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Zinke aides brief Flathead County on appropriations, infrastructure priorities; say PILT funded for FY26
Summary
Aides for Congressman Zinke told Flathead County commissioners the House passed 12 appropriations bills that are now in the Senate, highlighted infrastructure priorities including guardrails for North Fork Road and said PILT was fully funded for FY2026.
Representatives from Congressman Zinke’s office visited the Flathead County commission on Jan. 26 to update local officials on federal spending bills, community project funding and infrastructure priorities for fiscal 2027.
"This past week...the House has passed all 12 appropes bills," said John Bachmeier, senior adviser with Congressman Zinke’s team, adding that those measures were then awaiting Senate action and that a continuing resolution could create a Jan. 31 funding deadline. He listed infrastructure areas the congressman is prioritizing, including wastewater treatment, bridges, roads and guardrails.
Steve Hauck, the congressman’s district director, introduced the delegation and said the office is touring counties to hear local needs and to advance projects submitted for community project funding. Ben Van Sickle, the delegation’s legislative director/deputy chief, said the guardrails for North Fork Road are included in transportation-related provisions that could be resolved in votes later in the week.
Commissioners used the meeting to raise specific local issues. When asked whether the congressman’s office had been contacted about reported water limitations in Columbia Falls, Hauck said the office had not yet been contacted but would follow up with the city manager and take the matter back to Washington.
Bachmeier also provided a funding update: "Friday, the interior appropriation bill was signed into law, which did include full funding for PILT," he said, referring to Payment in Lieu of Taxes funding that supports county budgets. Commissioners thanked the delegation, emphasized other local infrastructure needs (landfill capacity, paving, sawmill initiatives) and adjourned after the briefing.
The briefing did not produce immediate federal commitments beyond the status updates provided by the delegation; county officials and the delegation agreed to continue follow-up on specific local requests.
