Missoula County supports SB 220, Include public infrastructure and county-owned parks in municipal annexation, up for second reading on the Senate floor this afternoon. Currently, when a municipality annexes an area, it collects additional revenue, but is not required to acquire or manage parks or stormwater facilities in that area. This bill would update the law to include public infrastructure in annexation.
When a city annexes an area but not parks, it leads to confusion for residents, who are now paying higher taxes but are not seeing their parks maintained at the same level as other city parks, or which rules apply to those parks. More concerning is it leads to confusion for first responders, since which law enforcement or fire entity responds can vary on whether a person is standing in the park, in a house next to a park or on the road in front of the park.
Properly maintained and managed stormwater infrastructure is crucial to mitigate flood risks, project water quality and reduce erosion. This infrastructure is designed to integrate with construction of roads and sidewalks. When stormwater parcels are not included in annexation, the county manages the land, but the municipality manages the water runoff. This means no single entity is managing the system, which could have catastrophic consequences in a major event.
This bill would ensure that when cities begin the cost benefit analysis of annexing an area, they include the costs of owning and maintaining all of its infrastructure, leading to better outcomes for local government, businesses and residents.
Missoula County supports SB 220, Include public infrastructure and county-owned parks in municipal annexation, up on the House floor this morning. Currently, when a municipality annexes an area, it collects additional revenue, but is not required to acquire or manage parks or stormwater facilities in that area. This bill would update the law to include public infrastructure in annexation.
When a city annexes an area but not parks, it leads to confusion for residents, who are now paying higher taxes but are not seeing their parks maintained at the same level as other city parks, or which rules apply to those parks. More concerning is it leads to confusion for first responders, since which law enforcement or fire entity responds can vary on whether a person is standing in the park, in a house next to a park or on the road in front of the park.
Properly maintained and managed stormwater infrastructure is crucial to mitigate flood risks, project water quality and reduce erosion. This infrastructure is designed to integrate with construction of roads and sidewalks. When stormwater parcels are not included in annexation, the county manages the land, but the municipality manages the water runoff. This means no single entity is managing the system, which could have catastrophic consequences in a major event.
This bill would ensure that when cities begin the cost benefit analysis of annexing an area, they include the costs of owning and maintaining all of its infrastructure, leading to better outcomes for local government, businesses and residents.
Senators,
ReplyDeleteMissoula County supports SB 220, Include public infrastructure and county-owned parks in municipal annexation, up for second reading on the Senate floor this afternoon. Currently, when a municipality annexes an area, it collects additional revenue, but is not required to acquire or manage parks or stormwater facilities in that area. This bill would update the law to include public infrastructure in annexation.
When a city annexes an area but not parks, it leads to confusion for residents, who are now paying higher taxes but are not seeing their parks maintained at the same level as other city parks, or which rules apply to those parks. More concerning is it leads to confusion for first responders, since which law enforcement or fire entity responds can vary on whether a person is standing in the park, in a house next to a park or on the road in front of the park.
Properly maintained and managed stormwater infrastructure is crucial to mitigate flood risks, project water quality and reduce erosion. This infrastructure is designed to integrate with construction of roads and sidewalks. When stormwater parcels are not included in annexation, the county manages the land, but the municipality manages the water runoff. This means no single entity is managing the system, which could have catastrophic consequences in a major event.
This bill would ensure that when cities begin the cost benefit analysis of annexing an area, they include the costs of owning and maintaining all of its infrastructure, leading to better outcomes for local government, businesses and residents.
Please support SB 220.
Representatives,
ReplyDeleteMissoula County supports SB 220, Include public infrastructure and county-owned parks in municipal annexation, up on the House floor this morning. Currently, when a municipality annexes an area, it collects additional revenue, but is not required to acquire or manage parks or stormwater facilities in that area. This bill would update the law to include public infrastructure in annexation.
When a city annexes an area but not parks, it leads to confusion for residents, who are now paying higher taxes but are not seeing their parks maintained at the same level as other city parks, or which rules apply to those parks. More concerning is it leads to confusion for first responders, since which law enforcement or fire entity responds can vary on whether a person is standing in the park, in a house next to a park or on the road in front of the park.
Properly maintained and managed stormwater infrastructure is crucial to mitigate flood risks, project water quality and reduce erosion. This infrastructure is designed to integrate with construction of roads and sidewalks. When stormwater parcels are not included in annexation, the county manages the land, but the municipality manages the water runoff. This means no single entity is managing the system, which could have catastrophic consequences in a major event.
This bill would ensure that when cities begin the cost benefit analysis of annexing an area, they include the costs of owning and maintaining all of its infrastructure, leading to better outcomes for local government, businesses and residents.
Please support SB 220.