At their Monday night work session, the Kalispell City Council indicated that they were amenable to adding Workforce Housing to the Downtown and the West Side/Core Area Urban Renewal Plans. By doing so, it would make these projects eligible for Tax Increment Financing.
City Staff presented a report on the topic, including new legislation that would now support such a plan. However, when it came up 2-years ago, the idea was met with serious concerns from the public and, since at the time there were no proposals for such housing, it was tabled.
What could work now would be projects that would make households with an income of 80% to 120% of area median income eligible. The new legislation makes that AMI between 60% and 140%, which would make more people eligible.
As models of such a program, the Council can look to Missoula and Polson.
We’re told the AMI for the Flathead Valley–2-years ago, was $66,395. As it stands today, Kalispell residents are spending upwards of 70% of their income on rent, which is not sustainable.
