Measure would raise roughly $74,000 a year to keep Libby parks and swim pond open

The Libby Park District is asking voters to approve a mill levy that the county estimates would produce about $74,000 per year to support lifeguards, maintenance and park projects assigned to the district, including an aquatic facility described in the resolution as the swim pond on port property. "There is current insufficient funding to operate the aquatic facility in accordance with the state of Montana health and safety requirements," the resolution reading said.

The reading included homeowner impact examples: about $5.39/year on a $100,000 home, roughly $16.18/year on a $300,000 home, and about $32.36/year on a $600,000 home if the levy is approved. The resolution also stated that the proposed mill levy would replace the district's current levy revenue (the reading estimated that existing levy generated about $11,500 this year) rather than stack on top of it; commissioners discussed that the district's levy has varied over time and that a recent legislative change led the district to present a fixed dollar figure for the ballot to avoid confusion over mill valuations.

The resolution reading referenced the Libby School District boundary for the parks district (per a prior county resolution) and warned that an increase in property taxes "may lead to an increase in rental costs." The commissioners did not provide additional fiscal analysis during the meeting; the resolution text and the election outcome will determine how the district proceeds if voters approve the measure.