New funding option studied for 911 center

A countywide special district is being explored as a long-term funding option for Flathead County’s consolidated 911 center.

The 911 center administrative board, made up of representatives from the county and from Kalispell, Whitefish and Columbia Falls, last week agreed to send the idea to its “future funding committee” to explore and report back on.

The approach could potentially fund the 911 center in a fashion similar to how the county landfill is funded through the Flathead County Solid Waste District, with every property owner in the county paying a certain amount each year toward its operation.

That would remove the need for Flathead County, Kalispell, Whitefish and Columbia Falls to kick in money each year to pay for the 911 center’s operation. 

“We’re all county residents anyway,” said Kalispell Mayor Tammi Fisher, the city’s representative on the 911 center administrative board. “Right now, city taxpayers pay as part of their general fund, a portion of their taxes go to it, and then they pay a portion of their county taxes toward it.”

A countywide special district could be the fairest and most transparent way to pay for the 911 center, Fisher said.

“It would give clarity to every taxpayer about the exact amount each taxpayer is contributing. The biggest difficulty is looking at capital improvement needs in the future, accounting for that and making sure it’s still affordable across the board,” she said.

Other questions still being studied include determining the actual assessment method, whether it’s charged per lot or per residence or some other calculation permitted by state law.

Unlike some other funding options that would require a public vote, including the establishment of a countywide mill levy, a special district for the 911 center could be created through legislative action by the Flathead County commissioners.

“I don’t anticipate this issue being in the future funding committee for long. Within a couple months it should be back for approval [by the 911 center administrative board]. And it takes commissioner approval as well, so then it becomes a matter of if we can convince them,” Fisher said.

“As far as I know, they are supportive of at least evaluating it as a funding mechanism.”

A long-term funding plan for the 911 center has remained elusive. 

One obstacle has been the number of directors at the 911 center since it opened. Another obstacle was the death of county Commissioner Jim Dupont.

“That set us back. It was hard to go forward with the same vigor he had,” Fisher said, adding that with the center’s new director, Elizabeth Brooks, now is the time to regroup, set a direction and move forward.

“We can’t stay at square one much longer. We need to be active and moving forward,” Fisher said.

Reporter Tom Lotshaw may be reached at 758-4483 or by email at tlotshaw@dailyinterlake.com.