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Flathead County approves $142 million FY2026 budget, lowers mill levy to 102.62
Summary
The Flathead County Board of Commissioners approved the FY2026 budget and related levies after County Administrator Pete Melnick presented a memo describing $130 million in revenue, $142 million in expenditures tied to planned capital investments, reserve levels below the legal cap, and a 2.5% cost‑of‑living adjustment for employees.
County Administrator Pete Melnick recommended adoption of the Flathead County FY2026 budget on Sept. 2, and the Board of Commissioners approved the proposal by voice vote.
"For FY '26, Flathead County will operate with $130 million in revenue and $142 million in expenditures," Melnick said when reading his budget memo to the commissioners, adding the apparent $12 million gap reflected planned capital investments funded from savings rather than an operating deficit. He listed pre‑funded projects including preconstruction on a new detention facility, completion of Fairgrounds North Bleachers and early work on a landfill expansion.
Melnick told the board the county's overall tax levy arrives at 102.62 mills, down from roughly 107.63 mills the prior year; he credited an increase in the per‑mill valuation (to about $556,000 per mil) and new properties on the tax rolls for easing rate pressure. He said the county is forgoing roughly 5.447 mills this year, returning what he described as about $3.535 million to taxpayers over recent years.
Melnick also said reserves across tax‑levied funds stand near 27.88%, under the statutory 33% cap, and outlined a capital investment program of about $21.05 million. On personnel, he recommended a 2.5% cost‑of‑living adjustment affecting roughly 567 employees (about $884,000) and funding for one new deputy sheriff (approximately $230,000) for training and equipment.
After discussion, a commissioner moved to adopt Resolution 2642, the FY2026 proposed budget; the motion was seconded and the board approved it by voice vote.
Votes at a glance (voice votes, tallies not specified in the record): - Signature of FY2026 county school budgets and levies: motion carried by voice vote. - FY2026 permissive medical levy (7.55 mills): adopted by voice vote. - FY2026 permissive sheriff retirement levy (0.51 mills): adopted by voice vote. - FY2026 proposed budget, Resolution 2642: adopted by voice vote.
What's next: The county will proceed with the budget as approved; several capital projects and required regulatory reviews (for example, DEQ reviews tied to related projects) were described as ongoing or forthcoming.
