think. We intend to make The State of Montana an annual ritual to let Montanans say what they believe for themselves.

We are grateful to every Montanan who took the time to answer the survey, and every Montanan who takes the time to read the results.

Padden Guy MurphyCo-Founder, Last Best Future

Who is Montana?

Montanans surveyed value community, freedom & self-reliance, tradition & rural life, honesty & integrity, land stewardship, hard work, and family

Answers could name more than one value.

  • Neighbors & community20%
  • Land & stewardship17%
  • Freedom & self-reliance13%
  • Hard work13%
  • Tradition & rural life10%
  • Honesty & integrity8%
  • Fairness & opportunity6%
  • Family6%
  • Public lands & access5%
  • Outdoor life5%
  • Faith3%

Three in four Montanans surveyed have lived here more than 20 years

1% of those surveyed didn’t know how long they have lived in Montana; they aren’t shown in the chart.

  • Under 2 years
    1%
  • 2–5 years
    7%
  • 6–10 years
    9%
  • 11–20 years
    7%
  • 20+ years
    75%

More than half of those surveyed hold a college degree

  • Less than high school4%
  • High school44%
  • Associate13%
  • Bachelor’s26%
  • Graduate13%

Over two thirds of Montanans surveyed are working age (18–64)

Under 1% of those surveyed chose Other or preferred not to say their gender; they aren’t shown in the chart.

MaleFemale
1%
85+
2%
5%
75–84
4%
9%
65–74
10%
8%
55–64
10%
8%
45–54
7%
8%
35–44
10%
8%
18–34
10%

Montanans are not politically extreme. A majority of Montanans surveyed identified as moderate (30%), slightly conservative (10%), or slightly liberal (13%)

Rep.37%
Ind.33%
Dem.20%
Other10%
Extremely liberal
—
—
2%
1%
Liberal
—
1%
9%
—
Slightly liberal
1%
7%
4%
1%
Moderate
4%
15%
4%
7%
Slightly conservative
5%
4%
1%
—
Conservative
21%
5%
—
1%
Extremely conservative
6%
1%
—
—

How do Montanans work and live?

Four in ten surveyed work locally for a Montana employer

  • Work locally for a Montana employer42%
  • Retired27%
  • Self-employed20%
  • Work remotely for an out-of-state employer5%
  • Not currently employed4%
  • Doing uncompensated work2%

Most Montanans surveyed own their home

  • Own80%
  • Rent18%
  • Another arrangement2%

Nearly half of those surveyed are housing burdened and spend 30% or more of their income on housing

5% of those surveyed weren’t sure how much of their income goes to housing; they aren’t shown in the chart.

  • Under 20% of income

    29%

  • 20–29% of income

    20%

  • Cost burden threshold

    30% of income

    30–39% of income

    18%

  • 40–49% of income

    16%

  • 50% or more of income

    12%

How do Montanans feel about the future?

Montanans are more optimistic about their future and the future of Montana than the country

My own personal economic future over the next 2 years
54%Optimistic26%Pessimistic
The future of Montana
47%Optimistic37%Pessimistic
The future of the United States of America
27%Optimistic54%Pessimistic

A majority of Montanans surveyed believe the American Dream is still attainable and don’t believe AI will positively affect their economic future. Views on technology are more mixed

The American Dream is still attainable
54%Agree44%Disagree
General advances in technology will positively affect my economic future
49%Agree41%Disagree
Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) will positively affect my economic future
25%Agree63%Disagree

The Montana Towns Index

Montanans surveyed rated their towns well on everything but affordability

Hover or tap a score to see the measures behind it. Butte rests on few respondents, so its scores are less precise.

Mostly badMostly good

The State of Montana

Overall64
Community80
Economy61
Family76
Affordability27
Walkability75

We asked Montanans to score their own town on the five categories that really matter. The Index is interactive, so you can rank by category: Butte got the highest marks for Community, Affordability and Walkability, Billings for Economy, and Great Falls for Family.

  • 69
  • 66
  • 65
  • 64
  • 63
  • 63
  • 62
  • 61

What do Montanans think about Montana policy issues?

