Missoula County Wants $5.76 Million More From Property Taxpayers to Fund Grant Bureaucracy and Climate Activism

MISSOULA, MT — Missoula County commissioners are asking property taxpayers to fund an additional $5.76 million in their fiscal year 2026 budget, with much of the new spending going toward expanding government bureaucracy and funding climate activism rather than essential services.

The request comes as property owners across Montana are still grappling with confusing property reassessments, with some seeing taxable values decrease despite rising property values, while others face significant increases.

Beyond the $5.76 million base budget increase — primarily for staff wage increases and rising insurance costs — the county is seeking additional property tax funding for dozens of new positions and programs that reveal a pattern of government expansion and ideological spending.

Building a Grant-Chasing Bureaucracy

Perhaps most striking is the county’s plan to create an entire ecosystem of grant administration positions funded by taxpayers. The budget requests include making a previously grant-funded Grant Administrator II position permanent at $98,069, creating a new Grants Administrator position for $67,275, and adding a Federal and State Grant Administrator for $49,330.

The county also wants to increase contracted services for grants by $10,000 to hire outside engineers and environmental professionals for grant writing support.

In essence, property taxpayers would fund multiple bureaucrats whose job is to chase “free” grant money it will distribute to preferred causes and non-profits — along with paying contractors to help them do it.

Climate Activism on the Taxpayer Dime

The budget reveals significant spending on climate initiatives that blur the line between government services and political activism. The county wants to hire a Climate Action Program Coordinator at $96,620 annually to “increase capacity of the Sustainability division, including implementing the carbon neutrality in county operations plan.”

Additionally, the county plans to increase its annual contribution to Climate Smart Missoula from $35,000 to $45,000 — a $10,000 boost to an outside activist organization. Western Montana News previously reported on Climate Smart Missoula’s “Heat Watch campaign” — a taxpayer-funded temperature mapping project that appeared designed to create justification for millions in additional climate-related spending on “urban forestry” and infrastructure modifications.

The one-time budget requests include another $123,348 for “Climate Resiliency 1.4 FTE,” bringing total climate-related spending in this budget cycle to nearly a quarter million dollars.

Shifting Federal Costs to Local Taxpayers

A troubling pattern emerges throughout the budget requests: programs and positions previously funded by federal grants that the county now wants taxpayers to support permanently.

The Crime Victim Advocates program, requesting $128,500, “previously relied on federal grant funding that continued to decrease over the past few years.” The Calibrate program needs $212,688 in ongoing support after its federal grant expires September 30, 2025. Community Health Workers, costing $56,698, were “previously funded by federal grants.”

Rather than ending these programs when federal funding dried up, the county is simply transferring the cost burden to local property owners.

Public Input Sought on Expanding Government

County commissioners will make decisions about the additional budget requests during administrative meetings scheduled for 10 a.m. on Aug. 12, 14, 19 and 21. A public hearing and final budget vote is set for 2 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 4.

Residents can provide feedback online at missoulacountyvoice.com, by calling 406-258-4877, emailing [email protected], or attending public meetings.

The preliminary budget book acknowledges that “it’s highly unlikely there will be enough revenue from property taxes available” to fund all requests, suggesting commissioners expect to pick and choose among the various expansion proposals.

Property owners will learn more about the specific tax impact after the state releases certified taxable values to the county in the first week of August.