What: the City's annual $100,000 funding contract with the Missoula Economic Partnership, a public-private economic development organization.
Where it stands: approved by Council on 2026-09-14, 8 yes and 2 no, after a split committee vote.
Next: no further step known; the City and Council have said the arrangement may get more conversation.
Details
Supporters cited the partnership's work on the housing impact fund, Midtown Commons, a mill site redevelopment, airport flight capacity and business support, and said a public-private partnership is a common way to do economic development.
Opponents and one public commenter raised transparency: donor information, and open meetings and records when City work is contracted out. The chief administrative officer said the partnership, as a City contractor, did not keep public records of its vetting for Midtown Commons, and that the resulting projects went through public Council and Missoula Redevelopment Agency processes.
An earlier budget amendment to remove the funding failed.
Sources
Transcript of 2026-09-14 (City Council): Whisper speech-to-text, linked from the meeting page.
Committee report: contract approved on roll call, 8 yes and 2 no (Bob Campbell and Kristen Jordan voting no), after public comment and debate on transparency.