City Management & Emergency Response Funding with Kalispell City Manager, Doug Russell

Venture Boldly

Send us your feedback!

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 [e-mail]
Follow the Discover Kalispell Chamber on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube @kalispellchamber, and on twitter @KalispellChambr.
© Kalispell Chamber of Commerce. All Rights Reserved. 406.758.2800 | [e-mail]

Chương

1. City manager form of government (00:03:34)

2. Doug Russell’s career path (00:06:42)

3. Future of Depot Park building (00:09:05)

4. Emergency services & emergency responder levy (00:12:04)

5. Property tax revenue in relation to funding (00:18:35)

6. Lead time to build emergency response facilities/acquire equipment, etc. (00:23:02)

7. Workload ratios for first responders/ emotional & physical toll (00:24:36)

8. How to find more info about the upcoming levy vote (00:30:25)