911 measure 10 votes short

Flathead County’s emergency services ballot measure came up 10 votes short of a win in a recount on Friday.

A crew of 28 people — mostly county employees — conducted the manual recount, tallying 15,207 votes in favor of creating the special district to provide ongoing funding for the 911 dispatch center, and 15,217 votes against the measure.

The recount yielded five more “no” votes and six more “yes” votes. The measure went into the recount process with an 11-vote spread, with 15,201 in favor and 15,212 against.

The ballot request would have created a special district to raise about $1.8 million annually for the operation of the consolidated 911 center.

County Administrator Mike Pence said the Flathead Emergency Communications Center Administrative Board that oversees the 911 center has discussed how to move forward and likely will consider putting the measure on the ballot again, either for the 2016 primary or general election.

 The county and incorporated cities of Columbia Falls, Kalispell and Whitefish operate the consolidated center through an interlocal agreement, but the initial funding strategy didn’t provide for capital improvements such as technology upgrades or replacement of equipment.

“We had capital funds to start out, but they’re diminishing,” Pence said, adding that the capital account has dwindled to about $100,000. “We should be assessing for both operations and capital.

The interlocal agreement has a funding formula based on population, with the county footing about two-thirds of the budget and the cities providing the other third.

The proposed district would have been funded with a flat annual fee of $25 per residential unit and $50 for each commercial unit, up to a maximum of 30 units.

Because the 911 center is of equal benefit to anyone who calls it during an emergency, the funding committee sought a formula that recognized that value and didn’t penalize anyone unduly.