County budget calls for slight tax increase

The Flathead County Commissioners approved an $81.2 million final budget for the 2014 fiscal year. There were no public comments during the Aug. 28 public hearing prior to the vote.

The budget is about 8 percent higher than last year’s, with three employees added to the payroll and most workers getting a 3.5 percent cost-of-living raise. As a result, the county will collect $34 million in property tax revenue, a 2.1 percent increase from last year.

While property valuations are still in flux under the Montana Department of Revenue’s appraisal system, the tax on a home with a market value of $200,000 could increase about $8, according to Flathead County administrator Mike Pence.

The number of mills property owners will see on their tax bill, however, will actually drop from 149.16 last year to 147.98 because the value of a mill has increased from $234,977 last year to $241,807. The increased mill value is a result of an increase in taxable value in Flathead County from $9.32 billion last year to $9.93 billion.

The FY 2014 final budget calls for a cash reserve of $11.8 million, or about 24 percent, and about $7.5 million in capital improvement projects.

CIP expenditures include a new grandstand and other improvements at the fairgrounds, a new maintenance shop, remodeling at the historic county jail, new vehicles, a new bus for Eagle Transit, acquiring surrounding property at the landfill for expansion, new greenbox sites for Bigfork and Essex, and an addition to the Road Department building.