H2. Legislative PrioritiesCITY OF City of Kalispell
Post Office Box 1997 - Kalispell, Montana 59903
KALISPELL Telephone: (406) 758-7701 Fax: (406) 758-7758
MEMORANDUM
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Doug Russell, City Manager
Re: Legislative Priorities
Meeting Date: October 19, 2020
BACKGROUND: At the work session on October 12, the City Council reviewed 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 prior to, and during the
upcoming legislative session.
The set of legislative priorities includes the following: 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, 6) support for legislation that
provides options to enhance or improve service delivery for the City of Kalispell, 7) support for
legislation that provides effective public resource management, and 8) support for legislation that
supports and facilitates affordable housing.
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that City Council move to adopt the presented
priorities.
ATTACHMENT: 2020 Legislative Priorities
CITY OF
KALISPELL
Legislative Priorities
Adopted October 19, 2020
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 provides 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 assists in
all areas of local infrastructure costs associated with growth and development. The City
of Kalispell also opposes legislation that decreases or removes current revenue streams.
- Public Resource Management: The City of Kalispell supports legislation that provides for the
effective use and management of land resources, including management of forest lands, the
use of the public right-of-way, and land use regulations associated with development.
Service Delivery- The City of Kalispell supports legislation that enhances the opportunities
to 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, rate establishment, and
revenue streams.
- Affordable Housing: The City of Kalispell supports legislation that provides funding sources
and programs that facilitate the development of affordable housing and affordable housing
initiatives.