# The State of Montana

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

A nonpartisan survey from [Last Best Future](https://www.lastbestfuture.org), fielded independently by Social Data Collection and Analysis Services, Montana State University Bozeman between 2026-09-16 and 2026-10-23. A random sample of Montana adults was mailed a questionnaire, with the option to answer online. Responses are weighted by age, gender, education and how rural a county is. Percentages are weighted shares of everyone who answered each question (Unsure included unless noted). The data here uses independently rounded decimal percentages, which may not total 100%. Complete distributions on the page use whole-number rounding that preserves a total of 100%; theme mentions and independent scores are not normalized. Headlines describe unfiltered results. Response rate about 12%; margin of error about ±4.4 points statewide. Headlines describe the Montanans surveyed.

## Data and tools

- All figures as JSON: https://thestateofmontana.org/data/findings.json
- Figures for any group (the lens): https://thestateofmontana.org/api/results?party=republican&age=65-74 (add &format=md for Markdown)
- Every question as asked: https://thestateofmontana.org/survey (Markdown: https://thestateofmontana.org/survey.md)
- Respondent-level weighted data (CSV): https://thestateofmontana.org/data/state-of-montana-2026.csv
- MSU's weighted frequency report (PDF): https://thestateofmontana.org/reports/LBF_StateOfMT_2026_WeightedFrequencies_26Oct2026.pdf
- Guide for agents: https://thestateofmontana.org/llms.txt

## Who is Montana?

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

Question: Finish the following. ‘Montana values are …’

_Share of everyone who answered whose answer named each value; an answer could name several._

| Answer | Share |
| --- | ---: |
| Neighbors & community | 20.1% |
| Land & stewardship | 17.3% |
| Freedom & self-reliance | 13.5% |
| Hard work | 13.5% |
| Tradition & rural life | 10.4% |
| Honesty & integrity | 7.5% |
| Fairness & opportunity | 5.7% |
| Family | 5.6% |
| Public lands & access | 5.2% |
| Outdoor life | 4.6% |
| Faith | 3.1% |

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

Question: How long have you lived in Montana?

| Answer | Share |
| --- | ---: |
| Under 2 years | 0.9% |
| 2–5 years | 7.3% |
| 6–10 years | 8.7% |
| 11–20 years | 7.1% |
| 20+ years | 74.8% |
| Don’t know | 1.1% |

### More than half of those surveyed hold a college degree

Question: What is the highest degree or level of school you have completed?

| Answer | Share |
| --- | ---: |
| Less than high school | 3.8% |
| High school | 43.9% |
| Associate | 12.6% |
| Bachelor’s | 26.6% |
| Graduate | 13% |

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

Question: Which of the following age categories applies to you?

_Each cell is a share of everyone who answered both age and gender. The page groups Other / prefer not to say across ages below the two-sided chart._

| | Male | Female | Other / prefer not to say |
| --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| 18–34 | 7.9% | 10.4% | 0% |
| 35–44 | 7.7% | 9.8% | 0% |
| 45–54 | 8.1% | 6.7% | 0.3% |
| 55–64 | 8.5% | 9.9% | 0.1% |
| 65–74 | 8.8% | 9.6% | 0.1% |
| 75–84 | 4.8% | 4.3% | 0% |
| 85+ | 1.3% | 1.7% | 0% |

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

Question: Generally speaking, do you think of yourself as a Republican, a Democrat, an Independent, or something else?

