Missoula Current

As required by state law, Missoula County this week established an account to place into reserves funding that could be used to offset the loss of taxes if a major county taxpayer closed or left.

Most residential property owners across Missoula County will pay less in county taxes this year, even as the county's budget increases by roughly 3.2%.

Three organizations have asked the courts to require Montana’s wildlife agency to justify why it’s not using its water rights to keep more water in the upper Beaverhead River for fish.

The Bitterroot Front Project was a plan for road projects, logging and burning across 144,000 acres or 225 square miles, from the northern boundary with the Lolo National Forest south to the West Fork of the Bitterroot River.

Alice Boyer writes, "There’s momentum, energy and hope for Montana’s future building around his campaign and I’m proud to be a part of the growing coalition supporting him."

Stormwater runoff in the Pattee Creek drainage has revealed a number of pollutants, which the City of Missoula hopes to address in a proposed bio-filtration project.

Trout Unlimited is looking to a federal grant to reconstruct a century-old diversion dam on the Clark Fork River to improve the passage of fish, improve irrigation and enhance boater safety.

Roger Koopman writes, "You may think you have the right to vote. The right to exercise your constitutional franchise to select the candidate of your choice. You would be wrong. In Montana, that right no longer exists."

Mountain Line plans to seek a new federal grant to make vast improvements to its system of bus stops, including more seating, shelters and signage.

Doug James writes, "Art Wittich created a purity test for the GOP. It’s like 7th grade all over."