Montanans overwhelmingly support public lands, getting money and parties out of politics, funding for teachers and childcare, and taxing second homes and tourist spending to support locals. Montanans do not support construction of AI data centers

  • Ensuring public lands remain under public management
  • Limiting the influence of money in politics
  • Limiting the role of political parties in our elections and institutions
  • Increased funding to pay public school teachers with increased performance standards
  • A childcare stipend for working parents for every child aged 0–5
  • Increased property taxes on second homes to fund more affordable housing for others
  • Allowing communities the option of applying a sales tax to tourist spending to support locals
  • Community planning that prioritizes density over sprawl
  • Constructing artificial intelligence (AI) data centers

What do Montanans think about national policy issues?

Montanans overwhelmingly support the government treating everyone equally regardless of their identity, a legal pathway to citizenship for immigrants, cutting spending to tackle the debt, and America’s defense of democracy abroad

  • Government treating everyone equally regardless of their identity

    81% Support

  • A legal pathway to citizenship for immigrants who already live here and can meet certain conditions

    78% Support

  • Addressing the federal debt with a bipartisan solution that must include spending cuts to core programs

    72% Support

  • American defense of democracy abroad

    68% Support

The report card

Montanans surveyed gave their Mayors a B, Governor Gianforte a C, and Senators Daines and Sheehy a D. More than half gave President Trump an F

Each grade is the median grade, not counting Unsure. The mayors’ grade is from respondents in Montana’s 8 largest towns: Billings, Missoula, Great Falls, Bozeman, Butte, Helena, Kalispell and Belgrade.

Montana’s Mayors

B
Grade A
8%
Grade B
38%
Grade C
20%
Grade D
9%
Grade F
8%

Greg Gianforte

Montana Governor

C
Grade A
19%
Grade B
19%
Grade C
20%
Grade D
17%
Grade F
22%

Steve Daines

U.S. Senator

D
Grade A
15%
Grade B
13%
Grade C
18%
Grade D
15%
Grade F
32%

Tim Sheehy

U.S. Senator

D
Grade A
18%
Grade B
15%
Grade C
15%
Grade D
13%
Grade F
35%

Donald Trump

U.S. President

F
Grade A
19%
Grade B
11%
Grade C
9%
Grade D
8%
Grade F
52%

Big ideas

What is one big idea you have that would improve your town or the state of Montana?

