Tax policy is subject of April 6-7 Wheeler Center conference in Bozeman

BOZEMAN - The Montana State University-based Burton K. Wheeler Center will host a conference April 6-7 focused on taxation and its broader impact on civic life.

"Use Your Voice: A Civil Conversation on Tax Policy" will be held in Norm Asbjornson Hall on the MSU campus in Bozeman. Conference sessions will address the practical and philosophical dimensions of state tax policy, including its economic implications, constitutional considerations and long-term impacts on communities. The conference is open to the public, with registration available online.

The event's keynote address will be delivered on April 6 by Bob Story. A longtime state legislator, Story served as president of the Montana Senate and is currently executive director of the Montana Taxpayers Association.

On April 7, the conference will feature panel discussions and breakout sessions with Manish Bhatt, vice president of state tax policy from the Tax Foundation; Kristin Smith, an economist at Headwaters Economics and expert on Montana's local economies and tax structures; and a moderated discussion between former Gov. Marc Racicot and former Rep. Dorothy Bradley, who will revisit their historic statewide sales tax debate during the closely contested 1992 gubernatorial race. The discussion will be moderated by Gallatin County Commissioner Zach Brown.

Registration in advance is encouraged. Registration is $99 and can be made online at bit.ly/4u3yNP9. MSU students may attend the conference for free; students who are interested should email [email protected] for more details.

Since 1988, the nonprofit Burton K. Wheeler Center has provided Montanans with nonpartisan discussions of important policy topics. Its mission is to facilitate informed discussion and civic engagement on issues critical to the future of Montana. More information is available at wheelercenter.org or by emailing [email protected].

For more information on the conference, visit https://www.wheelercenter.org/conferences/.