FAQs

The County is interested in the newly zoned Live/Make area of West Riverside highlighted in purple on the zoning map. This area extends north past Flagler Drive, south to W. Riverside Drive, east to 9^th Street and west to Tremper Drive.

Montana law allows local governments to borrow against future property tax dollars in localized areas that are in critical need of infrastructure. This tool is called tax increment financing, or TIF. In these specific areas, counties can use TIF to build infrastructure that supports production of goods that can be sold (value-added products). One of the few areas where TIF is allowed is called Targeted Economic Development Districts. TEDD is a designated area adopted by local ordinance that must be zoned for production of goods, has a development plan in place that supports multiple tenants but is deficient in infrastructure improvements necessary to actualize the development plans. Once an area is designated a TEDD, tax increment from that area can be accrued in a separate account during the duration of the TEDD to be used toward infrastructure improvements in the district.

Being in a Targeted Economic Development District does not in itself increase property taxes. A TEDD simply ensures any increases in tax revenue stay in the area to fund infrastructure improvements, rather than going toward the general budgets of local taxing jurisdictions.

Building infrastructure will not cause the West Riverside neighborhood to be annexed into the City of Missoula. In fact, the opposite is true. Finding local solutions that do not rely on City infrastructure will help prevent City annexation.

Rural Special Improvement Districts are a revenue tool where a fee is assessed to property owners within a certain area to pay for capital expenses or maintenance within that area. The County is not proposing an RSID to fund new infrastructure in West Riverside. At one point, an RSID was explored in West Riverside to fund the capital expenses associated with community wastewater, but the idea was rejected by the neighborhood and is not being considered at this time.

This engagement project is not the appropriate venue to weigh in on the proposed subdivision for the Bonner West Log Yard. Montana law prescribes a subdivision process, and the staff and consultants assigned to the West Riverside engagement project are not qualified or permitted by law to work on the subdivision.  

The subdivision is currently published on Missoula County Voice, as well, as its own project. You can view it, leave comments and ask your questions on that page.