Controversial Decision Shakes Montana Housing Landscape
The program was part of the Montana Community Reinvestment Plan, a measure passed through House Bill 819 by the 2023 state legislature. The bill set aside $56 million to assist low- and middle-income residents in securing homes in an increasingly competitive housing market. Montana’s median home price had recently reached a staggering $452,050, with the situation in Flathead County being far worse, where homes average more than $650,000.
Despite overwhelming support from the public and local businesses, Flathead County’s commissioners voted against the proposal. The decision marks a significant moment in the ongoing housing crisis that has affected not just Flathead but the entire state. Commissioner Randy Brodehl, leading the charge against the program, argued that accepting the funds would essentially “redistribute taxpayer money across the state,” causing unnecessary risks for both taxpayers and first-time homebuyers.
“I’m convinced HB 819 takes money from the pockets of you, the taxpayers, and redistributes it across the state of Montana,” Brodehl declared, addressing a room filled with concerned citizens. “I’m also convinced the risk to the taxpayers who are providing the money and the risk to the first-time homebuyers is not a reasonable option for the Flathead.”
Public Backlash: A Divided County
The vote has left many residents frustrated and feeling unheard. In the days leading up to the meeting, more than 50 written comments poured in, with most citizens urging the commission to accept the funding. Jill Davis, a longtime renter in the region, wrote passionately about the desire to escape the instability of renting.
“I want to have the ability to buy a house, I’m ready to start building my own equity instead of paying rent,” Davis said in her letter to the commissioners. “Owning a home would provide this to me,” she emphasized, echoing a sentiment many residents share in Flathead County, where the housing market has priced out a large portion of the local population.
Many local businesses, including the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce and Logan Health, also voiced their support for the program. Kalispell Mayor Mark Johnson called the program an essential step to support workforce housing and homeownership, which he described as “crucial for our community.” Even officials from Whitefish and other surrounding cities echoed the sentiment, citing the program as a potential solution for the growing housing crisis.
The Broader Debate: Is HB 819 Justified or Socialized?
The rejection of HB 819’s funding also opens a broader conversation about the role of government assistance in the housing market. Brodehl, who has criticized the bill in the past, called it a “socialized program,” arguing that the state’s allocation of $169 million for housing-related initiatives represented an overreach.
Even though Flathead County would only be receiving a portion of the funding, Brodehl remained firm in his position. “Of the $225 million of taxpayer money, it could be paid back to the taxpayers,” he argued, referencing the property tax rebates issued this year by the state. “It could have happened with this money.”
While Brodehl’s stance has found support among a portion of the county’s population, it has left many questioning whether the county should embrace the opportunities for growth presented by the state. Whitefish’s Finance Director, Lanie Gospodarek, called the program a “great opportunity,” explaining that it would help foster the creation of entry-level homes with “NO cost or risk to our county.”
Housing Crisis or Political Posturing?
With Flathead County facing one of the steepest increases in home prices in the state, the rejection of HB 819’s assistance feels particularly contentious. It raises questions about whether the commissioners are prioritizing political principles over the very real housing needs of their constituents.
But some local residents argue that the program is only a temporary fix to a much larger issue. As Jill Davis put it, “Everyone I know has a housing story. Everyone is trying to buy their first home or having to move away because they can’t afford a house or rent.”
For many, this is the number one issue facing Montana today—a housing market that is pushing the state’s working class out of their communities. The failure of the county to accept state funds has left them with fewer answers.
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