“Put more police officers on the streets, the ratio of officers to population has fallen behind, leaving departments to be reactive, instead of being proactive.”
“Compete with North Dakota for Bakken drilling in Richland, Roosevelt, and Sheridan. Make it faster and less expensive to operate on our side of the line, then use that production revenue to reduce state income and property taxes. No new sales tax. Northeast Montana needs the work, and the rest of the state needs a lighter tax load so people can prosper on their own.”
“Reducing property taxes for all senior citizens.”
“No income tax, just sales tax”
“Keeping public land for the public, not approving mines and AI data centers”
“Keep federal programs going. SNAP, healthcare, etc. that bring federal tax dollars back into the communities. i.e. $1 for every $1.50 in federal taxes”
“How about treating each other in the same way that we wish to be treated!”
“Get rid of Trump & everybody in his administration as well as Congress who keep letting him do all this crap! Debt is out of control!!”
“We really need more affordable housing.”
“Keep data centers out (seems obtainable not big).”
“Going back to the purple libertarian and politically independent state it used to be prior to 2020.”
“We should have more after school programs for the youth.”
“Reduce wasteful spending.”
“Tax the rich more.”
“Keep out of state political money out!”
“Ban loud and polluting diesel trucks that everyone seems to drive here. Bring Circuit, the ride service here!”
“Give the local Montanans a break”
“No property tax”
“Taxes to tourism and second homes, vacation homes”
“Be sure the state or Federal lands stay available to the public to use and management and not be sold to individuals- Need to improve heavily used highways i.e. U.S. 93 in the west.”
“Distributing resources (i.e. food, water, outdated products) off shelves to provide to those in need, over throwing it out.”
“Everyone needs to become more civil to each other.”
“Vote out MAGA politicians!”
“Lower housing costs, more pay for teachers”
“Stop unchecked expansion and prioritize protecting our land, resources, and small town way of life over unnecessary development.”
“Elect representatives that actually do their jobs instead of doing the bidding of big donors & The president.”
“I wish college would teach both political sides & elementary would teach true history. Illegalize marijuana.”
“Try to rein in excessive and overlapping government. Improve productivity.”
“Tax the wealthy at higher rates than currently.”
“Remove dark money from politics”
“Require newly hired law enforcement officers to go through some kind of BJJ training and the Safe Wrap program.”
“We are governed by people who do not allow new businesses who would compete with local businesses who have been here forever. ADA is not enforced.”
“Stop catering to the houseless. Lower property taxes at least for locals.”
“If you want to tax the tourists, then we need an ID to show we are local!”
“Keep all currently roadless areas roadless. Adopt a graduated income tax. Rich folks should pay a higher %.”
“Support for children (housing, food and school)”
“Civility”
“Get rid of Donald Trump!”
“I think that addressing housing affordability for Great Falls would significantly improve our economic growth. It would help retain good workers and boost local businesses.”
“Limit growth, Better growth management”
“Transparency in government spending. Federal officials that would hold town hall meetings.”
“Primary + secondary education”
“An amendment to the U.S. Constitution requiring a balanced budget, requiring we never spend more than we make.”
“Taxing billionaires”
“Disallow corporations from doing business in Montana if they spend money on politics.”
“I would like to see more effort put into the cleanliness of our communities.”
“Move pot shops out of downtown. Create incentive for shops, restaurants + galleries to support tourism + tax tourists.”
“Fix property taxes”
“Introduce a sales tax to reduce the burden on residents. Montana is such a big tourist destination, why not let the tourists help pay taxes?”
“Fix fish and wildlife tag purchasing system increase public access to gamelands”
“Universal database so you can request your medical records from one source, not each provider”
“More cultural Diversity”
“Get Trump out of office along with cabinet members”
“Affordable housing”
“Keep outside influence to a minimum”
“City manager vs. elected chief executive. More flexibility of employment and employee hiring in city/county and school district. Too much good old boy or friend attitude in hiring.”
“Critical thinking skills and respect for science.”
“Maintain control/decisions at the most local level. Take away open (school) enrollment in rural areas.”
“Tax the rich and corporations to achieve: 1. Empower small business and working/ middle class. 2. Offer safety net and opportunity for all.”
“Get rid of Citizens United.”
“Enforce fireworks laws and increase the amount of fines.”
“Mandatory country of origin labelling for beef. Enforce the Packers & Stockyards Act. Prayer and Bibles in schools. Drill oil. Mine minerals. Build dams, mine coal, harvest and plant timber. Godly economic development. Stop all gambling. End all smoke shops. Stiff fines for drug users.”
“Property tax relief... we can't fund everything. Sales tax, with removal of property tax. Tax spending accountability.”
“Institute a state wide sales tax (exclude food and medications). Years ago, Washington state did not charge their sales tax to Montana residents by simply showing your driver's license. We could do the same for Montana residents, especially with current software/computer capabilities. All proceeds to reduce property taxes. Montana has one of the lowest hospitality taxes in the western states.....raise it.”
