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From Billings Proposes $967 Developer Fee for Stormwater System

How could Greg McCall's role as a developer affect the city council's decision?

Possible What happens if… A possibility worth considering, not a forecast.

Developer input may influence city council's vote on stormwater fee As a developer who served on the city's committee, Greg McCall helped design the proposed stormwater system development fee. The Billings City Council is scheduled to hold a full vote on this fee on October 26. McCall voiced concerns that housing costs are already high in Billings, and that any new fee impacts the cost of housing and construction, providing a key perspective the council must weigh when deciding on the fee structure.

Reported by 1 independent outlet Written Oct 17
Effect
Mixed
How direct
Stated in the reporting
When
Within weeks
The story
Gone quiet

How it reaches city council

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The facts so far

As reported. Each one links to where it comes from.

  • Greg McCall, a Billings developer, served on the city's committee to help design the fee.ktvq.com
  • A full vote on the stormwater system development fee is scheduled for Oct. 26.ktvq.com
  • McCall stated that housing costs in Billings are already high and new fees add to the challenge.ktvq.com

Why it matters

The City Council must balance the need for critical infrastructure against the economic impact on residents. The proposed fee is intended to fund the stormwater system in the West End, where large parts of the area are growing without city stormwater pipes, leading to flooding risks.

McCall's input highlights the tension between necessary development infrastructure and affordability. The fee structure is designed to be equitable, with larger properties paying more, but the concern that costs will impact home buyers remains a central factor for the council's decision.

What we don't know yet

  • How will the City Council weigh the need for stormwater infrastructure against the concerns about rising housing costs?
  • What specific adjustments, if any, might the council make to the fee structure based on stakeholder input?

What would change this answer

The City Council adopts the fee structure without modification.The fee will take effect Jan. 1, 2027, and the stormwater system development will proceed as planned.
McCall or other developers successfully lobby for a reduction in the fee.The cost passed on to home buyers could be lowered, potentially easing housing affordability challenges.

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