Kalispell council approves election call, three SIDs, budget interim spending and pay-matrix update

The Kalispell City Council on June 16 voted on a package of procedural and financing measures: it called a Nov. 4, 2025, general municipal election to fill open mayor, council and municipal judge seats (the council amended the motion to run the election as an all-mail ballot), approved creation of three special improvement districts to support water and sewer work in Morning Star and Green Acres communities, authorized limited expenditures from the FY 2026 preliminary budget and approved an updated nonunion pay matrix with an amendment removing city council members from the pay increase provision.

Why it matters: together these actions set the city’s near-term administrative schedule (the election), clear a path for infrastructure work paid through localized assessments, and allow city operations to continue while the final FY 2026 budget is set.

Election call and ballot method: Resolution 62-57 called a general municipal election for Nov. 4, 2025, for the mayor, council wards 1–4 and municipal judge. The motion was amended on the floor to run the municipal election as an all-mail ballot; the amendment passed and the resolution as amended was approved by roll call (7–0). The council discussed trade-offs including voter convenience, the risk of ballot rejection when mixed ballot styles are placed in a single envelope, and administrative costs of running polling places.

Special improvement districts: The council passed three related resolutions creating Special Improvement Districts (SIDs) to support water and sewer upgrades: Resolution 62-58 (SID 346 Morning Star Sewer), Resolution 62-59 (SID 347 Morning Star Water) and Resolution 62-60 (SID 348 Green Acres Sewer). Staff said the city has secured more than $3 million in grants and that state revolving loan funds could provide additional financing, with up to 75% loan forgiveness for qualifying affordable communities. Councilors voted by roll call; each resolution passed unanimously (7–0).

Preliminary budget continuing resolution: Facing state valuation timing that delays a final FY 2026 budget, the council approved a continuing resolution authorizing limited expenditures necessary for day-to-day operations and scheduled a public hearing on the final budget for July 7, 2025. The motion passed by roll call (7–0).

Nonunion salary adjustment: The council approved Resolution 62-61, adopting an updated 20-step pay matrix and annual step increases for eligible nonunion employees. Councilors moved and approved an amendment to remove language extending the adjustment to city council members; the amended resolution passed by roll call (7–0).

Votes at a glance - Resolution 62-57 (Call general municipal election 11/04/2025; all-mail ballot): Approved, motion amended to all-mail ballot; final roll-call: Yes 7, No 0; mover: Mr. Menley (motion to call election); amendment mover: Councilor Graham (moved to make election all-mail); second: recorded as second. - Resolution 62-58 (Create SID 346, Morning Star Sewer): Approved, roll-call Yes 7–0; mover: Councilor Hunter. - Resolution 62-59 (Create SID 347, Morning Star Water): Approved, roll-call Yes 7–0; mover: Councilor Dowd. - Resolution 62-60 (Create SID 348, Green Acres Sewer): Approved, roll-call Yes 7–0; mover: Councilor Carlson. - Continuing resolution (authorize limited FY 2026 expenditures; set public hearing 07/07/2025): Approved, roll-call Yes 7–0; mover: Councilor Hunter. - Resolution 62-61 (Nonunion pay-matrix update; amendment removing council members from pay adjustment): Approved as amended, roll-call Yes 7–0; mover: Councilor Graham (original motion), amendment to strike council members moved by Councilor Graham and approved.

What happens next: The city will proceed with administrative steps to run the Nov. 4 election by mail and will return to council with final bond/resolution details for the SIDs after bids and loan-forgiveness calculations are finalized. The FY 2026 final budget will return to council following state valuation data and the public hearing set for July 7.

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