Missoula County Fiscal Year 2026 Budget

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The Missoula County commissioners voted to adopt the County’s fiscal year 2026 budget at their Sept. 4 public meeting. Click here to view the FY budget book, which shows expenses, revenues and approved and denied requests from staff. The recording of the final budget hearing will also be available on the County’s YouTube channel.

2026 Budget Overview

Expected revenue from property taxes to fund the 2026 budget is $80.5 million, an 8% increase in countywide mills over last year. This $4.6 million increase in countywide tax revenue mainly covers the increase to the County’s base budget needed to sustain current services and operations. Increases to wages and healthcare costs for employees accounts for most of the base budget increase.

Budget Requests

In addition to the base budget, the commissioners approved new requests to improve services and operations. The bulk of these are one-time requests that will be paid for with a projected $600,000 the County will receive from the City of Missoula’s Tax Increment Finance remittance. Funding these one-time requests will not impact future property tax bills.

The commissioners also approved several new requests to fund ongoing improvements, including new staff. Ongoing requests require an ongoing source of funding, which can include fees, new property tax revenue, grant revenue or other sources. The total in new ongoing requests funded by property taxes is $659,976.

Click here to view the full list of approved requests in the FY26 Budget Book.

Impact to Property Taxes

Due to changes made during the 2025 state Legislature, the tax impacts for individual properties will differ. The implementation of a graduated tax rate changed the taxable value for most properties, so some property owners will pay less in County taxes, while others will pay more.

Click here to view a map comparing changes in taxable values for properties in Missoula County.


Calculate your Estimated County Taxes

Residents can use the following equations to calculate the estimated taxes they will owe to Missoula County. Residents can find their 2025 taxable value for their property on the reappraisal notice the state Department of Revenue mailed this summer or by searching for their property online at https://svc.mt.gov/dor/property/Home.


  • Residents who live outside City of Missoula limits:
  • Taxable value x 0.27058 = estimated County taxes
  • Example: $6,000 x 0.27058 = $1,623 in total County taxes

  • Residents who live within the City of Missoula limits:
  • Taxable value x 0.2204 = estimated County taxes
  • Example: $6,000*0.2204 = $1,322.40 County taxes


This is the estimated total in taxes paid only to Missoula County; residents’ tax bills will also include taxes owed to other jurisdictions, such as the City of Missoula and school districts. City and county residents will pay different amounts because property owners are taxed differently depending on where their property is located. All Missoula County property owners, including those who live within the limits of the City of Missoula, pay countywide taxes. In addition to the countywide taxes, property owners outside Missoula city limits pay county-only taxes (rather than city taxes).

Click here to view how your taxes are used by Missoula County.

The Missoula County commissioners voted to adopt the County’s fiscal year 2026 budget at their Sept. 4 public meeting. Click here to view the FY budget book, which shows expenses, revenues and approved and denied requests from staff. The recording of the final budget hearing will also be available on the County’s YouTube channel.

2026 Budget Overview

Expected revenue from property taxes to fund the 2026 budget is $80.5 million, an 8% increase in countywide mills over last year. This $4.6 million increase in countywide tax revenue mainly covers the increase to the County’s base budget needed to sustain current services and operations. Increases to wages and healthcare costs for employees accounts for most of the base budget increase.

Budget Requests

In addition to the base budget, the commissioners approved new requests to improve services and operations. The bulk of these are one-time requests that will be paid for with a projected $600,000 the County will receive from the City of Missoula’s Tax Increment Finance remittance. Funding these one-time requests will not impact future property tax bills.

The commissioners also approved several new requests to fund ongoing improvements, including new staff. Ongoing requests require an ongoing source of funding, which can include fees, new property tax revenue, grant revenue or other sources. The total in new ongoing requests funded by property taxes is $659,976.

Click here to view the full list of approved requests in the FY26 Budget Book.

Impact to Property Taxes

Due to changes made during the 2025 state Legislature, the tax impacts for individual properties will differ. The implementation of a graduated tax rate changed the taxable value for most properties, so some property owners will pay less in County taxes, while others will pay more.

Click here to view a map comparing changes in taxable values for properties in Missoula County.


Calculate your Estimated County Taxes

Residents can use the following equations to calculate the estimated taxes they will owe to Missoula County. Residents can find their 2025 taxable value for their property on the reappraisal notice the state Department of Revenue mailed this summer or by searching for their property online at https://svc.mt.gov/dor/property/Home.


  • Residents who live outside City of Missoula limits:
  • Taxable value x 0.27058 = estimated County taxes
  • Example: $6,000 x 0.27058 = $1,623 in total County taxes

  • Residents who live within the City of Missoula limits:
  • Taxable value x 0.2204 = estimated County taxes
  • Example: $6,000*0.2204 = $1,322.40 County taxes


This is the estimated total in taxes paid only to Missoula County; residents’ tax bills will also include taxes owed to other jurisdictions, such as the City of Missoula and school districts. City and county residents will pay different amounts because property owners are taxed differently depending on where their property is located. All Missoula County property owners, including those who live within the limits of the City of Missoula, pay countywide taxes. In addition to the countywide taxes, property owners outside Missoula city limits pay county-only taxes (rather than city taxes).

Click here to view how your taxes are used by Missoula County.

  • Three Percent Local Options Cannabis Tax

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    The FY 26 budget also contains about $500,000 in revenue from the 3% local option tax on recreational cannabis sales in the county that voters approved in 2020. This revenue will go toward the general fund, which includes departments that provide core government services, such as the County Attorney’s Office, 9-1-1 Division, Elections Office, Justice Court and the Motor Vehicle Division.



  • Preliminary budget book available

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    Click here to see the FY 2026 preliminary budget book. Please note that this page is best viewed on a laptop or desktop computer - it is not optimized for mobile use.

  • Your Property Tax Break Down

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    While Missoula County collects taxes for all agencies and jurisdictions in the county, we do not keep all of them. Learn more about the taxes you pay to the County, City, schools and other agencies by viewing a pie chart breakdown for your property at itax.missoulacounty.us.

    Below is a breakdown of property taxes and where they go, based on a real tax bill from a house in Lolo in for 2024-25:



  • Understanding Your County Property Taxes

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    Below are definitions of common words you'll hear when staff talk about calculating your property taxes. Read a full explanation of what property taxes are comprised of and how they're determined at http://missoula.co/taxes.

    • Assessed value is estimated by the Montana Dept. of Revenue (DOR). Every two years, the DOR completes an appraisal of all properties in Montana’s 56 counties. This appraisal sets what the state uses as the market value of your home or property for the calculation of the taxable value. 2025 is an appraisal year and residents will be receiving notices from the DOR this summer.
    • Taxable value is based on laws the Montana Legislature passes. The DOR calculates each property’s taxable value based on exemptions and limitations in laws enacted by the Montana Legislature. The taxable value for your property is listed on your appraisal notice from the DOR.
    • County mill rate is set by Missoula County voters and the county commissioners. Missoula County voters have approved spending measures for County services such as weed management, search and rescue teams and parks and trails. All these items are reflected in the number of mills the County will levy. After more than 100 hours of presentations and deliberations, Missoula County commissioners finalize the county budget and the mills required to support other necessary county services.
Page last updated: 05 Sep 2025, 06:24 PM