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Council directs staff to pursue inter-cap loan to buy ladder truck after discussing options
Summary
The council unanimously directed staff to evaluate pursuing an inter-cap loan to finance the Whitefish Fire Department's planned aerial ladder truck, a staff-recommended approach intended to accelerate procurement given long industry lead times and rising costs.
The Whitefish Fire Department briefed council July 21 on the department’s strategic goal to procure an aerial ladder truck and asked for direction on financing. Fire Chief Cole said the department previously applied twice for Assistance to Firefighters grants and was denied; staff now outline three financing options and recommended an inter-cap loan through the Montana Board of Investments.
Chief Cole said the ladder truck is estimated at $1.5 million to $2 million with current industry lead times of three to four years from order to delivery and that the department currently lacks a ladder truck, relying on mutual aid from neighboring departments during the July 13 structure fire. The three financing options included: (1) an inter-cap loan leveraging carryover mills; (2) a voted levy and bond in November 2026; and (3) cash funding via an annual mill levy over multiple years.
Staff recommended option 1, the inter-cap loan, as the most timely and cost-effective path that avoids waiting for a voter-approved bond and reduces the risk of price escalation. Chief Cole described a target timeline that assumes finalizing specifications in August, bidding in September, council award in October, applying for the inter-cap loan in March, and an estimated delivery in October 2028.
A council motion to direct staff to evaluate and pursue the inter-cap loan approach was moved, seconded and passed unanimously. Councilors also expressed support for pursuing a long-term capital replacement levy in future budget cycles to provide sustainable funding for emergency apparatus.
