I09. Legislative PrioritiesCITY OF Y
11NIONTANA
City 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 DO -
Re: Legislative priorities
Meeting Date: November 7, 2016
BACKGROUND: In 2014, the City Council adopted a set of legislative priorities to provide
guidance for attempts to initiate legislation and to respond to proposed legislation. At a recent
work session, the Council revisited these priorities in order to prepare for the upcoming
legislative session. Adopting these priorities provides a unified platform for members of council
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 mitigates the economic
impact for increasing regulatory standards for municipalities, and 5) support for legislation that
addresses infrastructure needs associated with rapid growth.
Attached is the list of legislative priorities that emerged from the work session on October 24,
2016.
ALTERNATIVES: The City Council can reject, amend and adopt, or table the proposed set of
legislative priorities.
FISCAL IMPACT: There is not a financial impact for adopting a set of legislative priorities.
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the City Council move to adopt the proposed
set of legislative priorities.
City of Kalispell
Montana Legislative Priorities
November 2016
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 Option Sales Tax: 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 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 returning to the previous
parameters 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, including but not limited to the West
Side Infrastructure.