“Limit out of state Hunting.”
“We need a homeless program!!”
“Get involved with your community!”
“Reestablishing a wear newspaper so we can be aware of it is going on in MT!”
“Allow local business to grow. Allow new business to Helena. Get rid of "old money & influence".”
“Get rid of the law school in Missoula to start and lower 2nd home taxes for Mt residents!”
“Institute a sales tax”
“Protect public lands and environment.”
“Universal Healthcare "Medicare for All"”
“Acceptance of one another!”
“We need to make marijuana illegal again for the general population.”
“My town needs to be more welcoming of new business and growth.”
“Reduce property taxes.”
“Replacing sales tax with Sales Tax.”
“Try to introduce and encourage businesses that address more plastic recycling- hard to recycle items i.e. toys, plastic cutlery, so much plastic city composting-”
“Taking care of the less fortunate (housing - food - childcare- medical needs- mental health- food - housing - healthcare)”
“We need common sense gun laws and protections for civil rights of all humans.”
“Work on our state's infrastructure.”
“Help for middle class and retired individuals are struggling with minimal income - many jobs at same time just to pay essential living expenses.”
“Need to re-look at prop tax- 2nd homes for MT residents should not be taxed so high. All Non-MT residents' 2nd homes should be at least as much as they would pay in CA.”
“Enact a sales tax and reduce property taxes”
“More state control of wildlife and public lands”
“Mental health facilities”
“Being open minded and being able to listen and share ideas.”
“Town: New Road. State: Fix housing affordability”
“Access to full liquor license to increase the number of good restaurants- also more affordable housing (income based)”
“Just because Bozeman/Belgrade are erupting w/growth does not signify tax increases on all of Gallatin County.”
“Enact a state sales tax that would be used exclusively to fund public education including higher ed. Correspondingly, reduce the property tax burden equivalent to the amount currently taxed to fund education.”
“Please don't use up MT waterways, creeks, and rivers for data centers. Montana waters - creeks - belong to all. Campers - fishermen - hikers - etc.”
“The medical situation in rural Montana is hellacious. We are tremendously underserved. Sometimes I feel like I'm in a third world country. Something needs to be done to fix this ASAP.”
“Get big money out of politics”
“Addressing housing affordability so my kids can own a home here someday. Tax out-of-state secondary homeowners an additional amount!”
“Stop construction on apt. Building get schools to stay within their budget.”
“Transparency of how all Taxes are being spent. Especially The general fund Acct.”
“Put the gambling revenues all back into the schools! That's what we voted when it was approved.”
“Stop taxing so much! It is unaffordable for young people here; our kids are all leaving because they can't afford it. Need better brainstorming regarding what could help support this great place, with the mayor and council actually listening.”
“Remember we were all once outsiders”
“More Rapid Construction”
“Keep it rural keep out the $ that buys all the land”
“A primary system that limits the influence of far right & far left voters”
“Fund better ways to fund schools & ensure traditions teaching with core subjects & No indoctrination to progressive ideology”
“Over Decreasing burdensome rules and regulations on every aspect of our lives.”
“Be Honest”
“Provide affordable housing for purchase or rental. Jobs should offer "higher" salaries/pay.”
“Use taxpayer monies to purchase farm and ranch lands for sale to stop being turned in to residential areas. Allow leasing that land to other ag related businesses to keep at producing food animals and crops!”
“Big electoral turnover & jails failed with all crooks & treasonous parties”
“Our town needs improvement on its entertainment for kids. There no place to go and they need places to hangout and converse safely.”
“No tax on social security payments. Lift tax tap on social security at federal level”
“Cultural diversity, inclusion, fairness”
“Something has to be done about the housing situation. Rent is out of control and my daughter left because of that.”
“Stop catering to rich out of staters.”
“Term limits for government officials especially U.S. senators”
“Require all graduates from high school to volunteer for a public entity for 1 yr. learn respect for others and empathy.”
“Tax reductions for native Montanans”
“Infrastructure, better highways. Interstate highway to Flathead. Better use of hydroelectric dams (energy).”
“Bring in new business!”
“Don't tax Montana residents (increased prop tax) on their cabins (second homes) that they saved and bought after years of hard work”
“A sales tax instead of all the other taxes.”
“Out of state - worldwide carbon tax”
“45 MPH in a 60 MPH zone is fine as long as you use the turnouts”
“Support our young people with affordable housing, child care and health care & education.”
“Keep all these people coming in better keep their left ways out of Montana. Socialism is wrong it never works in world history.”
“Open primary, ranked choice”
“Stop giving away our tax dollars to those who pay no tax.”
“U.S. Hwy. 2 improvement- 4 lanes west of Kalispell.”
“Difficult to survive here unless you brought money from elsewhere. Last in wages and last in home affordability. How do we fix it? We keep building new schools and tear down old schools. Turn them into trade schools.”
