Residents press Great Falls commission on water fee increases and transparency

Jenny Dodd, a Great Falls resident, used the public-comment period to accuse the city of failing to follow the Montana Code Annotated in a recent land purchase and in increases to water, sewer and storm-drain charges. “I will continue to maintain that the city failed to follow the Montana code annotated in the city's swampland purchase and for the water, sewer, and storm drain increases,” she said, adding that she has made repeated information requests and called for more public answers.

Steve Gillespie, another resident, echoed concerns about how the new infrastructure utility fees will appear on customers’ bills and whether the charges function as a tax. He asked whether the city will show the fee as a separate line item so consumers can see how funds accumulate and who will benefit. “It looks to me like it's a tax. It's being blended into the water bill… Is there gonna be a separate line item in the water bill?” Gillespie asked.

John Hubbard, appearing as “Johnny,” voiced broader frustration with rising costs, describing recent percentage increases in taxes and utility bills as driving hardship for low-income residents and people on fixed incomes. His comments included repeated calls for action and criticism of state-level distribution of tax revenues.

Commissioners responded that staff are developing rules for infrastructure utility fees and that additional details will be provided as those rules are finalized. Mayor and commissioners noted that rules are still being written and referred Gillespie to staff work on infrastructure utility-fee implementation, while acknowledging residents’ concerns about affordability.

The discussion took place before several agenda votes on budgets and plans that will affect local funding priorities. The commission did not take formal action on the public comments during the meeting; staff signaled they are preparing more detailed fee rules for future consideration.