Glacier County officials discuss 2.5–3 mill levy to fund Cut Bank Airport upgrades

Britton Geiger, identified by name during the meeting, told Glacier County commissioners on Oct. 13 that an FAA grant and state Aeronautics match will cover a nighttime beacon project at Cut Bank Airport and “it shouldn't cost anything on local taxpayers.”

Geiger said the airport is considering a terminal rehabilitation project next year and that a COVID-era change could reduce the usual 10% match to 5% for that cycle; local foundations have offered to supply the reduced local match. He cautioned the board that engineering work is not complete and final costs are unknown — "they're just pulling something out of the air like $1,000,000," he said — and that exact project budgets will follow after engineering is finished.

On longer-term capital needs, Geiger outlined the airport’s federal nonprimary entitlement — roughly $150,000 per year for airports of Cut Bank’s size — and said the airport’s 10% share would be about $15,000 annually. To prepare for multimillion-dollar runway and taxiway work, he proposed setting aside local dollars now, estimating that saving roughly $30,000–$50,000 per year (he equated that to about 2 to 2.5 mills) would create a meaningful reserve for larger projects.

Geiger told the board he would ask the county attorney for a resolution to place a mill-levy question on the ballot next spring: "2.5 to 3 would be on the ballot next year," he said. He emphasized the levy would be written so it would not infringe on the city's mill cap. County officials discussed the possibility of urging the city to place a matching levy on its ballot, but Geiger said a county ballot measure could not legally include the city.

The commissioners and attendees pressed several operational and equity points during the discussion. Commissioners asked about revenue sources; Geiger listed agricultural ground leases, hanger rent (listed in his materials as $12,200), and fuel sales as sources that help cover operating costs but said the airport currently has minimal reserves. He also noted the airport runs its own water system (installed in 1942) and that customs staff had asked for about $107,000 in communications and computer upgrades to continue customs operations from the facility.

Commissioners and speakers urged outreach to tribal communities — including Browning and Babb — to convey that the airport serves the whole county. Geiger said he will hold public meetings locally and possibly in Browning or Babb if the resolution proceeds.

No formal vote on a mill levy occurred at the Oct. 13 meeting; Geiger said a proposed resolution will be brought back for placement on a future ballot. The board did not adopt any budget or levy at this meeting; commissioners asked staff to draft the resolution and to hold public engagement before any final decision.