Missoula County adopts policy to pay 'lived experts' for program input

Missoula County commissioners approved a new lived expert honorarium policy that creates a payment mechanism for people who provide insight to county services based on personal experience but do not qualify as employees or independent contractors.

County staff said the policy will be used for focus groups and similar engagements where individuals who have used county services can be compensated for their time and expertise. The policy establishes an administrative mechanism distinct from employment, professional services agreements or independent contractor agreements.

The staff presentation explained the policy’s purpose: to recognize and compensate community members who contribute lived experience to county program design and evaluation. Commissioners moved to adopt the policy and the board voted verbally “Aye.”

Why it matters: the policy formalizes a method to pay participants who provide program feedback, which county staff said will support more inclusive public engagement and help the county gather perspectives from service users who otherwise might not be able to participate.

What’s next: staff will implement the policy and use it in upcoming focus groups and engagement activities; commissioners did not identify additional conditions in the meeting record.