Stephen’s Plan for Ravalli’s Future.
Thoughtful Growth, Responsible Spending, Strong Community.
Stephen Kowal for Ravalli County Commissioner
Are Growth and Taxes Stressing You Out?
New homes and businesses are booming—great news, until they wreck our rural vibe, spike taxes on families already pinched, and clash with federal layoffs emptying wallets at places like Rocky Mountain Labs and the US Forrest Service. Explosive growth strains our water and roads, while mandates from Helena make it all tougher. As your neighbor who’s felt these hits, I’ll focus on plans that manage growth smartly, spend wisely, and protect jobs—so Ravalli stays the welcoming valley we love, not a strained shadow of itself.
Stephen Kowal for Ravalli County Commissioner
Ravalli’s Changing Fast.Let’s Get This Right
Growth, taxes, and budget pressures are hitting families from every direction. With thoughtful planning, responsible spending, and real community focus, we can protect what makes Ravalli special while keeping our county strong.
Problem:
Ravalli’s exploding—population up over 4% to 48,000 since 2020, with new homes popping up everywhere. This is straining our roads, sucking up precious water amid aquifer worries, and wiping out affordable housing while farmland vanishes—over 150 farms and 50,000 acres gone since 2017 alone. Our rural charm’s at stake, families priced out, and that Bitterroot magic we all cherish? It’s getting steamrolled. Sound familiar? As a dad raising my son here, I’ve seen it hurt neighbors firsthand—we can’t let it continue.
Solution:
I’ll push for common-sense plans to guide growth, like updating subdivision rules to protect water sources and farmland through programs like Open Lands, which has already saved 2,000+ acres. We’ll prioritize affordable housing incentives and road upgrades to handle the boom without breaking the bank. With my track record uniting global teams through chaos, I’ll rally locals, planners, farmers, and even Helena to keep Ravalli’s heart beating strong—growing smart so your kids can afford to stay.
Problem: Tax dollars get wasted on red tape and unfunded state mandates, leaving less for roads and safety—while property taxes climb (average $2,200 bills on $235K homes) and wildfire risks jack up insurance 20-30% in high-hazard zones like ours. Small businesses and families feel the pinch hardest, especially with federal cuts adding to the squeeze.
Solution: I’ll streamline budgets like I did in corporate life, slashing waste while boosting results for what counts. We’ll prioritize roads, public safety, and wildfire mitigation grants to keep premiums down—lobbying Helena hard to axe those mandates and freeze unnecessary hikes. As your neighbor who budgets like a triathlete paces a marathon, I’ll make every dollar stretch, so Ravalli families breathe easier.
Problem: Federal layoffs are hammering us—30-40 jobs axed at the Bitterroot National Forest, 20+ at Rocky Mountain Labs, threatening 1,500+ statewide jobs and $105M in income that props up our restaurants, shops, and farms. Funding cuts to agencies mean less for services we rely on, and our economy—already leaning on feds for 4% of jobs but 8% of wages—hits us hard. We need a Commissioner who fights back for us, not just watches from the sidelines.
Solution: I’ll advocate fiercely for Ravalli in D.C. and Helena—pushing to save key federal roles at RML and the Forest while diversifying into ag-tech hybrids, tourism trails, and local manufacturing to create 500+ resilient jobs over the next term. As a Reserve Deputy who’s served alongside these folks, I’ll bolster Sheriff services, community programs, and workforce training to keep neighbors employed and our valley humming. Your family’s stability, it’s my finish line—we’ll cross it together.
Stephen Kowal for Ravalli County Commissioner
Back Stephen's Plan!
Join a plan built on experience, accountability, and real solutions that strengthen Ravalli County for years to come.