Kalispell council mulls legislative proposals

The Kalispell City Council will discuss a series of legislative policy positions at a work session tonight. 

A list of priorities has been put forth by the city staff, and the priorities do not apply to any specific proposed bill. 

The discussion will include a proposal to support legislation that would provide local communities the option of enacting a voter-approved sales tax within municipal limits to maintain infrastructure and services. Under current state law, Kalispell is prohibited from putting a “local option sales tax” on the ballot because its population exceeds an arbitrary limit.

There is a proposal for the city to support legislation that provides for the use of Tax Increment Finance Districts, and to oppose any legislation that would limit the use of TIF districts.

There are proposals to support legislation that would streamline the process for establishing special districts and to mitigate the economic impacts of regulatory standards on city operations such as water production and wastewater treatment.

And there is a proposal to support impact fee legislation that provides long-term consistency for infrastructure development.

The work session gets underway at 7 p.m. in City Hall on First Avenue East.