Kalispell City Council on Monday opted against billing President Donald Trump for costs the municipality incurred accommodating his recent Flathead Valley visit.  

Trump held a rally at the Majestic Valley Arena on Oct. 14 to stump for Aaron Flint, the Republican candidate competing with Democrat Sam Forstag for Montana's western congressional district.  

Kalispell's bill came out to roughly $45,800, which was primarily driven by overtime pay for police and fire staff both leading up to and on the day of the event, according to City Manager Jarod Nygren.  

Nygren said 44 city personnel committed roughly 500 hours to help prepare for the rally while providing general services to the city.  

Mayor Ryan Hunter had proposed billing the president, but the effort failed to gain traction. Only Councilors Sid Daoud and Wes Walker expressed support.  

Hunter argued that taxpayers should not be responsible for covering the cost of a private campaign event, especially when the candidates involved are spending millions on their campaigns.  

"There's something wrong there," he said. 

Nygren said any bill would only be sent to the White House because the event was held for the president, not as a campaign event for Flint or Republican senatorial hopeful Kurt Alme.  

Daoud supported "aggressively" seeking to bill the president.  

"I'd rather we get the money from the White House. I'm a huge fan of defunding the federal government," he added.  

Walker said he would not have sought to bill Trump had the visit been tied to an official government function, like promoting an infrastructure project.  

"You are not allowed to spend money on a political campaign," Walker said.  

Walker and Hunter said they did not expect Trump to reimburse the city, noting that he has not historically done so, but argued that sending it was still worthwhile.  

"I think it's a matter of principle,'" Hunter said.  

Councilor Sam Nunnally said he took the day off work to drive in the presidential motorcade. He argued that the president should not be billed, just as protest organizers are not billed when large law enforcement deployments are required.  

Nunnally pointed to past protests associated with Antifa and Black Lives Matter as well as a white nationalist demonstration that had been expected to come to town.  

"I don't agree with ... any of those events, right? But it is about our freedom to be able to do this," he said.  

Councilor Jed Fisher argued that the city has not billed visiting politicians in the past, so it shouldn't pick and choose who to bill now.  

"If the pope came to town, would we bill the pope?" he asked.  

Councilor Dustin Leftridge said the city should adopt a policy outlining how to bill someone for emergency services before an event. 

Councilor Kyle Waterman — who ran as a Democrat in the recent Montana Senate District 4 race — said the costs stemmed from providing mutual aid, an expense he argued should not be billed to the president.  

Councilor Lisa Blank declined to comment on Hunter's proposal.   

Republican Central Committee State Committeewoman Kisa Davison — who led the arena in the Pledge of the Allegiance at the onset of Trump's rally — asked Council during public comment to recognize the event volunteers. 

The Flathead County Sheriff's Posse volunteered for a collective 400 hours leading up to and on the day of the event, according to Davison.  

"What we don't pay for with our tax dollars, we have to pay for somehow," she said.  

Reporter Jack Underhill can be reached at 406-758-4407 or [email protected]. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at dailyinterlake.com/support.