Loading...
H6. Legislative PrioritiesCITY OF City of Kalispell KALISPELL Post Office Box 1997 -Kalispell, Montana 59903 Telephone: (406) 758-7701 Fax: (406) 758-7758 MEMORANDUM To: Mayor and City Council From: Doug Russell, City Manager Re: Legislative Priorities Meeting Date: September 6, 2022 BACKGROUND: At the work session on August 22, the City Council reviewed a set of legislative priorities to provide guidance for potential legislation in the upcoming legislative session. 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 effective public resource management, 7) support for legislation that provides options to enhance or improve service delivery for the City of Kalispell, and 8) support for legislation that supports and facilitates affordable housing. RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that City Council move to adopt the presented priorities. ATTACHEMENT: 2022 Legislative Priorities CITY OF KALISPELL Legislative Priorities 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. Page 1 of 2 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 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. Page 2 of 2