Montana lawmakers will weigh in on whether to hold a special session in September to return some of the state’s $1.5 billion estimated budget surplus to taxpayers and reduce bonded debt.

“These unforeseen, unappropriated and surplus tax collections belong to the people of Montana,” said a letter from Republicans to the Montana Secretary of State requesting a special session. “The people of Montana have overpaid their tax liability to operate our state.”

Ten lawmakers signed the letter, one of the conditions for requesting the Secretary of State issue a poll on convening a special session. Friday, Secretary of State spokesperson Richie Melby said in an email the process for submitting ballots to legislators already was underway.

The letter requesting the special session sets out three goals: Rebates of up to $1,000 for Montana resident homeowners who paid property taxes on a primary residence in 2021 and 2020; rebates of up to $1,250 for individual taxpayers and $2,500 for couples filing jointly; and a payment of $100 million to reduce Montana’s bonded debt.