“Commercial property taxes lowered for small business, and residential property taxes and evaluation. Cost of living is too high.”
“Tourist taxes”
“Hold on to our values for the people, for our kids, for the future of Montana”
“When big developers come in to build multi-million dollar homes to benefit the wealthy they must also build a percentage of affordable homes for the middle class.”
“City council should listen to opposing/anti-sprawling into countryside-taking farmland out of production instead of doing what they are bribed to do”
“Nothing local government elections non partisan”
“Reduce the size and cost of all levels of government starting with waste.”
“I live in heaven. Our infrastructure is decrepit. We must fix basic essentials first.”
“4 day workweek- more time for childcare, family, health, recreation, elder care, etc.”
“A property tax freeze on senior citizens over 65 years old.”
“Sales tax for people who don't have proof of Montana residency”
“Improving the state of Mt. website. It is impossible to use. Terrible!!!”
“More education about the benefits of AI centers and then tax producing solutions. Few incoming residents. Change is coming. Get on board and benefit or be left behind. We also need a sales tax complemented by a reduction in property taxes.”
“Must reduce property taxes using a fair-to-all scale!!”
“Sales tax for tourist only, less property tax”
“More dedicated bike lanes. More resort & going to improve roads outside of city limits. More access to public lands. Better enforcement of leave no trace on the Flathead River system.”
“Food grown and raised in Montana is really good. Local restaurants are not. Develop quality food culture through education as an ideology that supports Montanans health business.”
“Get rid of high property tax.”
“Tax the tourists who come here to visit”
“Increase funding for fire dept so the men make a livable wage for the city we live in.”
“Decrease cost of living/increase wages. No idea how to do this. Attract more employers?”
“Eliminate property tax and replace with sales tax. But only if property tax is eliminated.”
“Create a sales tax to help lower property taxes”
“Provide affordable housing for youth and elderly.”
“Politicians who serve constituents wants/needs/concerns”
“Affordable housing”
“Term limits for state and fed employees, get money out of politics, politicians must work together”
“Stop people from buying houses to convert into airbnb or rentals by taxing double or having penalties. Keep public land public. Better public transport in cities.”
“Create a toll for out of State or tax visitors. Stop raising property tax.”
“Getting quality people in positions of power. Remove current politicians”
“No more mobile homes”
“Sales Tax- not on food.”
“Elected mayor for our town, not appointed. City finances need to be public and audited.”
“Relocate Montana's capital to Billings.”
“Be willing to listen to the voice of Montana folks over all. A handful of those with power? money is not listening to the majority of who truly care.”
“No more political parties in state and local elections!”
“YIMBY”
“Stop selling our property to out of state people that don't work in Montana”
“A third party that had somewhat conservative fiscal values and a somewhat liberal social stance on issues, that could bring people away from either hard right, or hard left.”
“Improve schools and business to keep buying power locally”
“Stop the bullshit regulations that are hindering business development in Silver Bow County”
“Tax the billionaires who are buying up all of our land.”
“Severely limit the amount of money individuals, political action committees and businesses can contribute to political campaigns. The amount of wealth that a minority of individuals in our state and nation have accumulated gives them enormous influence on our political system, legislation, and spending priorities of our state government.”
“We need new power grid regulations and investment in clean nuclear energy. Montana is not prepared for extreme climate events.”
“Office space available to rent.”
“Reduce or eliminate property taxes”
“Tourist taxes”
“Preserve access to public lands. Work toward a resilient future.”
“More concern for senior citizens”
“Montana was populated by diverse people and we thrive from that diversity and acceptance of others.”
“Electing more Democrats so I feel represented @ both the Federal and State level.”
“Rent freezes”
“Don't let Californians come in and buy everything so some people can't buy their own place”
“If we voted for the person and not the party those elected might actually serve us their constituents instead of those they owe favors to. Unlimited Money in politics has created the most corrupt government of our 250 year history.”
“Invest in the youth with quality public education. Increase minimum wage!”
“Return control of government to the states (I.E. Dept of Education)”
“Get back to a progressive income tax that every adult pays, with a $50.00 minimum tax.”
“Get money out of politics”
“Better snowplowing in Bozeman”
“Finish the damn oil pipelines”
“Addressing property tax issues.”
“Statewide Sales Taxes & decrease property taxes”
“Create solar panel farms & Apply income to: 40% public municipalities (school & Gov) 20% To project Needs of solar farms 40% to social security to be used for program sustaining support”
“Doing what is best for all and not based on income or wealth. Rural areas could use more for their people.”
“Return to God”
“Removing President Donald J Trump's influence from our country and the world.”
