Cities support 911 center funding proposal

Three Flathead Valley city councils voted on Monday to support Flathead County’s effort to fund the 911 dispatch center.

Meetings of the Whitefish, Columbia Falls and Kalispell city councils included resolutions urging the county to create a special funding district and boost the 911 center’s revenue.

The measure, which still requires approval by the county, would impose a flat fee on all property owners.

Cities voted ahead of county officials to show their commitment.

“I think this is going to be a very difficult decision for the county commissioners and I understand that completely,” Kalispell council member Phil Guiffrida said.

Whitefish passed the measure unanimously with one absent member. Columbia Falls members also passed a support measure unanimously. The Kalispell vote was 8-1, with council member Chad Graham against it.

Graham said that he was hung up on last year’s referendum when voters narrowly turned down the special district.

“I feel like the county commissioners [and] the city, we had our bite at the apple to try to get this passed, and it failed by 10 votes,” he said.

But the overwhelming feeling in the Kalispell council chamber on Monday was that of support. Most council members said that replacing the city’s tax share with a countywide flat fee would be best for people in Kalispell.

The 911 dispatch center serves everyone in Flathead County and is funded by a mix of county and city taxes. Whitefish, Kalispell and Columbia Falls taxpayers each contribute their own property tax assessments in addition to a county levy.

Officials say that the dispatch center’s $2.9 million budget is just enough to cover operating expenses. With growth upgrades on the horizon and no room for additional taxes, officials are looking to the countywide flat fee to bring in money to upgrade the 911 dispatch system.

Whitefish City Manager Chuck Stearns has said that the countywide district could provide as much as $500,000 for equipment needs at the 911 center.

The proposed flat fee would be $25 annually for residential property owners. Commercial properties would be charged $50 for each unit up to a maximum 30 units.

Kalispell City Manager Doug Russell said city officials would work out a plan to mitigate the flat fee through local property taxes. Russell said the city would reduce taxes roughly by the amount of the flat fee.

Using that logic, Kalispell council members saw the move as an opportunity for their constituents, even after the defeated referendum.

“We know that the citizens of our city will benefit from this,” Kalispell council member Jim Atkinson said. “But change is very scary for folks, and if they’re not informed, then they will make the wrong decision.”

With support from the three city councils, county officials will now decide how to move forward. They will meeting with city leaders this week.

The city council votes Monday formally request that the county commissioners pass a resolution of intent to establish the proposed 911 special district.

Reporter Matt Hudson may be reached at 758-4459 or by email at mhudson@dailyinterlake.com.