MISSOULA - Missoula County Commissioners are seeking public comment as they consider adopting a resolution to place a county-wide gas tax on the June 2 primary election ballot.
The first public hearing on the issue will be at the commissioners’ public meeting at 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27 in the Sophie Moiese Room at the Missoula County Courthouse. The board will take constituent comments until the public meeting at 2 p.m. Thursday, March 5 when they will vote on whether to adopt the resolution.
If adopted, commissioners will sign the resolution at a special administrative public meeting at 3 p.m. Monday, March 9 in Administration Building Room 206 so it can be delivered to the Elections Office by the 5 p.m. filing deadline.
In addition to attending the meetings, the public can submit comment by calling 406-258-4877 or emailing bcc@missoulacounty.us.
In an effort to pursue revenue sources beyond increasing property taxes, Commissioner Josh Slotnick has worked on this initiative with the City of Missoula and a recently formed local advocacy group over the past several months. Figures estimated by staff indicate a two-cent per gallon tax would generate an estimated $1.1 million, which would be split equally between Missoula County and the City of Missoula to pay for construction, reconstruction, maintenance and repair of public roads. Estimates show that non-residents visiting the county would generate around $400,000 of the total revenue.
Montana Code Annotated 7-14-301 through 7-14-304 gives county commissioners authority to adopt a resolution placing a local option fuel tax on the ballot. If approved by voters, the tax must be imposed in increments of one cent per gallon and cannot exceed two cents per gallon. Revenue derived from the tax must be divided among the county and municipalities in the county according to one of the methods outlined in MCA 7-14-303. Missoula is the only incorporated municipality in Missoula County.
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