_Each cell is a share of everyone who gave both a party and an ideology, not of its row._

| | Extremely liberal | Liberal | Slightly liberal | Moderate | Slightly conservative | Conservative | Extremely conservative |
| --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| Republican | 0% | 0% | 1.4% | 4.2% | 4.8% | 20.5% | 5.9% |
| Independent | 0.2% | 1% | 6.7% | 15% | 3.7% | 4.6% | 0.8% |
| Democrat | 1.6% | 9.1% | 3.9% | 4.4% | 0.7% | 0.3% | 0% |
| Something else | 0.8% | 0.5% | 1.4% | 6.7% | 0.4% | 0.8% | 0.5% |

## How do Montanans work and live?

### Four in ten surveyed work locally for a Montana employer

Question: Which of the following best describes your current work situation?

| Answer | Share |
| --- | ---: |
| Work locally for a Montana employer | 42% |
| Work remotely for an out-of-state employer | 5% |
| Self-employed | 19.5% |
| Retired | 27.4% |
| Primarily a student | 0.3% |
| Doing uncompensated work | 1.8% |
| Not currently employed | 4% |

### Most Montanans surveyed own their home

Question: Do you own or rent your residence?

| Answer | Share |
| --- | ---: |
| Own | 79.9% |
| Rent | 17.9% |
| Another arrangement | 2.2% |

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

Question: About what percent of your household income goes to housing each month?

_Share of household income going to housing each month. 30% or more is the federal cost-burden threshold._

| Answer | Share |
| --- | ---: |
| Under 20% | 28.8% |
| 20–29% | 19.9% |
| 30–39% | 17.7% |
| 40–49% | 16.5% |
| 50% or more | 12.5% |
| Unsure | 4.6% |

## How do Montanans feel about the future?

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

Question: Are you generally optimistic or generally pessimistic about each of the following?

**My own personal economic future over the next 2 years**

| Answer | Share |
| --- | ---: |
| Optimistic | 54.5% |
| Pessimistic | 25.6% |
| Unsure | 19.9% |

**The future of Montana**

| Answer | Share |
| --- | ---: |
| Optimistic | 47.1% |
| Pessimistic | 37.2% |
| Unsure | 15.7% |

**The future of the United States of America**

| Answer | Share |
| --- | ---: |
| Optimistic | 26.7% |
| Pessimistic | 54.3% |
| Unsure | 19.1% |

### 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

Question: To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements?

**The American Dream is still attainable**

| Answer | Share |
| --- | ---: |
| Agree | 53.9% |
| Disagree | 43.6% |
| Unsure | 2.4% |

**General advances in technology will positively affect my economic future**

| Answer | Share |
| --- | ---: |
| Agree | 49.4% |
| Disagree | 40.7% |
| Unsure | 9.9% |

**Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) will positively affect my economic future**

| Answer | Share |
| --- | ---: |
| Agree | 25% |
| Disagree | 63.3% |
| Unsure | 11.6% |

## The Montana Towns Index

### Montanans surveyed rated their towns well on everything but affordability

Question: The following questions ask you to rate your local town (i.e., the one where you most often do business and attend events).

_Scores are the share rating each measure good, of those who rated it (Unsure left out), averaged within each category; the index is the equal-weight mean of the categories. Towns with too few respondents are withheld. Butte rests on few respondents, so its scores are less precise._

| | Index | Community | Economy | Family | Affordability | Walkability |
| --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| Montana | 64 | 79.8 | 61.5 | 76.4 | 27.5 | 74.9 |
| Butte | 68.8 | 100 | 58.7 | 59.4 | 36.5 | 89.3 |
| Missoula | 66 | 79.5 | 59.9 | 73.3 | 28.4 | 89 |
| Helena | 65.1 | 80 | 62.2 | 74.4 | 29.5 | 79.3 |
| Great Falls | 63.6 | 69.5 | 60.9 | 86.2 | 21.4 | 80 |
| Bozeman | 62.8 | 84.7 | 60.8 | 82.9 | 4.2 | 81.5 |
| Rural counties | 62.8 | 84.1 | 54.6 | 73.1 | 26 | 76 |
| Kalispell | 61.6 | 87.4 | 71.3 | 76.9 | 12 | 60.3 |
| Billings | 60.8 | 68.1 | 75.6 | 77.9 | 25.2 | 57.5 |

## 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

Question: To what extent do you support or oppose each of the following in Montana?

