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Kalispell council adopts emergency responder levy conversion after contentious debate; amendment adds recitals naming legislators
Summary
The council adopted Resolution 62‑79 converting the voter‑approved emergency responder levy to a dollar‑based format to comply with 2025 state legislation. Council added a recital naming the legislators who sponsored the change; the measure passed after heated debate and one dissenting vote.
The Kalispell City Council on Aug. 18 adopted Resolution 62‑79 to establish the method of levying voted mills for the city’s emergency responder levy after state law changes altered how taxable values are calculated.
City Manager Doug Russell explained the state’s recent tax changes reduced the taxable value used to compute mills and presented two options: keep the levy tied to mills (which could produce a decline next year) or convert it to the dollar amount generated previously and allow future annual inflation adjustments (the city recommended conversion to dollars). Russell said the market value in Kalispell rose about 24% but taxable value fell roughly 2.5% because of lowered class rates, and the change could otherwise reduce the levy’s revenue.
Council members strongly debated the issue. Several councilors said the change undermined what voters approved. “The will of the people trumps the will of the legislature every single time,” one councilor said during the discussion, arguing the legislative change altered a voter‑approved levy. Councilors proposed and approved an amendment adding a recital that names local legislators and the governor associated with the bills that prompted the change; the amendment passed by roll call.
After further discussion the council approved the main resolution. The final roll call recorded Councilor Hunter, Councilor Nunnally, Councilor Carlson, Councilor Graham, Councilor Dowd and Mayor Johnson voting aye; Councilor Fisher voted no.
Why it matters: The conversion locks in the levy’s dollar value for the current year to avoid an immediate revenue decline caused by state reclassification of property values. Councilors warned the change does not reflect the original voter intent and may reduce transparency in year‑to‑year comparisons. Staff noted converting to dollars allows annual inflation adjustments (up to a capped rate tied to a three‑year average) and is likely the least damaging short‑term option.
Authorities cited in discussion include laws passed in the 69th Montana legislative session (listed in the resolution as chapters 674 and 767). The council also directed staff to draft a resolution recital and a letter to legislators expressing municipal concerns.
