Missoula City Council Approves 2025 Budget With an 8 to 4 Vote

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - The Fiscal Year 2025 Missoula city budget was approved by an 8 to 4 vote by the City Council at their regular Monday night meeting.

The 2025 budget brings an estimated tax increase of 5.96 percent, including the general fund, road district, and park district. The voter-approved fire levy (June) 11.08% total tax increase for a home with an assessed value of $450,000 is $307 per year (Including general fund, road district, park district, and fire levy).

City Taxes Will Increase by About $300 Per Year

Mayor Andrea Davis said a large part of the tax increase will go to pay more for public safety, including police and fire.

“We were seeking savings in the budget, knowing that we had budget increases and much of those are related to our ongoing commitments in terms of staff wages and other contracts that we have, we just know those costs are going to go up, and so much of that increase is an increase in wages for our public safety officer,” said Mayor Davis. “This is ensuring that we pay a competitive wage for our public safety officers and I'm really proud to say that we're that we're getting there.”

Councilors Campbell and Vasecka Voiced Their Opposition to the Budget

Those opposing the budget included Ward 5’s Bob Campbell, who said many families may face losing their homes due to higher property taxes.

“This will kick people out of their homes,” began Campbell. “People own homes, and now some of them are going to lose their homes as a result of this vote tonight. Some people in town are going to receive eviction notices because of property tax increases that can't be sustained by the landowners. People are also going to be kicked out of their apartments, which is just going to add to the problem we have with houselessness here in Missoula.”

Campbell Warned that More People Could be Taxed Out of Their Homes

Ward 6’s Sandra Vasecka voted ‘no’, and noted that none of the proposals to lower costs offered by she and Campbell were passed by the council.

“I did end up voting against the budget because not one of Bob's or my amendments to lower the budget were even entertained,” said Vasecka. They all failed, and so I was really frustrated with that. I am a little bit happy with the mayor's decision to raise taxes by only 5.8% which is the lowest I've ever seen it being raised since my time on council. I do have to blame the voters for raising it even more because it went up 11% with the Fire Levy.”

The council voted 8-4 to approve the budget.

“Nugent, yes. Savage, yes. Sherrill, yes. Vasecka, no. Anderson, yes. Becerra, yes. Campbell, no. Carlino, no. Farmer, yes. Jones, yes. Jordan, no. Melson, yes. That's eight in favor and four opposed. Okay, thank you, everyone. The city of Missoula does have an adopted budget for FY 25.”

Click here to view Monday’s City Council meeting.