**Ensuring public lands remain under public management**

| Answer | Share |
| --- | ---: |
| Support | 97.4% |
| Oppose | 1.9% |
| Unsure | 0.6% |

**Limiting the influence of money in politics**

| Answer | Share |
| --- | ---: |
| Support | 95% |
| Oppose | 4% |
| Unsure | 1% |

**Limiting the role of political parties in our elections and institutions**

| Answer | Share |
| --- | ---: |
| Support | 85% |
| Oppose | 9.2% |
| Unsure | 5.8% |

**Increased funding to pay public school teachers with increased performance standards**

| Answer | Share |
| --- | ---: |
| Support | 81.4% |
| Oppose | 15.8% |
| Unsure | 2.8% |

**A childcare stipend for working parents for every child aged 0–5**

| Answer | Share |
| --- | ---: |
| Support | 64.7% |
| Oppose | 23.3% |
| Unsure | 12.1% |

**Increased property taxes on second homes to fund more affordable housing for others**

| Answer | Share |
| --- | ---: |
| Support | 63.4% |
| Oppose | 35% |
| Unsure | 1.6% |

**Allowing communities the option of applying a sales tax to tourist spending to support locals**

| Answer | Share |
| --- | ---: |
| Support | 62.3% |
| Oppose | 32.1% |
| Unsure | 5.6% |

**Community planning that prioritizes density over sprawl**

| Answer | Share |
| --- | ---: |
| Support | 47.5% |
| Oppose | 30.4% |
| Unsure | 22.1% |

**Constructing artificial intelligence (AI) data centers**

| Answer | Share |
| --- | ---: |
| Support | 17.8% |
| Oppose | 74.9% |
| Unsure | 7.3% |

## 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

Question: To what extent do you support or oppose each of the following?

**Government treating everyone equally regardless of their identity**

| Answer | Share |
| --- | ---: |
| Support | 80.6% |
| Oppose | 12.1% |
| Unsure | 7.4% |

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

| Answer | Share |
| --- | ---: |
| Support | 78% |
| Oppose | 19.9% |
| Unsure | 2.2% |

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

| Answer | Share |
| --- | ---: |
| Support | 71.8% |
| Oppose | 14.9% |
| Unsure | 13.3% |

**American defense of democracy abroad**

| Answer | Share |
| --- | ---: |
| Support | 67.4% |
| Oppose | 19.3% |
| Unsure | 13.3% |

## 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

Question: What grade would you give each of the following elected officials for their job performance?

_Letters are weighted medians excluding Unsure; distributions include Unsure. The mayor result pools respondents in Billings, Missoula, Great Falls, Bozeman, Butte, Helena, Kalispell, Belgrade, not all Montana respondents. Results with too few respondents in a lens are withheld._

**Montana’s Mayors** — weighted median grade B (Unsure excluded)

| Answer | Share |
| --- | ---: |
| A | 8% |
| B | 38.3% |
| C | 19.6% |
| D | 9.2% |
| F | 8.2% |
| Unsure | 16.7% |

**Greg Gianforte (Montana Governor)** — weighted median grade C (Unsure excluded)

| Answer | Share |
| --- | ---: |
| A | 18.9% |
| B | 18.5% |
| C | 19.8% |
| D | 17.3% |
| F | 22.2% |
| Unsure | 3.3% |

**Steve Daines (U.S. Senator)** — weighted median grade D (Unsure excluded)

| Answer | Share |
| --- | ---: |
| A | 14.5% |
| B | 13.4% |
| C | 18.1% |
| D | 14.7% |
| F | 32% |
| Unsure | 7.2% |

**Tim Sheehy (U.S. Senator)** — weighted median grade D (Unsure excluded)

| Answer | Share |
| --- | ---: |
| A | 18.2% |
| B | 14.9% |
| C | 14.5% |
| D | 12.8% |
| F | 35.2% |
| Unsure | 4.4% |

