Commissioners authorize $95 million bond sale for Flathead County public safety facility

Flathead County commissioners on Feb. 12 authorized the first of two bond sales to finance a planned Flathead County Public Safety Facility, approving Resolution No. 2655 to sell $95,000,000 in general‑obligation bonds.

Whitney Asherald of the commissioner's office told the board the resolution would authorize a first sale of $95 million with an option to sell the remaining $10 million later in the project. "This resolution is to sell $95,000,000 in bonds," Asherald said, adding that splitting the sale into two transactions gives the county more flexibility on timing and draws.

The board also approved an underwriting engagement with D.A. Davidson to facilitate the sale. Asherald described the engagement as a standard underwriting disclosure to set terms for help in facilitating the bond sale; commissioners voted to sign the document at the same meeting.

Why it matters: The authorization puts the county on a path to secure capital for the new facility and sets the financial and administrative framework for the bond issuance. Officials said the staggered sale would let the county better match borrowing with actual cash needs.

What happened next: Commissioners moved and approved the resolution and the underwriting letter by voice vote. The resolution names two commissioners (Pete and Amy) and Asherald as members of the bond finance committee to oversee the sale process.

The board did not discuss the detailed repayment schedule, interest assumptions or tax impacts at the public meeting; those details are expected as the sale is executed and underwriting work proceeds.