“Build communities around affordability and social services that allows economic security working families and provide for our neighbors with limited resources such as affordable housing, childcare, and food programs for low income and unhoused individuals with dignity and respect”
“Stop becoming other states Montana identity is completely lost.”
“Gov't officials working for the people, not their pockets. Telling the truth, not what your party wants you to say.”
“Require a test at the end of the school year for home schooled kids to see if they are keeping up with the status quo.”
“Quit spreading so much money. It's not yours.”
“Graduated income tax & Protect parks and public lands”
“Big Money out of Politics and decision making”
“More public transportation”
“Bring in big Industry. Make it affordable to Live in Montana.”
“No taxes on primary homes after 60 years of age.”
“Sales tax with earmarks for infrastructure: roads, bridges, public education.”
“Do not sell or lease public lands! Keep Montana wild!”
“Universal healthcare/ quality rural healthcare. Childcare access for working parents. Pay public school teachers!”
“Treat all people the same”
“Vote out all republicans!”
“Affordable housing, more taxation for the wealthy”
“Stop Urban Sprawl.”
“A fall-on effort for government to work together, not partisan, to solve critical problems. Solutions! Get $ out of politics! Businesses are not humans, contrary to the Supreme Court decision!”
“Put more money and resources into our public schools at every level.”
“Reduce Income tax Add sales tax”
“Tax "second" homes at a higher rate for millionaires”
“Spending limit on campaigning for office- no out of state money”
“Remove all of the marijuana stores, and make marijuana a "prescription only" drug. People are driving "stoned" everywhere.”
“Encourage larger companies with good paying jobs to come to MT.”
“We should lower property taxes (except on 2nd homes) and implement a sales tax. Tourism is our biggest industry we should capitalize on the millions of people that come every year.”
“Assessing a State of MT sales tax on non-essentials like food & medical, lowering property taxes go along with this”
“Keep public land for public use for fishing, hunting, camping, rec, etc...”
“We need more support for our disabled sisters and brothers.”
“Be patient and considerate of others, and practice what you preach.”
“Impeach Trumpul”
“Take multiple approaches to address the affordable housing crisis. Tax structures, subsidizing first time housing, incentives for building modest affordable homes.... There is no one solution, but we need immediate actions.”
“Time machine to go back and halt production of the show "Yellowstone"”
“Make voting easy by allowing mail in ballots. Quit eroding our rights. Fire Gianforte and his Right wing buddies.”
“Find A way to improve public education in this state and come up with a better formula to fund education. The cities with high property values send their tax dollars to poor counties.”
“Minimize the role of government - FIne 90% of educational administrators, emphasize the 4 core & remove politics & fire teachers of wokeness.”
“Tax the rich and wealthy.”
“Eliminate Special interest In Finance in Government”
“Affordable housing and access to healthcare. Less of a gap between the extremely wealthy and lower or working class Montanans.”
“Stop focusing on the "Yellowstone" TV show playground for rich tourists and make Bozeman more of an enjoyable city for locals.”
“Leadership that focus on serving the people following the constitution”
“Raise taxes to fund schools”
“I live in a very rural area. Less state government.”
“Heavily taxing the wealthy & second homes”
“get big money out of state politics”
“Solve the housing affordability problem. Drive down interest rates and property taxes.”
“Keeping Montana "Montana". Keep it rural. Keep it local business based. Ranching+ Farming are king. Utilize tourism but don't base our state standard on it.”
“Get rid of political parties!!! We're all Americans.”
“Stop relaxing standards + values. Demand accountability. Restore basic primary education standards. Entertainment is not information.”
“Stop all the handout! Make people work for a living.”
“Add an extra large tax to real estate purchases for out of state people, 30-40% minimum”
“Get private money out of politics”
“Housing regulations reform for affordability”
“Limit growth”
“Let's be less political. Get stuff done for the people, not your party.”
“Youth space in every community for them to connect w/ their peers in person.”
“Lower taxes”
“Tax the rich, target high earning individuals and luxury real estate to fund public services.”
“Keep out of state money out of our election!”
“More affordable housing”
“Stop building poorly constructed cookie cutter apartment buildings on every piece of open land left in Montana.”
“Reduce the influence of political parties.”
“Increase funding for education k thru college”
“Fair taxes for all”
“Stress good values rather than money or economics”
“Monitor traffic lights, Too many people go thru red or almost red. Maybe an AI system.”
“Faster job growth at a living wage to attract young families support family farms rather than corporate take overs”
“Extremely less property tax. Lower taxes overall.”
“Sales tax, Lower property tax for Mt. residence.”
“Not my idea, but: keep public lands in public hands!”
“Easier and faster access to quality healthcare and medical services”
“Street improvements - curbs + gutters. It would improve the looks dramatically in many neighborhoods”
“Add manufacturing, mining, logging.”
“Reevaluate property taxes”
