The vote to form a new special emergency communications district in Flathead County came down to the wire, with only 72 votes separating the support and opposition before the provisional ballots were counted.
By the time the provisional ballots were counted up nearly a week after the Nov. 4 election, the difference was 11 votes, leading to a likely recount to determine the future of the proposed long-term funding solution for the Flathead Emergency Communications Center, also known as the 911 Center.
After the provisional ballots were counted on Nov. 10, there were 15,201 in support of the proposal (49.98 percent), and 15,212 against it (50.02 percent).
Flathead County administrator Mike Pence said he was not expecting the proposed new district to gain more than 60 percent of the total vote, but did think it would pass.
Pence said he would likely request a recount for the vote.
“It’s unlikely it’ll turn it, but when you come that close you ought to at least take one final shot,” he said.
The ballot measure proposes creating a special-fee district for a new annual tax: $25 for residential units, and $50 for commercial units, with a maximum of 30 commercial units possible. Larger businesses and organizations will be charged more than smaller places.
The special-fee district would encompass Flathead County.
Kalispell and Whitefish each passed resolutions saying if the ballot measure passed, the cities would not spend the money usually earmarked to fund the 911 Center, so as to not doubly tax residents.
There was no such plan for county residents, whose taxes would increase.
Columbia Falls looked at a similar resolution, but it didn’t pass, Pence said.
The 911 Center’s annual budget is about $3.9 million. This new special-fee district would have brought in about $1.8 million, and the county would also continue to levy six mills to pay an additional $1.5 million. The remaining funds would come from an existing tax on phone bills.
The 911 Center’s administrative board said the proposed plan is a “fair and equitable” way to pay for the center’s annual costs.
Finding a long-term funding solution has been a goal since the 911 Center was created in 2009, but it has yet to come to fruition.
If it turns out that the ballot measure did not pass, Pence said he wouldn’t be surprised if the 911 board opts to recommend another attempt at passing the ballot measure.
“I think if we do it again, and educate people a bit more, I think it’s worth a try,” Pence said.
The regularly scheduled November meeting for the 911 administrative board is on Wednesday, the 19th.