As a proud retiree of the United States Army, I served our great nation for over 26 years. Four of those years were spent in the Middle East, defending our freedom and that of others. Today, I bear the scars of that service - loss of hearing, multiple surgeries, migraines, PTSD, and TBI among other ailments. My sacrifices have earned me a medical retirement as a military retiree and 100% disabled veteran.

I am not alone in this journey. Many military retirees and veterans live in Montana, each with their own stories of service and sacrifice. Yet despite these sacrifices made for our country's freedom, we are not fully exempt from state property tax or income tax. 

Current Montana income and property tax policies only allow exemptions based on tiered income levels, which includes spousal income. I believe this is unfair and that a military retiree’s income should be fully exempt from state income tax. Additionally, many of our Montana veterans became disabled from fighting for our freedom. Freedom to own land in our beautiful country, yet high property taxes can cause veterans to lose their property. One-hundred percent disabled veterans should be fully exempt from Montana’s property tax, as is the case many states now.

We call on the Montana State Legislature to reform its current property tax laws to fully exempt 100% disabled veterans from property tax. Furthermore, we urge them to amend their income tax laws to fully exempt military retirees from Montana State Income Tax.

According to data from The US Census Bureau (2018), there are approximately 92 thousand veterans living in Montana - many who could benefit greatly from these changes. This is not just about easing financial burdens; it's about recognizing the sacrifices made by those who have served our country with honor.

Please sign this petition if you believe that those who have given so much should receive full exemption status from Montana's Income and Property Taxes as a small token of gratitude for their service.