“Sales Tax!! Eliminate Income tax give people more money to spend - They will spend it!”
“Not have big Business take over keep our parks, wilderness, UN developed”
“Help the indigenous people & that doesn't mean money.”
“Increase cost of city services gradually over time instead of large increases every four years”
“Lower gas prices and food, medical bills.”
“Keep property taxes low”
“Sales Tax! And there isn't even a close second”
“Keep Montana Wild”
“Abortion right with time limits for all women.”
“Kill Deer, safer roads and gardens”
“Offer incentive to bring business and growth to my town I put money into local community for improvement.”
“Reduce the property tax. Investigate the city of Missoula officials and find out what they are really doing with the money.”
“Sales tax that would have to be voted on by the people of Montana to increase, not politicians!”
“Quit letting money take our land. Especially public land.”
“Less ideological extremes, greater emphasis on factual subjective information sharing, more concern about our nations future”
“Affordable housing (get rid of venture capitalists buying up homes, apt building & trailer courts. No more air B&B's)”
“Restrict out of state developers”
“Term limits politicians”
“State scholarship for all Montana HS graduates for college just like the Hathaway scholarship in Wyoming.”
“No taxes for 100% service connected veterans”
“Get rid of urban camping!”
“Mega farms”
“I am sick & tired of homeowners be the only people to support the state/town/ counties. Also, stop the construction along highways that can't handle the traffic, turns, etc...i.e. US highway 93 too many facilities!”
“Eliminate the income tax + implement equivalent revenue sales tax - the tourists + visitors would then pay a fair share. Also tax out of staters when they buy homes here.”
“Put other people's well being before yourself. Ex, motorcycles + car racing at night. Loud and dangerous.”
“No landlord can charge more than 33% of Montana's median income for rent.”
“More thoughtful planning on how to handle the huge population increase, including listen to the population of the area”
“Listening to the people. Stop buying property in the town can't develop and then raise taxes. Help new businesses to come to Missoula.”
“Keep government at all levels out of the people's business. Less govt equals more prosperity.”
“The roads Hwy. 2 - 4 lanes.”
“Continue to support and the growth of Montana businesses (local)”
“Get rid of property taxes and institute a sales tax.”
“Sales tax with a reduction in property tax”
“Remember what it means to be an American. Oppose divisive ideologies. Question everything. Remember all social media has an agenda.”
“Derive ways to make housing more affordable.”
“Our local a county government should make decisions on development that improves the quality of people+families rather than favor businesses or industry”
“Term limits. Stop govt. waste. Charge tourists move money to come to MT.”
“Individuals should respect "all" regardless of color, age or religions”
“More affordable housing for families and workers in our community.”
“Ban out of staters.”
“Do not align with the principles of D.C. We need to do what mountains want.”
“Open mindedness. Open to change, not oppose things that could better our community.”
“Limit ability to turn properties into air BandB/VRBO, particularly to property owners whose primary residence is outside of Montana.”
“Out of state people can visit, but then leave!”
“Honest, moral administration with integrity! Sad, but (may not be?) attainable!”
“People accepting others' view”
“Build more affordable homes. Recruit more manufacturing jobs.”
“To stop all new companies coming in.”
“Eliminate the party system, which will never happen”
“Remember the U.S. founding principles of life, liberty, and the bill of rights.”
“Build a fence around it.”
“State- wide sales tax, capped at 4% per MT constitution. One-to-one offset to property taxes, Charge property system with recapture tax at time of sale. 79% of 2nd homeowners are Montanans.”
“A moratorium on newer builds until our sanitation systems can handle the growth.”
“A tourist tax on 2nd/non-resident homes or a tourist sales tax would help make living a lot more feasible for MT residents who actually live and work here.”
“Rules so political figures don't get breaks that are not available to us all.”
“A contractor to build a subdivision of "tiny homes" for seniors”
“Tourism tax could allow for reduced taxes on residents and increase local affordability.”
“I think politicians should do more to protect privacy, freedom of conscience, and free trade. Also I think they should stop acting like everyone in the world is an enemy who needs to be bombed.”
“Affordable housing - hopefully someone will come up with some great ideas.”
“High prices for renting need to be removed!!”
“Improve access for all RE: Housing & Healthcare”
“Review of mobile home lot rent rates. The governor vetoed this bill and sided with the owners, who get way too much money in return for what the resident gets.”
“Though not perfect, Montana works better than every other state. Keep politics moderate.”

Last Best Future

Last Best Future

A nonprofit founded by Montanans, bringing people, ideas, and projects together to shape the state’s future.

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Montana State University

Montana State University

MSU’s Social Data Collection and Analysis Services independently designed the sample, collected responses, and weighted the results to represent Montana adults.

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