Open Space Bond FAQs

What is an open space bond? How does it work, and who oversees the money?

You can think of an open space bond as similar to a home equity loan. Open space bonds allow local governments to take on numerous projects over an extended period without knowing the exact cost of each project. Voters first approve a total amount of money, and then the government can draw from these funds over a certain period.

Bond money cannot be spent on services, expenses or initiatives outside of the language approved by the voters. Missoula County’s Open Lands Citizen Advisory Committee reviews applications and makes recommendations to the County Commission. The City's Open Space Advisory Committee reviews applications and makes recommendations to City Council.

Voters have approved a total of $25 million in countywide open space bonds ($15 million in 2018 and $10 million in 2006). These bonds were established to purchase lands, fund conservation easements or other legal interests in land, or make improvements to publicly accessible land that meet the following goals:

• conserving, enjoying and enhancing open space land, including public access;
• conserving agricultural lands, fish and wildlife habitat, and rivers, lakes and streams;
• protecting scenic views and making improvements to open space lands.

Bond money is finite. Once the entirety of the bond funding is spent, it will be removed from taxpayers’ bills. Both the 2006 and 2018 open space bonds have 20-year limits, which is required by state law.

The total amount of funds approved by voters can either be issued all at once so the cost to taxpayers is immediately shown on tax bills, or the funding can be issued periodically over a longer time, and will show up on a tax bill little by little. In Missoula County, open space bond funding is typically issued incrementally.

When a project is vetted and approved, cash from previously issued bonds is used to cover the cost. When the funding available for projects starts to run low, more funding is issued while remaining below the total amount approved by voters. Residents will continue to see this line item on their tax bill until the bond expires, even if no funding for specific projects is approved during that time.

What can it be spent on?

Open space bond funds can only be spent on land and certain improvements to land that meet the goals listed above. These funds cannot be used to pay for other services, programs or initiatives. It would be illegal and disingenuous to the voters for these funds to be used for anything other than purchasing land, funding conservation easements or other legal interests in land, or making improvements to land that is accessible to the public.

How does the County determine what projects should receive open space bond funding?

Both the County and the City have active citizen advisory committee that reviews applications for open space bond funding. Qualified conservation organizations, the County and City can submit applications. The County Open Lands Citizen (OLC) Advisory Committee is comprised of up to 13 members, with an emphasis on members who represent the eight planning regions outside the Missoula valley and represent farming, ranching and timber interests. The OLC meets monthly and has a strict review process for open space bond project applications, which includes site visits and public meetings. Then the OLC makes recommendations to the Missoula County Commission in favor or opposition of using open space bond funds. The commissioners have the final vote on spending the bond money.

What are some properties in the County that have been protected with open space bond money? How much money is left?

County open space projects include 28 sites comprising more than 11,000 total acres. Projects span in size from a 25-acre project at Traveler’s Rest in Lolo to more than 3,400 acres at Sunset Hill past Greenough. This map shows the many open space bond projects that have been funded with open space bond funds. These projects have occurred on private, public and mixed-ownership lands.

To date, $10.1 million has been spent of the $25 million total, leaving just less than $15 million left between the 2006 and 2018 Open Space Bonds.

How do the city and county share these funds?

The $25 million is split between the city and county through an interlocal agreement, with half prioritized for the Missoula Valley and administered by the City, and half prioritized for areas outside Missoula and administered by the County. Both agencies work closely with local and national conversation groups, as well as state agencies, to facilitate the process of land protection. These partnerships, and the willingness of private landowners, make the open space bond program a success.

Are all lands protected through the open space bond program open to the public?

Not necessarily. Many of the projects funded through open space bonds are conservation easements held by land trusts on private property to protect wildlife habitat, water quality and agricultural areas Many other open space projects, like Mount Jumbo and the Rock Creek Confluence Property owned by Five Valleys Land Trust, are open to the public.