The Kalispell City Council voted Monday to remove a $70,000 license plate reader camera from the city’s police department budget after roughly 40 residents showed up to oppose the technology. The amendment, brought by Councilor Sam Nunnally, passed with five of the seven present council members in favor — leaving the city to pursue parking enforcement through traditional means.

What Was Proposed

The funding would have covered one vehicle-mounted license plate recognition (LPR) camera and established a future contractor service agreement. City Manager Nygren clarified during the meeting that the proposal involved a mobile unit rather than a fixed surveillance camera, but the distinction did little to calm public concern.

The push for LPR technology originated with recommendations from the Downtown Kalispell Forward Coalition and the Parking Advisory Board, who cited enforcement gaps in the city’s downtown parking zone. Under the previous system, parking spots were checked only twice daily — and the city’s lone full-time parking enforcement officer retired earlier this year, leaving enforcement largely unattended.

Residents Pack the Meeting

About 40 Kalispell residents turned out to voice opposition, raising concerns about data collection, privacy, and the scope of local government surveillance. Resident Laura O’Neil captured the mood of many opponents, telling the council, “They’re already collecting all of our data on our cell phones. Everything goes to the cloud. What more do we need?”, as first reported by the Flathead Beacon

The turnout reflected a broader national skepticism toward automated surveillance tools being adopted at the local level, particularly in communities that tend to favor limited government. For Kalispell residents, the fact that LPR data could be stored or shared by a third-party contractor appeared to be a central sticking point.

Council Debate and the Vote

Councilor Nunnally’s amendment to strip the $70,000 line item from the budget passed 5–2. Councilors Dustin Leftridge and Kari Gabriel cast the dissenting votes. Leftridge argued the council should consider funding an additional full-time parking enforcement position from city mills as an alternative approach, rather than abandoning enforcement upgrades altogether.

Councilor Jed Fisher, who voted with the majority, said he wasn’t opposed in principle but wanted more evidence before committing public funds. As first reported by the Flathead Beacon, Fisher said, “I want to hold off. I want to see more success stories first.”

The technology selection process for any future LPR system would have required further council review regardless, meaning Monday’s vote foreclosed the current budget cycle but left open the possibility of revisiting the question later.

What Comes Next

With the amendment approved, the city’s parking enforcement will revert to a single full-time officer, the same staffing level that existed before the recent retirement. The final budget was due to Flathead County the following day, making the council’s decision effectively final for this fiscal year.

Council members did note the possibility of a budget amendment within the next 12 months if the parking situation deteriorates or if community sentiment shifts. Leftridge’s suggestion of a mill-funded enforcement position could resurface as an alternative in future budget discussions.

Broader Context

The Kalispell debate illustrates a tension playing out in smaller cities across Montana and the West, where downtown business coalitions push for improved enforcement to protect parking access, while residents and privacy advocates resist expanding automated data collection tools. The Downtown Kalispell Forward Coalition had tied the LPR recommendation to a broader set of new parking rules the city had already adopted — meaning enforcement capacity now lags behind the rules on the books.

Whether the council returns to the question through a budget amendment or waits until the next full budget cycle, the underlying problem — too few enforcement resources for an expanded parking system — remains unresolved. For now, Kalispell will rely on the traditional approach while the broader policy debate continues.