Missoula’s rising property taxes were a focal point at the League of Women Voters forum, with candidates describing tax increases as a driver of housing cost pressure and calling for more public scrutiny of the city budget.

“Taxes are a big issue, and they’re directly affecting the cost of living,” Candidate Betsy Kraske said, urging advocacy at the state level because “a lot of our property taxes come from the state.” The forum question cited reporting that Missoula County commissioners approved a 2026 budget increasing county property taxes by 8% and that the city approved a 3.4% increase in the same month.

Candidates recommended different near-term approaches. Rebecca Dawson urged simplifying budget documents and more public engagement: “I’d like to see the budget be more of a line by line budget... so that the public would engage more.” Justin Ponton and Betsy Kraske emphasized scrutinizing the city budget and “saving money anywhere we can.” Lucas Moody focused on spending priorities, suggesting the city should prioritize services for local residents rather than subsidies for tourism-related development.

Why it matters: Property taxes fund core city services and influence rental and mortgage costs. Voter concern about tax increases can affect council priorities and the willingness to approve future levies and bonds.

Discussion vs. decisions: The forum presented candidate positions only. There were no council votes or binding budget actions at the event. Candidates said they would scrutinize future budgets if elected and pursue state-level conversations about property tax structure.

Ending: The candidates’ remarks underscore that property-tax levels—and municipal budget priorities—are central campaign issues for Missoula voters heading into the November election.