In this episode we're talking with Doug Russell, the Kalispell City Manager. Doug, a certified manager and public finance officer, navigates us through world of local government management and the upcoming 2024 spring vote for a dedicated emergency responder levy in Kalispell. We shine a light on the council-manager form of government, a form that is becoming increasingly prominent in mid-sized cities, touch on the evolution of the use of the Depot Park building, and then dive into our featured topic of how our city funds emergency response services.
We dissect the issues surrounding insufficient funding for emergency response services, the effects of escalating call volumes on proactive policing and emergency response, and the repercussions of inadequate property tax revenue. It's clear that there is a need for additional ambulance, fire, and law enforcement personnel to keep pace with the rising demands or a growing city; it will be up to the Kalispell voters in March 2024 to decide whether to approve the levy which will fund these needed services.
Links:
City of Kalispell: https://kalispell.com/
Parks & Rec Department: https://kalispell.com/237/Parks-Recreation
Emergency Responder Levy: https://kalispell.com/844/Emergency-Responder-Dedicated-Levy
Doug Russell, contact information: 406-758-7703 or drussell@kalispell.com
The Venture Boldly podcast is sponsored by Weyerhaeuser.
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