GFPS claims just over $1 million in innovative tax credit program
Great Falls Public Schools received $1,008,000 from 30 community members in this year’s innovative educational tax credit program.
The state created a tax credit program for education during the 2021 Legislature and the window to claim those credits is coming up.
Registration for the dollar-for-dollar tax credit opened Jan. 21, 2026.
This year’s statewide cap is $7.2 million and GFPS is eligible for up to $2.88 million, according to Luke Diekhans, GFPS’ business operations manager.
GFPS encouraging local participation in innovative tax credit program
Diekhans told The Electric that the district had 54 donors ready to contribute, but the funds were claimed within seven minutes.
Since the program was created, GFPS has raised $3,11,288, ranking first among all AA school districts each year.
The program allows residents to make a cash donation to their local public schools and individuals or companies can contribute up to $200,000 per year for educational programs. Married taxpayers filing jointly may take a tax credit of up to $400,000 for each tax credit, according to the Montana Department of Revenue.
Only public schools can access the state system to claim the tax credits so a check or cashier’s check has to be provided to GFPS by the time the program window opens in January. The district cannot accept credit card payments for the program.
GFPS launching summer experiential learning program with state education tax credit funds [2025]
Contributions can be directed by the school districts to innovative educational programs that benefit students through transformational and advanced learning opportunities for students, programs, services and equipment for students with disabilities, work-based learning partnerships, post-secondary credit or career certifications and technologies that improve student experiences and opportunities, according to GFPS.
GFPS board approves $1.2 million contract to turn former GFH shop into learning center [2025]
Last year, GFPS raised $916,188 through the program.
GFPS claims $916,188 in state tax credits [2025]
GFPS is planning to use funds raised through the program for specialized curriculum related grade level field trips, replacing those that were lost in budget cuts several years ago; remodeling the former Great Falls High shop area into a district-wide enhanced learning center that may be used by all schools and a specialized athletic mental health program.
GFPS, local attorneys encouraging participating in educational tax credit program [2024]
In October, Superintendent Heather Hoyer told the school board that the district is planning to use some of the funding to create an innovative summer learning program grant open for teachers to submit their proposals in teams of one elementary and one middle or high school teacher to create a two-day summer learning program.
GFPS planning learning hub remodel with tax credit funds [2024]
In 2025, the statewide limit was $6 million.
GFPS could claim up to $1.2 million for the elementary and high school districts for a total $2.4 million this year.
GFPS secured $916,188 in contributions from 46 community members.
In 2024, most of the available $5 million was claimed within the first 10 minutes, and GFPS has a maximum of five people allowed to input contributions, according to Brian Patrick, GFPS’ director of business operations. GFPS could claim up to $1 million in that cycle. GFPS reached the maximum allowable in contributions that year.
In 2023, most of the $2 million credit was claimed immediately.
In 2022, the $1 million credit was claimed in less than six minutes statewide.
Those contributions are on a first come, first serve basis until the funding is claimed, which usually happens within 10 minutes.
GFPS claims $1 million in state tax credit program [2024]
The tax credit window opens each January through the Montana Department of Revenue when schools can claim contributions on a first-come, first-served basis. With more than 100 schools now participating, a majority of the funds are typically claimed within the first 10 minutes.
GFPS asking locals to consider tax credit that benefits public schools [2023]
The tax credit program allows taxpayers to direct their state income tax dollars to support local public school districts rather than the state’s coffers and participants get a dollar-for-dollar tax credit on their state income taxes.
In October, DOR opens a second opportunity to participate by claiming any unused or withdrawn credits from the previous year, which are lesser amounts than what’s available in January.
Brian Patrick, GFPS’ previous director of business operations, has credited local attorney Anders Blewett with leading a community effort to drive the tax benefit for the district.
Blewett had learned of the program in the falls of 2023 when $68,500 of the tax credit became available in October 2023 and he was able to claim $66,000 for GFPS.
The following year, he worked to raise awareness of the program and 35 taxpayers participated in the tax credit program, securing $1 million in funding for GFPS.
In January 2024, he was joined by his brother Drew Blewett and father Zander Blewett, also attorneys at Hoyt and Blewett, who contributed collectively about $271,000 to GFPS through the tax credit program.
In October 2024, $277,000 in tax credits became available statewide, Anders Blewett contributed an additional $29,000 toward GFPS, according to the law firm.
Ben Snipes, another local attorney, had participated in the tax credit program in 2022, the first year it was available and was the only local to do so that year, according to GFPS records.
The Blewetts have a history of supporting GFPS.
Drew Blewett previously served as board chair of the Great Falls Public Schools Foundation.
Zander Blewett funded the design and construction of the wrestling room at Great Falls High School, which was built in 1998, and has provided the annual Blewett Family Scholarship to graduating seniors of GFH since 1994.
You must be logged in to post a comment.