**Donald Trump (U.S. President)** — weighted median grade F (Unsure excluded)

| Answer | Share |
| --- | ---: |
| A | 18.9% |
| B | 11% |
| C | 8.8% |
| D | 8.4% |
| F | 52% |
| Unsure | 0.8% |

## Big ideas

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

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

_Themes in the written answers, as a share of everyone who answered; an answer could carry several._

| Answer | Share |
| --- | ---: |
| Roads, services & public safety | 15.4% |
| Affordable housing | 15% |
| Jobs, wages & cost of living | 14.9% |
| Slow growth & outside buyers | 14.1% |
| Cut property taxes | 11.3% |
| Accountable government | 10.8% |
| Sales or tourist tax | 10.3% |
| Schools & youth | 8.2% |
| Public lands & environment | 8% |
| Lower taxes, less government | 7.1% |
| Health care & safety net | 6.9% |
| Tax the wealthy & second homes | 5.4% |
| Values & how we treat each other | 4.8% |
| Money out of politics | 3.5% |
| Change who's in power | 2.6% |
| Immigration enforcement | 2.2% |

## Big ideas, in Montanans' own words

- “Reducing property taxes for all senior citizens.”
- “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.”
- “Reduce or eliminate property taxes”
- “YIMBY”
- “How about treating each other in the same way that we wish to be treated!”
- “No income tax, just sales tax”
- “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.”
- “Keep out of state political money out!”
- “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.”
- “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.”
- “We really need more affordable housing.”
- “Rent freezes”
- “Lower housing costs, more pay for teachers”
- “Going back to the purple libertarian and politically independent state it used to be prior to 2020.”
- “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”
- “Tax the billionaires who are buying up all of our land.”
- “No property tax”
- “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.”
- “Tourist taxes”
- “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.”
- “Stop selling our property to out of state people that don't work in Montana”
- “Office space available to rent.”
- “Affordable housing, more taxation for the wealthy”
- “Affordable housing”
- “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.”
- “Addressing property tax issues.”
- “We need new power grid regulations and investment in clean nuclear energy. Montana is not prepared for extreme climate events.”
- “Keeping public land for the public, not approving mines and AI data centers”
- “Keep data centers out (seems obtainable not big).”
- “Affordable housing and access to healthcare. Less of a gap between the extremely wealthy and lower or working class Montanans.”
- “Don't let Californians come in and buy everything so some people can't buy their own place”
- “Taxes to tourism and second homes, vacation homes”
- “Solve the housing affordability problem. Drive down interest rates and property taxes.”
- “Ban loud and polluting diesel trucks that everyone seems to drive here. Bring Circuit, the ride service here!”
- “Better snowplowing in Bozeman”
- “Montana was populated by diverse people and we thrive from that diversity and acceptance of others.”
- “Stop the bullshit regulations that are hindering business development in Silver Bow County”
- “Reduce wasteful spending.”
- “Improve schools and business to keep buying power locally”
- “Require newly hired law enforcement officers to go through some kind of BJJ training and the Safe Wrap program.”
- “Tax the rich more.”
- “Elect representatives that actually do their jobs instead of doing the bidding of big donors & The president.”
- “More public transportation”
- “Everyone needs to become more civil to each other.”
- “Return control of government to the states (I.E. Dept of Education)”
- “I would like to see more effort put into the cleanliness of our communities.”
- “Gov't officials working for the people, not their pockets. Telling the truth, not what your party wants you to say.”
- “Get back to a progressive income tax that every adult pays, with a $50.00 minimum tax.”
- “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”
- “More concern for senior citizens”
- “Housing regulations reform for affordability”
- “Stop catering to the houseless. Lower property taxes at least for locals.”
- “Give the local Montanans a break”
- “Finish the damn oil pipelines”
- “More affordable housing”
- “Stop unchecked expansion and prioritize protecting our land, resources, and small town way of life over unnecessary development.”
- “Return to God”
- “Tax the wealthy at higher rates than currently.”
- “Get money out of politics”
