Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Fire District Annexation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Carbon County approves annexation into Clarks Fork Rural Fire District #2
Summary
The Carbon County commissioners voted Dec. 16 to annex described non-municipal territory into Clarks Fork Rural Fire District #2, approving a petition and ordering the annexation to be implemented for the 2026–2027 fiscal year; the plan includes a proposed mill levy increase and a revenue-sharing arrangement with neighboring districts.
The Carbon County Board of Commissioners voted Dec. 16 to approve a petition annexing non-municipal territory in southeast Carbon County into Clarks Fork Rural Fire District #2.
Clarks Fork Rural Fire District #2 Chairman Scott Griswold told the commissioners the annexation would allow the district to authorize firefighters to operate in the area and reduce exposure to liability for responding chiefs. Griswold said petitioners secured signatures representing roughly 25–30 additional tax lots but were unable to include them because of technicalities.
Griswold described a proposed revenue-sharing agreement that would split new revenues 50% to Clarks Fork, 25% to Franny/Deaver Fire District and 25% to Lovell (Wyoming) Fire District to compensate mutual-aid responses. The petition requested a 15.82-mill levy for the annexed area; Griswold noted that, based on the district’s most recent budget, that levy value would rise to 16.56 mills.
Commissioner Scott Miller moved to close the public hearing; Commissioner Bill Bullock seconded. The motion to approve the petition carried. Administrative Officer Angela Newell said the new mill value would not be effective until the 2026–2027 fiscal year and that a subsequent order would formalize the annexation. The board’s adopted Order 2025-03, included in the meeting record, cites Montana statutes governing annexations.
Order 2025-03 sets the legal description of the annexed territory and states the petition met statutory thresholds for owner and taxable-value support under Montana law. The order will be part of the county record and will be implemented per the timeline noted by county staff.
What’s next: The new levy rate will be applied beginning in the 2026–2027 fiscal year. County staff and the involved fire districts will complete the administrative steps called for by the order and the applicable Montana Code Annotated provisions.
