Mill levy considered for dispatch center

The Flathead County 911 board is considering two options to fund the county's new dispatch center, which has been operating for about 16 months.

The center has been funded by assessments paid by the county and by Columbia Falls, Kalispell and Whitefish, with the three cities' assessment based on population.

The county and the cities agreed to determine within the first two years of the dispatch center's operation if the current funding system should continue or if another funding method should be imposed.

A committee passed on the two recommendations to the board in May. One option is to seek voter approval for a property tax levy. The second is to continue assessing the county and city governments while imposing a user fee on other users, including state and federal agencies, fire districts, quick response units and ambulance services.

The soonest that a levy proposal could go before voters is the June 2012 primary election, which could be politically difficult during an economic recession, and so far the 911 board has not made any plans for a levy.

And assessing volunteer QRUs and rural fire departments that don't generate any revenue may not be fair, Flathead County commissioner Jim Dupont said.

Basing city assessments on population also may not be fair. According to Columbia Falls city councilor Mike Shepard, calls to the center from Columbia Falls city residents make up a small percentage of the total. Because the new center is a "call center," it takes calls about dogs, water leaks and general questions in addition to 911 emergencies, he pointed out.

According to Dupont and county administrator Mike Pence, a new levy doesn't have to mean higher taxes for Flathead property owners. If voters approve a levy, the county will reduce the mills it assesses so taxpayers aren't paying the county any additional taxes for the 911 center, they said.

Reducing mills might not work for Columbia Falls. Part of the $104,000 Columbia Falls now contributes toward the 911 center comes from fines and state money and is not property tax revenue, city manager Susan Nicosia said.

With the value of a mill in Columbia Falls standing at $6,183, a 16.82 mill reduction would hurt the city, which is already facing a tight budget, Nicosia said. At the same time, any recommendation to the city council should avoid double taxation, she said. As it stands, city residents pay city mills and county mills for the 911 center.

The 911 board's funding committee consisted of Nicosia, Pence, Whitefish city manager Chuck Stearns and Kalispell city manager Jane Howington. Stearns said there are few good times to propose a new property tax levy, so before any such proposal should be made, the 911 board, the county commissioners and city council members should discuss that plan.