- “Preserve access to public lands. Work toward a resilient future.”
- “Distributing resources (i.e. food, water, outdated products) off shelves to provide to those in need, over throwing it out.”
- “Transparency in government spending. Federal officials that would hold town hall meetings.”
- “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!”
- “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!!”
- “Statewide Sales Taxes & decrease property taxes”
- “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.”
- “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.”
- “Bring in big Industry. Make it affordable to Live in Montana.”
- “No taxes on primary homes after 60 years of age.”
- “Remove dark money from politics”
- “Addressing housing affordability so my kids can own a home here someday. Tax out-of-state secondary homeowners an additional amount!”
- “Electing more Democrats so I feel represented @ both the Federal and State level.”
- “Civility”
- “Doing what is best for all and not based on income or wealth. Rural areas could use more for their people.”
- “Stop becoming other states Montana identity is completely lost.”
- “Limit growth, Better growth management”
- “We should have more after school programs for the youth.”
- “Try to rein in excessive and overlapping government. Improve productivity.”
- “If you want to tax the tourists, then we need an ID to show we are local!”
- “Move pot shops out of downtown. Create incentive for shops, restaurants + galleries to support tourism + tax tourists.”
- “Big Money out of Politics and decision making”
- “Fix property taxes”
- “Quit spreading so much money. It's not yours.”
- “Sales tax with earmarks for infrastructure: roads, bridges, public education.”
- “Vote out MAGA politicians!”
- “Encourage larger companies with good paying jobs to come to MT.”
- “An amendment to the U.S. Constitution requiring a balanced budget, requiring we never spend more than we make.”
- “Invest in the youth with quality public education. Increase minimum wage!”
- “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.”
- “Reduce Income tax Add sales tax”
- “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?”
- “Maintain control/decisions at the most local level. Take away open (school) enrollment in rural areas.”
- “Disallow corporations from doing business in Montana if they spend money on politics.”
- “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.”
- “Treat all people the same”
- “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.”
- “More cultural Diversity”
- “More Rapid Construction”
- “I wish college would teach both political sides & elementary would teach true history. Illegalize marijuana.”
- “Stop Urban Sprawl.”
- “Make voting easy by allowing mail in ballots. Quit eroding our rights. Fire Gianforte and his Right wing buddies.”
- “Support for children (housing, food and school)”
- “Provide affordable housing for purchase or rental. Jobs should offer "higher" salaries/pay.”
- “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.”
- “Graduated income tax & Protect parks and public lands”
- “Property tax relief... we can't fund everything. Sales tax, with removal of property tax. Tax spending accountability.”
- “Assessing a State of MT sales tax on non-essentials like food & medical, lowering property taxes go along with this”
- “Something has to be done about the housing situation. Rent is out of control and my daughter left because of that.”
- “Leadership that focus on serving the people following the constitution”
- “Keep outside influence to a minimum”
- “Allow local business to grow. Allow new business to Helena. Get rid of "old money & influence".”
- “Time machine to go back and halt production of the show "Yellowstone"”
- “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.”
- “Affordable housing (get rid of venture capitalists buying up homes, apt building & trailer courts. No more air B&B's)”
- “Minimize the role of government - FIne 90% of educational administrators, emphasize the 4 core & remove politics & fire teachers of wokeness.”
- “I live in a very rural area. Less state government.”
- “Get rid of political parties!!! We're all Americans.”
- “Be patient and considerate of others, and practice what you preach.”
- “Remove all of the marijuana stores, and make marijuana a "prescription only" drug. People are driving "stoned" everywhere.”
- “Support our young people with affordable housing, child care and health care & education.”
- “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”
- “Taxing billionaires”
- “Stop focusing on the "Yellowstone" TV show playground for rich tourists and make Bozeman more of an enjoyable city for locals.”
