At the Oct. 16 candidate forum hosted by Catalyst Montana and the Missoula Tenants Union, several municipal candidates identified three recurring priorities for the city budget amid an approximate shortfall of $3.1 million: housing, infrastructure and core public-safety services.

Rebecca Dawson, a Ward 2 candidate who noted the council’s primary responsibility is the budget, said the city “needs to look at what our funding responsibilities are” and prioritize public safety and infrastructure before other discretionary items. “Sometimes you have to slow down on what you're spending or eliminate unnecessary costs,” Dawson said.

Other candidates emphasized housing and infrastructure as the top three priorities. Justin Pontiff said increasing diverse housing supply—market-rate and affordable—should remain “a huge priority.” Kristen Jordan, a Ward 6 councilor, listed “housing, infrastructure, climate and community well-being” as budget priorities and urged reassessing capital improvement prioritization.

How to pay for it: Candidates proposed several revenue and spending strategies but offered no single solution at the forum. Suggestions included:

- Strengthening the affordable housing trust fund and using it for deep affordability (0–30% area median income). (Kristen Jordan)
- Bond financing akin to Montgomery County, Maryland’s large housing bond, to generate one-time capital for affordable housing. (Mike Nugent)
- Public–private partnerships and developer commitments (e.g., dedicating a portion of development proceeds to affordability). (various candidates)

Several candidates urged redirecting discretionary spending—citing recent expenditures on private security and code enforcement—as potential sources to reallocate toward housing and tenant services. “The $1,000,000 we spend in code enforcement to criminalize people for homelessness… Throw that money towards the tenant rights council,” David Portrazzi said.

What was not decided: Candidates differed on whether the general fund should be the primary source for new housing programs. Some argued bonds and the affordable housing trust fund are better mechanisms to avoid additional pressure on property taxes; others cautioned about alienating local lenders if bonding plans were not structured carefully.

Ending: Candidates said details matter and promised follow-up conversations with constituents and stakeholders to set specific, implementable budget proposals if elected.