Dear Fellow Montanan,

GiveItBack.com was founded after watching the never-ending debate in Helena regarding the question -- "What should be done with a budget surplus of $1 billion?" – the largest in the history of our state. We are proposing a simple proposition that anyone can understand -- It’s our money, give it back!

When a customer is overcharged, the Montana way of doing business is to:

1. Apologize to the customer.

2. Give the customer their money back.

Former Montana Governor Marc Racicot once said, "When the taxpayer is overcharged, the people of Montana didn’t tell the state to keep the change."

The taxpayers in Montana are being overcharged one billion dollars -- ~$500 million is already “in the bank”, and an additional ~$500 million is projected in the next two years. We seek to bring a voice of reason, and common sense dialog to address this issue, and propose that much of the money should be returned to Montana taxpayers. To spend most of the surplus, as our Governor and leaders in Helena have proposed, is not only short-sighted, but fiscally irresponsible.

What should we do?

First, we propose that every Montana income tax filer, who paid taxes, receive a check for $1,000. This would return the current on-hand surplus of ~$500 million dollars, and leave money to spare. Second, we propose that Montanan’s call their leaders in Helena, and tell them how they want the remaining ~$500 million dollars used...how much and where to invest in additional State services? How much returned to taxpayers? You decide.

Please join the growing number of Montanan’s saying, “GiveItBack”.  Sign-up on this website, and then send a message to our elected officials.  Our public servants must not forget where this surplus originated -- with the hard-working people of Montana.