I1. Legislative PrioritiesCity
Post Office
599L I 03
NO L Tel phone:
MONTANA
MEMORANDUM
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Doug Russell, City Manage A�
Re: Legislative Priorities
Meeting Date: November 19, 2018
of Kalispell
Box 1997 - Kalispell, Montana
(406) 758-7701 Fax: (406) 758-7758
BACKGROUND: Prior to legislative sessions, the City Council has begun adopting a set of
legislative priorities to provide guidance for attempts to initiate legislation and to respond to
proposed legislation. Adopting these priorities provides a unified platform for members of
council and municipal staff to use when addressing our representatives before and during the
upcoming legislative session.
At the last work session, council reviewed proposed priorities and made a few amendments, as
incorporated in the attached list.
The proposed set of legislative priorities includes the following priorities: 1) support of a local
option sales tax, 2) support for maintaining tax increment financing as an economic development
tool, 3) support for streamlining special district legislation, 4) support for legislation that
mitigates the economic impact for increasing regulatory standards for municipalities, 5) support
for legislation that addresses infrastructure needs associated with rapid growth and 6) support for
legislation that provides options to enhance or improve service delivery for the City of Kalispell.
FISCAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact in adopting the set of priorities.
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that City Council move to adopt the proposed set
of legislative priorities.
ATTACHMENT: 2018 Legislative Priorities
City of Kalispell
Montana Legislative Priorities
November 2018
The City of Kalispell is supportive of efforts to improve financial options related to all areas of
municipal operations where local control and decision -making can be effectively applied. While
this list of priorities does not single out any specific proposed bill, in general the City of Kalispell
has identified these areas of policy interest.
Local Option Sales Tax: The City of Kalispell supports legislation that would provide local
communities the option of enacting a voter approved sales tax (or increasing the population
limit of the current resort tax) within municipal limits that would provide an opportunity
to maintain infrastructure and services for our community that is impacted by a large
number of people that do not reside within the City of Kalispell.
_ Tax Increment Financing: The City of Kalispell supports existing or more expansive
legislation that provides municipalities the opportunity to use Tax Increment Districts as
part of an Effective Economic Development Strategy, and opposes legislation that would
limit the effectiveness of the options currently present in state statutes.
Special District Legislation: The City of Kalispell supports legislation enhancing the
opportunity for the creation of special districts. The City of Kalispell feels the current
requirements place unnecessary financial and procedural burdens on special district
creation.
Environmental Quality: The City of Kalispell supports legislation that would mitigate the
economic impacts of the unfunded liability caused by increased regulatory standards on
municipal operations such as water production, wastewater treatment, solid waste, and
storm water management.
- Public Infrastructure Assistance: The City of Kalispell supports legislation that would assist
in the local infrastructure costs associated with our rapid growth. The City of Kalispell also
opposes legislation that decreases or removes current revenue streams.
- Service Delivery: The City of Kalispell supports legislation that enhances the opportunities
for expanding service delivery options throughout all areas of municipal operations,
including revising legislation that limits the options available to communities to take
advantage of alternative and innovative service delivery methods.