- “Universal healthcare/ quality rural healthcare. Childcare access for working parents. Pay public school teachers!”
- “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.”
- “My town needs to be more welcoming of new business and growth.”
- “Let's be less political. Get stuff done for the people, not your party.”
- “Enforce fireworks laws and increase the amount of fines.”
- “Tax "second" homes at a higher rate for millionaires”
- “Help for middle class and retired individuals are struggling with minimal income - many jobs at same time just to pay essential living expenses.”
- “Limit growth”
- “Institute a sales tax”
- “Replacing sales tax with Sales Tax.”
- “Access to full liquor license to increase the number of good restaurants- also more affordable housing (income based)”
- “Reduce the influence of political parties.”
- “Keep all currently roadless areas roadless. Adopt a graduated income tax. Rich folks should pay a higher %.”
- “Transparency of how all Taxes are being spent. Especially The general fund Acct.”
- “A primary system that limits the influence of far right & far left voters”
- “Big electoral turnover & jails failed with all crooks & treasonous parties”
- “Do not sell or lease public lands! Keep Montana wild!”
- “Fix fish and wildlife tag purchasing system increase public access to gamelands”
- “No landlord can charge more than 33% of Montana's median income for rent.”
- “Primary + secondary education”
- “Universal database so you can request your medical records from one source, not each provider”
- “Enact a sales tax and reduce property taxes”
- “Spending limit on campaigning for office- no out of state money”
- “Stop all the handout! Make people work for a living.”
- “Lower taxes”
- “Term limits for government officials especially U.S. senators”
- “Get rid of Citizens United.”
- “Reestablishing a wear newspaper so we can be aware of it is going on in MT!”
- “Term limits politicians”
- “We need to make marijuana illegal again for the general population.”
- “Get involved with your community!”
- “Keep public land for public use for fishing, hunting, camping, rec, etc...”
- “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.”
- “Fair taxes for all”
- “Faster job growth at a living wage to attract young families support family farms rather than corporate take overs”
- “Open primary, ranked choice”
- “Acceptance of one another!”
- “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.”
- “Put more money and resources into our public schools at every level.”
- “Add manufacturing, mining, logging.”
- “Derive ways to make housing more affordable.”
- “Removing President Donald J Trump's influence from our country and the world.”
- “Tax the rich and corporations to achieve: 1. Empower small business and working/ middle class. 2. Offer safety net and opportunity for all.”
- “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.”
- “Stop building poorly constructed cookie cutter apartment buildings on every piece of open land left in Montana.”
- “More affordable housing for families and workers in our community.”
- “Lower gas prices and food, medical bills.”
- “Listening to the people. Stop buying property in the town can't develop and then raise taxes. Help new businesses to come to Missoula.”
- “Sales tax, Lower property tax for Mt. residence.”
- “Limit out of state Hunting.”
- “Critical thinking skills and respect for science.”
- “We need common sense gun laws and protections for civil rights of all humans.”
- “Protect public lands and environment.”
- “Stop construction on apt. Building get schools to stay within their budget.”
- “We need more support for our disabled sisters and brothers.”
- “Tax the rich and wealthy.”
- “Being open minded and being able to listen and share ideas.”
- “Limit ability to turn properties into air BandB/VRBO, particularly to property owners whose primary residence is outside of Montana.”
- “Nothing local government elections non partisan”
- “Offer incentive to bring business and growth to my town I put money into local community for improvement.”
- “Get rid of the law school in Missoula to start and lower 2nd home taxes for Mt residents!”
- “Sales Tax!! Eliminate Income tax give people more money to spend - They will spend it!”
- “Work on our state's infrastructure.”
- “Reduce property taxes.”
- “Over Decreasing burdensome rules and regulations on every aspect of our lives.”
- “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.”
- “Bring in new business!”
- “Sales Tax! And there isn't even a close second”
- “Term limits. Stop govt. waste. Charge tourists move money to come to MT.”
- “Stress good values rather than money or economics”
