City backs funding for 911 center

The city of Whitefish supports an effort to create a special district to fund the county’s 911 dispatch center.

City Council March 16 passed a resolution that urges Flathead County to create the special district. The county’s three municipalities all approved the measure, which still needs approval by County Commissioners.

“As a city resident, I think this is going to be much more fair, being spread out amongst county residents instead of having the cities subsidize the county residents,” councilor Jen Frandsen said.

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

Commissioner Phil Mitchell said the county is looking for a funding solution for the 911 center.

“We, as a county, are trying to find a more equal way to charge all of Flathead citizens,” he said.

The county and incorporated cities operate the consolidated center through an interlocal agreement, with county and city taxes funding the center. Residents of the three incorporated cities each contribute through property tax assessments in addition to a county levy.

City Manager Chuck Stearns estimates that the district could raise $500,000 for equipment for the 911 center. The district would provide a stable funding source in the future, especially for needed capital equipment replacement and additions, he noted.

Stearns paints a bleak picture of what could happen if funding isn’t found for the 911 center.

“If capital equipment replacement and addition is never funded, the 911 center will die a slow death of attrition,” he said in his staff report.

A county-wide ballot measure on last year’s November election came up 10 votes short of creating the special district.