Montana Remains Top 10 for Fiscal Health Under Gov. Gianforte’s Leadership

Jumps from 22nd to 7th nationally in five years

Governor's Office

HELENA, Mont. - Governor Greg Gianforte today announced that Montana's fiscal health remained in the top 10 states nationally under his leadership, rising from 22nd in 2021 to 7th in 2026. In 2025, Montana was ranked 8th for fiscal health.

"Montana continues to rank in the top 10 for fiscal health in the nation thanks to our responsible budgeting and belief that Montanans know how to spend their money better than the government does," Gov. Gianforte said. "As we look ahead to the next state budget, we will continue to boost our reserves, save for a rainy day, and return money back to the hardworking Montanans who earn it."

In the 2026 Financial State of the States report recently released by Truth in Accounting, a non-partisan think tank founded in 2022 to promote transparency in government financial reporting, an analysis was conducted on the fiscal health of all 50 states. According to the report, "For the fifth consecutive year, Montana improved its fiscal condition and increased available resources to meet obligations, primarily through proactive efforts to reduce long-term debt."

The report continued, the "state used its Debt and Liability Free Fund to retire outstanding bonds, notes, and other obligations while reducing future general obligation bond issuances."

In 2023, Gov. Gianforte signed a bill into law to pay off the state's general obligation debt, making Montana debt-free and saving Montanans $40 million over a period of two years. The increase in Montana's fiscal health occurred during the same period the governor has championed returning money back to hardworking Montanans.

In the same year, the governor secured the largest tax cut in state history, delivering $500 million in permanent income tax relief, income tax rebates of up to $1,250, and $280 million in property tax relief to Montanans. In 2025, Gov. Gianforte continued to deliver historic tax cuts, delivering over $750 million in permanent income tax cuts to Montanans at all income levels. Since taking office, the governor has cut the state's top individual income tax rate by nearly 20 percent. In the upcoming session, the governor is calling to reduce the state's income tax even further and promoting a flat income tax of 4.7 percent.

In the 2025 session of the Montana State Legislature, the governor continued to limit the growth of government spending to less than 1 percent, ensuring that state spending does not outpace the rate of inflation. In addition to historic tax cuts and making Montana debt-free, the governor and legislature have invested to stabilize the budget and mitigate against shortfalls through the Budget Stabilization Fund.

View the 2026 Financial State of the States report here.

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