Article Summary –
Missoula County’s expenditures for road and bridge repairs are vastly exceeding revenue, prompting the county commissioners to propose a five-mill levy on the November ballot, expected to generate $1.8 million annually for infrastructure needs. Despite attempts to raise funds, such as a repealed gas tax and a vetoed bill directing marijuana tax revenue to road projects, the county still faces a significant shortfall, needing an additional $4.3 million yearly to fully meet its infrastructure requirements. If the levy is approved, homeowners will see slight increases in their property taxes, but without this funding, infrastructure deterioration will continue, leading to more bridge closures and degraded roads.
The cost to repair and maintain Missoula County’s roads and bridges is far outpacing revenue, prompting an addition to the November ballot — a mill levy that would raise about $1.8 million annually for public infrastructure.
Missoula County commissioners approved placing a five-mill levy on the Nov. 5 general election ballot to fund construction, repairs, and maintenance of roads, bridges, and trails.
“Roads, bridges, potholes, dust—those are the things constituents complain about the most, as they should, and we’re not anywhere near able to do the amount of maintenance that’s needed,” Commissioner Juanita Vero said.
If the levy passes, the owner of a $300,000 home would pay an additional $20.25 annually, and the owner of a $600,000 home would pay $40.50. The levy would take effect in the 2026 fiscal year.
Two residents suggested reducing the county’s debt and other costs before the levy. Several online comments on the levy information page opposed any new taxes.
Approximately $7.6 million from property taxes, state gas tax, and other sources fund the 452 miles of roads, 123 bridges, and 346 culverts in Missoula County, Public Works Director Shane Stack said. The department needs another $4.3 million annually to fully fund infrastructure needs.
Shortly after Stack joined the county five years ago, it became clear infrastructure hadn’t been adequately funded. Stack speculated the backlog grew because elected officials historically didn’t want to raise taxes.
“I don’t know what’s worse—closing a bridge and telling people they have to walk home or raising taxes,” he said.
State law limits property tax increases, putting pressure on the public works department as costs rise, said Chris Lounsbury, county chief administrative officer. Efforts to raise money in other ways have not worked.
Four years ago, a voter-approved two-cent gas tax to raise $1.2 million annually for road projects was repealed by the Legislature. A bill that would have directed some marijuana tax revenue to road projects was vetoed by Gov. Greg Gianforte.
“It’s not lost on me or other county officials that folks are fed up with property taxes,” Stack said. “The more options the Legislature takes away, the fewer options we have. This is it, unfortunately.”
As staff put together the 2025 budget following two bridge closures, it’s clear the county doesn’t have enough money for needed repairs, Stack said.
The county closed the Boy Scout Bridge in November 2023 due to severe decay. While the county plans to replace it, it is waiting on a federal grant to help pay for the $13 million project. The Maclay Bridge, closed in January, reopened in June after repairs.
The bridges are just two of about a dozen high-priority bridges that would cost about $63.3 million to replace, Stack said. Annually, the county should spend about $2.2 million on bridges.
“These are very expensive pieces of infrastructure we don’t have the ability to repair or replace,” Stack said.
The public works department is focusing more on applying for grants but needs local matching funds, Stack said.
The levy revenue would also be used for repaving or chip-sealing roads more regularly. Currently, the county spends about $500,000 per year but should spend about $2.7 million.
A 2020 evaluation of the county’s 254 miles of paved roads estimated that all necessary repairs would cost $23 million at that time, with costs likely increasing since.
Levy revenue could also help maintain the 47 miles of trails the county is responsible for.
While the $1.8 million generated by the levy wouldn’t cover all costs, it would help bridge the gap, Stack said.
“If we don’t receive adequate funding to maintain infrastructure, it will deteriorate,” Stack said. “More bridges will close, more asphalt roads will turn to gravel, more potholes will appear. … Spending more now will save on future replacement costs.”
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