- “Remember we were all once outsiders”
- “Heavily taxing the wealthy & second homes”
- “Raise taxes to fund schools”
- “Be Honest”
- “Build more affordable homes. Recruit more manufacturing jobs.”
- “We need a homeless program!!”
- “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.”
- “Provide affordable housing for youth and elderly.”
- “Eliminate Special interest In Finance in Government”
- “Town: New Road. State: Fix housing affordability”
- “Mega farms”
- “Monitor traffic lights, Too many people go thru red or almost red. Maybe an AI system.”
- “Stop relaxing standards + values. Demand accountability. Restore basic primary education standards. Entertainment is not information.”
- “Universal Healthcare "Medicare for All"”
- “Just because Bozeman/Belgrade are erupting w/growth does not signify tax increases on all of Gallatin County.”
- “Do not align with the principles of D.C. We need to do what mountains want.”
- “Keep it rural keep out the $ that buys all the land”
- “Get rid of Donald Trump!”
- “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!”
- “Extremely less property tax. Lower taxes overall.”
- “Honest, moral administration with integrity! Sad, but (may not be?) attainable!”
- “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.”
- “Cultural diversity, inclusion, fairness”
- “Stop catering to rich out of staters.”
- “Eliminate the party system, which will never happen”
- “Sales tax that would have to be voted on by the people of Montana to increase, not politicians!”
- “Less ideological extremes, greater emphasis on factual subjective information sharing, more concern about our nations future”
- “Reevaluate property taxes”
- “Politicians who serve constituents wants/needs/concerns”
- “Youth space in every community for them to connect w/ their peers in person.”
- “45 MPH in a 60 MPH zone is fine as long as you use the turnouts”
- “No tax on social security payments. Lift tax tap on social security at federal level”
- “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)”
- “Affordable housing”
- “get big money out of state politics”
- “Get private money out of politics”
- “Keep property taxes low”
- “Mental health facilities”
- “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.”
- “Term limits for state and fed employees, get money out of politics, politicians must work together”
- “Rules so political figures don't get breaks that are not available to us all.”
- “More state control of wildlife and public lands”
- “Reduce the property tax. Investigate the city of Missoula officials and find out what they are really doing with the money.”
- “A sales tax instead of all the other taxes.”
- “Continue to support and the growth of Montana businesses (local)”
- “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.”
- “Street improvements - curbs + gutters. It would improve the looks dramatically in many neighborhoods”
- “Put other people's well being before yourself. Ex, motorcycles + car racing at night. Loud and dangerous.”
- “Tourist taxes”
- “Increase cost of city services gradually over time instead of large increases every four years”
- “4 day workweek- more time for childcare, family, health, recreation, elder care, etc.”
- “Increase funding for education k thru college”
- “Vote out all republicans!”
- “Getting quality people in positions of power. Remove current politicians”
- “Please don't use up MT waterways, creeks, and rivers for data centers. Montana waters - creeks - belong to all. Campers - fishermen - hikers - etc.”
- “Hold on to our values for the people, for our kids, for the future of Montana”
- “Restrict out of state developers”
- “Sales tax with a reduction in property tax”
- “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.”
- “Keep all these people coming in better keep their left ways out of Montana. Socialism is wrong it never works in world history.”
- “Not my idea, but: keep public lands in public hands!”
- “Sales tax for people who don't have proof of Montana residency”
- “Sales tax for tourist only, less property tax”
- “Tax the tourists who come here to visit”
- “More thoughtful planning on how to handle the huge population increase, including listen to the population of the area”
- “Remember what it means to be an American. Oppose divisive ideologies. Question everything. Remember all social media has an agenda.”
- “Keep out of state money out of our election!”
- “Don't tax Montana residents (increased prop tax) on their cabins (second homes) that they saved and bought after years of hard work”
- “Create a sales tax to help lower property taxes”
- “Put the gambling revenues all back into the schools! That's what we voted when it was approved.”
