1. Legislative PrioritiesCity of Kalispell
Post Office Box 1997 - Kalispell, Montana 59903
Telephone: (406) 758-7701 Fax: (406) 758-7758
MEMORANDUM
To: Mayor Johnson and City Council
From: Doug Russell, City Manager%
Re: Legislative Priorities
Meeting Date: May 12, 2014
BACKGROUND: In discussions related to state legislation impacting municipal activities, the
City Council has discussed the potential of adopting a set of legislative priorities for the
upcoming legislative session.
Though there are not any specific pieces of legislation that we are aware of that impact the
legislative priorities, adopting these areas provides a unified platform for council members and
municipal staff to use when addressing our representatives for and during the upcoming
legislative session.
The proposed set of legislative priorities include: 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 provides consistency in the
application of impact fee legislation, and 5) support for legislation that mitigates the economic
impact for increasing regulatory standards for municipalities.
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended the City Council discuss and amend the proposed
set of legislative priorities.
City of Kalispell
Montana 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 five areas of policy interest.
Local Sales Tax Option: The City of Kalispell supports legislation that would provide
local communities the option of enacting a voter approved sales 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 continuing 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 and options currently present in state statutes.
Special District Legislation: The City of Kalispell supports legislation that would
streamline the ability to establish special districts.
Impact Fee legislation: The City of Kalispell supports legislation that provides long term
consistency for infrastructure development for municipalities, developers, and builders
within the regulatory parameters of impact fee legislation.
Environmental Quality: The City of Kalispell supports legislation that would mitigate the
economic impacts of increased regulatory standards on municipal operations such as
water production and wastewater treatment.