Civic Look-ahead for the week of July 27 – August 2, 2026
Two decisions this week will shape Missoula's energy future and next year's tax bills. Tonight at 6 p.m., the Missoula City Council and Missoula County Commissioners meet jointly to take the final local vote on the Green Power Program — the last step before the clean-energy proposal goes to state regulators. Then on Wednesday, Mayor Andrea Davis presents her fiscal year 2027 executive budget, opening the three-week window in which residents can influence what the city funds — and what property taxpayers cover — before adoption on August 17.
The week at a glance
| When | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Mon, July 27, 6 p.m. | City Council + County Commissioners joint vote: Green Power Program | 140 W. Pine St. + virtual |
| Tue, July 28, 10 a.m. | County Commissioners administrative meeting | 199 W. Pine St., Room 206 + Teams |
| Wed, July 29 | Mayor Davis presents FY2027 executive budget (council committee) | 140 W. Pine St. |
| Aug 10 | City budget public hearing opens | — |
| Aug 17 | Final city budget adoption | — |
What is the Green Power Program, and what happens Monday night?
The headline item at Monday's 6 p.m. joint meeting (City Council Chambers, 140 W. Pine St., with virtual access instructions at the top of the posted agenda) is a joint vote on the Green Power Program agreement with NorthWestern Energy — a proposal seven years in the making.
The program, also called a green tariff, would let NorthWestern Energy customers statewide voluntarily subscribe to power from a new renewable energy resource built in Montana, capped at 50 megawatts — enough, in the case of a wind farm, to power roughly 20,000 homes. As reported by Montana Free Press:
- This is the last local step. Once Missoula's city and county sign on, the communities and NorthWestern submit the program to the Montana Public Service Commission, with a filing deadline of September 15, 2026. Bozeman's City Commission approved the agreement unanimously last week, and the Missoula City Council gave preliminary approval in committee on Wednesday.
- How it's paid for: NorthWestern would own and operate the renewable resource and cover upfront costs. Subscribers pay a share of the cost over time and receive a credit on their bill at the market price of the power. The program is designed to be self-contained — customers who don't subscribe neither subsidize it nor benefit from it.
- Why it matters for Missoula's climate goals: the city and county set a joint goal in 2019 of powering the Missoula urban area with 100% clean electricity by 2030. The community is currently just under 60% of the way there; officials say this program is the single biggest available step, worth about 10 percentage points.
Monday is the fourth Monday of the month, a regular council meeting night, so additional items may appear on the full agenda posted on the city's meeting portal.
When can I comment on Missoula's FY2027 city budget?
On Wednesday, July 29, Mayor Davis presents her fiscal year 2027 executive budget to the City Council — the kickoff of the council's annual review. The presentation was delayed one week from July 22 after the mayor's office cited unanticipated family medical emergencies among key staff.
This document proposes what the city will fund next year, from public safety to housing to parks — and what property taxpayers will be asked to cover. The council can amend the budget before adopting it. Key dates from the city's Engage Missoula budget page: certified taxable values arrive August 3, the public hearing opens August 10, and final adoption is scheduled for August 17. In practical terms, the next three weeks are your window to weigh in — through the Engage Missoula FY2027 page (questions and comments are posted publicly), at council meetings, or via the city's Public Comments page.
Missoula County Commissioners this week
The commissioners hold an administrative meeting Tuesday, July 28, at 10 a.m. in Room 206 of the Missoula County Administration Building, 199 W. Pine St., with a Microsoft Teams option linked from the county's Public Meetings page. Administrative meetings are where county contracts, agreements, resolutions, and grant applications get approved; the agenda posts two business days ahead on the county's CivicClerk portal.
There is no public hearing meeting this week — those fall on the first, second, and fourth Thursdays at 2 p.m., and July 30 is a fifth Thursday. As of July 1, the board no longer holds Thursday-morning administrative meetings.
Context worth remembering: earlier this month the commissioners adopted a year-long countywide moratorium on new AI data centers, and Nicole "Cola" Rowley joined the board this summer, serving alongside Chair Dave Strohmaier and Josh Slotnick.
Around the county
Community councils in Bonner-Milltown, Lolo, Seeley Lake, and other areas post agendas on the county's CivicClerk portal — worth a check for hyperlocal items. The countywide Virtual All Community Town Hall is on summer hiatus and resumes in September.
Common Good Missoula has no trainings, assemblies, or actions posted for this week. Given CGM's long-standing organizing on housing and land use, the opening of city budget season is a natural moment for its member organizations to engage — the budget's housing investments remain in play through August 17.
How to weigh in
City of Missoula: Attend Monday's 6 p.m. meeting in person at 140 W. Pine St. or virtually (instructions at the top of the posted agenda). On the budget, comment online through Engage Missoula's FY2027 page, or find in-person, remote, email, and phone options on the city's Public Comments page. The formal budget public hearing opens August 10.
Missoula County: Attend Tuesday's 10 a.m. administrative meeting in person (Room 206, 199 W. Pine St.) or via the Teams links on the county's Public Meetings page. You can also leave a voicemail at 406-258-4877, use the commissioners' online contact form, or comment on active projects at missoulacountyvoice.com.
Frequently asked questions
Will the Green Power Program raise my electric bill? Not unless you subscribe. The program is voluntary and self-contained: subscribers pay a share of the new resource's cost and receive a market-price bill credit, while non-subscribers are unaffected. Rates won't be known until the project is designed and reviewed by the Public Service Commission.
When does Missoula adopt its FY2027 budget? Final adoption is scheduled for August 17, 2026, following a public hearing that opens August 10.
Where do I find meeting agendas? City Council agendas post late Friday on the city's eScribe meeting portal (pub-missoula.escribemeetings.com); county agendas post on CivicClerk (missoulacomt.portal.civicclerk.com).
