Missoula County Fiscal Year 2027 Budget
Update 9/4/2026:
The county commissioners adopted the FY27 Final Budget at their Aug. 3 public hearing meeting.
Click here to view the video recording of the FY27 Final Budget Meeting.
Click here to view the FY27 Missoula County Final Budget Book.
Proposed FY27 budget – impact on residential taxes
Due to changes made during the 2025 state Legislature, the tax impacts of the proposed FY 27 budget will be different for individual residential properties. The implementation of graduated tax rates changed the taxable value for most properties, so some property owners will pay less in County taxes, while others could pay more.
Calculate your Estimated County Taxes
Residents whose homes qualify as their primary residence can use the following equations to calculate the estimated taxes they will owe to Missoula County. Residents can find the taxable value for their property by searching for it online.
- Residents who live outside City of Missoula limits:
Taxable value x 0.26055 = estimated County taxes
Example: $6,000 x 0.26055 = $1,563.30 in total County taxes
- Residents who live within the City of Missoula limits:
Taxable value x 0.21282 = estimated County taxes
Example: $6,000 x 0.21282 = $1,276.92 in total 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.
Budget Overview
Expected revenue from property taxes to fund the proposed 2027 budget is $86.6 million. (Total revenue, which includes funding from non-property tax sources, is $228.5 million). This is a $6.2 million increase in total county tax revenue over last year and mainly covers the increase to the County’s base budget needed to cover cost-of-living increases to wages and employee healthcare costs.
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 $1.97 million 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. 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 $801,696 – $408,000 of which will go to the Public Works Department for road and bridge projects outside Missoula city limits.
The full list of budget requests is under the News Items section below.
Under state law, the commissioners could have levied $1.8 million more in property taxes but declined to.
Public engagement
Residents are invited to engage with budget decisions by submitting public comment or attending one of the public meetings and hearings in June, July and August where residents can voice opinions, concerns, and priorities regarding the budget. These forums provide an opportunity to directly engage with county officials and decision-makers on decisions that will directly impact the property taxes they pay to help fund the County.
Follow this page on the right-hand side so you can be notified when there are updates on the FY 2027 Missoula County Budget.
Submit public comment
Update 9/4/2026:
The county commissioners adopted the FY27 Final Budget at their Aug. 3 public hearing meeting.
Click here to view the video recording of the FY27 Final Budget Meeting.
Click here to view the FY27 Missoula County Final Budget Book.
CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.
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Phone 406-258-3293 -
Phone 406-258-4916
I respectfully ask the Commission to reconsider the proposed FY2027 property tax increase and make every reasonable effort to hold the levy this year. Last year, the County increased countywide mills by 8%, generating approximately $4.6 million in additional countywide property tax revenue, and I believe another increase warrants a harder look at recurring costs, staffing, contracts, administrative expenses, and other areas where savings may still be available. A recent analysis also shows County own-source revenue has grown substantially faster than inflation over the past several years, which does not by itself establish unnecessary spending, but it does raise a fair question about whether reasonable efficiencies have been exhausted. I support protecting essential services, but I believe the County should find additional savings this year and use the next budget cycle to make a clear, data-driven case if another increase is truly necessary.
Hi, I have been reading about the upcoming county property tax increase. Missoula County residents as well as all Montanas have had consistent increases over the last several years. The reasoning behind the increase was to keep the healthcare benefits for county employees. Upon looking up the insurance deductibles for county employees, it seems to be an exceptional plan, better than anyone I know has currently. I admire that you treat your employees well, however most small and even some larger businesses can't offer these benefits at all and most of us who have to use the ACA for our policies have gigantic individual and family deductibles. We are talking about $7000/$14000 for deductibles. I ask that you relook at your health benefits and consider that all the taxpayers are paying for these incredible benefits of which all we all deserve, but we have all had to trim to stay afloat. Could a slight increase in your deductibles help reduce what the property tax increase needs to be? I'd like to see you meet in the middle.
I encourage the County Commissioners to consider the inflation rate, social security and disability compensation and hold this budget to an annual increase of no more than 3%. As it is, our property taxes have been increasing by double digits due to increasing FMV appraisals and increased spending. Taxpayer limits have been reached. Time to tighten the belts as all taxpayers have had to do. Thank you. R. Reep
Please trim, don't add to our tax burden - you all get wage increases while seniors on a fixed income get a VERY minimal bump.
Consider seniors on a fixed income in your deliberations PLEASE.