Key points:

  • Over the last 15 years, Missoula’s spending has increased faster than the pace of population growth plus inflation, at the excessive cost of $198 million to Missoula taxpayers in 2021.
  • The Real Missoula Budget demonstrates the need for government spending restraint and an improved budget process to protect Missoula taxpayers.
  • Missoula officials should focus on holding the growth of expenditures to less than population growth plus inflation to ensure that the cost of government stays within the bounds of taxpayers’ ability to pay for it.