- “Not have big Business take over keep our parks, wilderness, UN developed”
- “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.”
- “City council should listen to opposing/anti-sprawling into countryside-taking farmland out of production instead of doing what they are bribed to do”
- “Tax reductions for native Montanans”
- “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 contractor to build a subdivision of "tiny homes" for seniors”
- “No taxes for 100% service connected veterans”
- “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!”
- “Easier and faster access to quality healthcare and medical services”
- “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.”
- “Create a toll for out of State or tax visitors. Stop raising property tax.”
- “Commercial property taxes lowered for small business, and residential property taxes and evaluation. Cost of living is too high.”
- “Kill Deer, safer roads and gardens”
- “Keep Montana Wild”
- “Fund better ways to fund schools & ensure traditions teaching with core subjects & No indoctrination to progressive ideology”
- “Get rid of property taxes and institute a sales tax.”
- “Tourism tax could allow for reduced taxes on residents and increase local affordability.”
- “Get Trump out of office along with cabinet members”
- “No more mobile homes”
- “Sales Tax- not on food.”
- “Get big money out of politics”
- “Our local a county government should make decisions on development that improves the quality of people+families rather than favor businesses or industry”
- “Individuals should respect "all" regardless of color, age or religions”
- “Affordable housing - hopefully someone will come up with some great ideas.”
- “Infrastructure, better highways. Interstate highway to Flathead. Better use of hydroelectric dams (energy).”
- “Get rid of urban camping!”
- “Ban out of staters.”
- “Open mindedness. Open to change, not oppose things that could better our community.”
- “Out of state people can visit, but then leave!”
- “U.S. Hwy. 2 improvement- 4 lanes west of Kalispell.”
- “Elected mayor for our town, not appointed. City finances need to be public and audited.”
- “Quit letting money take our land. Especially public land.”
- “To stop all new companies coming in.”
- “Relocate Montana's capital to Billings.”
- “Our town needs improvement on its entertainment for kids. There no place to go and they need places to hangout and converse safely.”
- “Impeach Trumpul”
- “Build a fence around it.”
- “High prices for renting need to be removed!!”
- “The roads Hwy. 2 - 4 lanes.”
- “I live in heaven. Our infrastructure is decrepit. We must fix basic essentials first.”
- “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.”
- “A moratorium on newer builds until our sanitation systems can handle the growth.”
- “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.”
- “Help the indigenous people & that doesn't mean money.”
- “A property tax freeze on senior citizens over 65 years old.”
- “People accepting others' view”
- “Out of state - worldwide carbon tax”
- “Improve access for all RE: Housing & Healthcare”
- “Add an extra large tax to real estate purchases for out of state people, 30-40% minimum”
- “Stop giving away our tax dollars to those who pay no 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.”
- “Require all graduates from high school to volunteer for a public entity for 1 yr. learn respect for others and empathy.”
- “Must reduce property taxes using a fair-to-all scale!!”
- “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.”
- “Decrease cost of living/increase wages. No idea how to do this. Attract more employers?”
- “Keep government at all levels out of the people's business. Less govt equals more prosperity.”
- “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.”
- “Remember the U.S. founding principles of life, liberty, and the bill of rights.”
- “Reduce the size and cost of all levels of government starting with waste.”
- “No more political parties in state and local elections!”
- “Tax the rich, target high earning individuals and luxury real estate to fund public services.”
- “Increase funding for fire dept so the men make a livable wage for the city we live in.”
- “State scholarship for all Montana HS graduates for college just like the Hathaway scholarship in Wyoming.”
- “Get rid of high property tax.”
- “Though not perfect, Montana works better than every other state. Keep politics moderate.”
- “Abortion right with time limits for all women.”
- “Eliminate property tax and replace with sales tax. But only if property tax is eliminated.”

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