Kalispell City Council on Monday will consider a pair of requests from the city and county to use tax increment financing funds for public infrastructure projects.  

The city is seeking $10.4 million from the West Side Core Area tax increment financing fund to construct a new equipment storage and maintenance garage. Flathead County is requesting $2.5 million from the same fund for improvements to the Flathead County Fairgrounds.  

Council, which is not expected to hold a vote on the proposals on Sept. 28, meets at 7 p.m. in City Hall, 201 First Ave. E. 

The proposals were forwarded to Council without a formal recommendation from the Urban Renewal Agency, an advisory board charged with evaluating redevelopment projects. 

In August, the board tabled both proposals — which are grouped as one request — until county officials return with more details on what improvements they plan to make to the fairgrounds.  

Agency board members expressed concern that the city's garage wouldn’t generate tax revenue to flow back into the tax increment financing fund, one of the fund’s core purposes. Several also argued that only taxpayers within the district would bear the burden of paying for a facility that would benefit the entire city.  

When the board reconvened on Sept. 17, a lack of quorum prevented members from voting on whether to support the projects. The board did discuss the proposed garage with city officials, but no county representatives attended, and the fairgrounds project was not addressed. 

Both proposals qualify as public infrastructure projects eligible for assistance under the fund’s policy, according to city officials.  

FOLLOWING A pair of work sessions last year, Council appeared in favor of building a new garage for the city’s growing array of vehicles and equipment. The body transferred $600,000 from the General Fund in fiscal year 2026’s budget to begin the initial design.  

The existing garage, located south of Legends Stadium, allows city workers to perform the majority of maintenance work, such as fixing headlights and overhauling engines. But fire engines can’t fit into the structure, storage space is nearly exhausted and maintenance demands continue to increase as the city expands. 

The Public Works Department is eyeing county-owned property at 815 W. Wyoming St., directly north of the fairgrounds, for a new facility. The city’s $10.4 million ask covers the cost to purchase the property, construct the building, and make site improvements and street frontage upgrades.  

The new garage — which would be fitted with a welding bay, taller ceiling and longer service bays — is expected to satisfy Kalispell’s needs for the next 30 years.  

Kalispell’s request could be doled out over multiple fiscal years, according to a memo from Community Development Manager Nelson Loring.  

The county, according to its application, is looking to make public infrastructure improvements to transform the fairgrounds into a more attractive and functional space. That includes facility planning and design, engineering and architecture, demolition of dilapidated structures, irrigation and landscaping improvements and visually improved perimeter fencing.  

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.