ICYMI: AFP-Montana’s Jesse Ramos Discussing TIF Financing Reform & Corporate Welfare in Missoula

Nov 17, 2025 by AFP

MISSOULA, MT — Last week, Americans for Prosperity-Montana (AFP-Montana) State Director Jesse Ramos was in Missoula to discuss Tax Increment Financing (TIF) at City Club Missoula, a process by which the municipal government supplements development through taxpayer dollars.

Ramos presented an argument for opposing TIF financing, stating that it meets the definition of corporate welfare: “The use of public tax dollars to financially benefit private companies — usually through subsidies, tax breaks, special financing, or government-funded infrastructure.” Ramos argued that Montana, once underdeveloped, no longer needs to give government, taxpayer-funded handouts to private companies to nurture development in the state. Furthermore, TIF financing drives up property taxes and artificially increases the cost of living in Big Sky Country.

TIF financing raises taxes and places unnecessary burdens on school district funding and funding other core, local government functions like first responders in the state.

AFP-Montana State Director Jesse Ramos issued the following statement:

“AFP-Montana is dedicated to fighting for Montana taxpayers and protecting the blatant misuse and corporate welfare of Montanans’ hard-earned paychecks. TIF financing was initially intended to help spur development in specific, distressed areas of Missoula, extending and locking in financing plans for up to 40 years. For these 40 years, the voters have not had a direct say over these districts, the tax money or the debt it incurs.

“Urban areas of Montana, such as Missoula, simply no longer require government handouts to bankroll million-dollar developments by private companies. Montanans likely won’t see a return in TIF financing, for it artificially redirects growth that would have occurred naturally in the area.

“Montana must tighten up definitions defining TIF and sunset all TIF revenues above debt service every year in order for taxpayers to reap some benefit of their investment. Missoula was built in the 1860s with axes, mule teams, and grit. Development has and will continue to happen without TIF.”

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