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Commissioners removed levy from ballot.
The Missoula County commissioners decided to remove the infrastructure mill levy from the November general election ballot at a public meeting on Aug. 21. The commission originally voted Aug. 8 to place the measure on the ballot to allow voters countywide to decide on the five-mill levy that would fund county infrastructure projects.
The commission directed Elections Office staff to remove the measure from the Nov. 8 ballot at the meeting, and they will take official action on the decision at their Thursday, Aug. 22, administrative public meeting. The commissioners based the decision on continued concerns about the property taxContinue reading
The Missoula County commissioners decided to remove the infrastructure mill levy from the November general election ballot at a public meeting on Aug. 21. The commission originally voted Aug. 8 to place the measure on the ballot to allow voters countywide to decide on the five-mill levy that would fund county infrastructure projects.
The commission directed Elections Office staff to remove the measure from the Nov. 8 ballot at the meeting, and they will take official action on the decision at their Thursday, Aug. 22, administrative public meeting. The commissioners based the decision on continued concerns about the property tax climate and also cited increased optimism that the 2025 Legislature will significantly reform property taxes to shift the burden of any increases away from homeowners. Click here to read more.
If approved by voters, the mill levy would generate around $1.8 million annually, beginning in 2025 (fiscal year 2026) to fund maintenance, construction, repairs and other improvements to county roads, bridges and trails. The estimated property tax impact would be $6.75 a year for every $100,000 in assessed market value.
Current revenue to fund these activities is approximately $7.6 million, which comes from property taxes, the state gas tax, and other state and federal sources. Missoula County Public Works estimates the department needs an additional $4.3 million annually to fully fund the County’s infrastructure needs. If passed, the mill levy could also provide funding for federal grants that often require matching funds from local government.
If approved in November, the County would prioritize using the funding to repave County-maintained roads and provide matching funds when applying for federal grants to replace aging bridges.
State law limits annual county property tax increases to one-half the rate of inflation over the last three years, and the additional funding the County needs for infrastructure exceeds the County’s cap. Local governments can ask voters to approve mill levies and bonds to provide additional revenue outside of this cap. If passed, this mill levy would provide a dedicated revenue source that could only be used to fund county infrastructure projects.
