CARBON COUNTY (MONTANA)

What CARBON COUNTY (MONTANA) does

Carbon County, Montana is a rural county government entity operating under the State of Montana, headquartered at 17 West 11th Street in Red Lodge and founded in 1895. The county provides comprehensive local government services to its residents and businesses, including public safety (Sheriff's office, law enforcement contracts, DUI task force, concealed weapon permits), emergency management and disaster response, road and bridge maintenance, planning and development oversight (subdivisions, building/development permits, floodplain management), property tax administration, elections administration, public health and environmental health services, and extension services. Governance is provided by three elected County Commissioners plus elected and appointed officials covering Treasurer, Clerk and Recorder, Sheriff, County Attorney, Justice of the Peace, DES Coordinator/GIS Manager, Sanitarian, Extension Agent, and administrative staff. The county also maintains a fairgrounds, weed/invasive plant district, and cemetery districts.

The county's operating technology includes a digital service platform with online permitting (govos.com forms), a property tax payment portal (webx.mtcounty.com), GIS and addressing services, a burn permit system, a public records search system (idocmarket.com), an events calendar with iCal/Google/Outlook subscriptions, and a 911 call taking system (Zetron Max, awarded at $114,718 with DIS Technologies as local technical partner). Emergency communications rely on a Simulcast Radio System that is currently under evaluation for replacement due to reliability and coverage issues, with quoted costs of $266,000 for a turnkey system at four sites and an estimated $288,000 for a new radio tower. The county's GTM motion is direct-to-government-services delivery through in-person offices (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.), online portals, and public commissioner meetings held Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Carbon County's revenue model is anchored in property taxes as the primary funding source for county operations, supplemented by service and permit fees (burn permits, building/development permits, septic permits, food/lodging licenses, justice/district court fines, fairground rentals), state and federal grant funding (FEMA, Homeland Security, MLIA, EMPG, community development block grants), and New and Expanding Industry (NEI) tax abatement programs for qualifying industrial developments (minimum $125,000 in qualified improvements). In January 2018, the county approved NEI tax abatements for four wind/energy development projects (Mud Springs, Horse Thief, Pryor Caves wind projects, and Bowler Flats Energy Hub) developed by EverPower. Total county financial resources were reported at approximately $12.4 million as of October 2017.

Name

CARBON COUNTY (MONTANA)

Legal name

Carbon County, Montana

Website

https://co.carbon.mt.us

Company type

Public

Founded year

1895

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Carbon County, Montana is a rural county government entity headquartered in Red Lodge, founded in 1895, that delivers essential local government services — public safety, emergency management, road maintenance, planning, property tax administration, and public health — to its residents and businesses.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

RED LODGE, MONTANA

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Property Taxes: Primary revenue source for county operations, including property tax collections managed through the Treasurer's office.
2. New and Expanding Industry (NEI) Tax Abatements: Tax abatement programs for qualifying industrial developments such as wind farms, providing partial tax relief in exchange for capital investments.
3. Grant Funding: Various grants including Emergency Management Planning Grant (EMPG), FEMA Pre-Disaster Mitigation grants, Homeland Security grants, Montana Land Information Act (MLIA) grants, and community development block grants.
4. Service Fees: Fees for various county services including burn permits, building/development permits, property tax searches, justice court fines, district court fines, and food/lodging licenses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Carbon County, Montana is a county government entity that delivers local public services to residents and businesses in Carbon County, Montana. Its core offerings include property tax administration, public safety and law enforcement, road and bridge maintenance, planning and development permitting, emergency and disaster services, public health, elections administration, GIS and addressing, and environmental health regulation.

Product overview

Carbon County, Montana operates a unified county government services platform consisting of core administrative services (elections, property assessment, clerk & recorder, treasurer) and specialized service modules including online permitting, property tax payment processing, GIS & addressing, emergency management (911 dispatch, simulcast radio), burn permit management, and public records access. The county has been modernizing its operations through digital platforms for permits and payments, while maintaining essential government functions like road maintenance, public health, and disaster emergency services. The technology infrastructure includes a 911 call taking system (Zetron Max) and simulcast radio communications for emergency services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• County Government Services Comprehensive local government services including burn permits, property tax administration, building and development permits, elections administration, GIS services, road and bridge maintenance, public health, environmental health, floodplain administration, treasurer and clerk & recorder functions, and disaster and emergency services for residents of Carbon County, Montana.
• Online Permitting System Digital platform for applying for building and development permits online, replacing paper-based processes; serves local businesses, contractors, and developers seeking subdivision, building, and development approvals.
• Property Tax Payment Portal Online portal enabling residents and property owners to search and pay property taxes electronically.
• GIS & Addressing Services Geographic Information System services providing property ownership maps, addressing, and spatial data management for the county; serves residents, businesses, and internal departments.
• Burn Permit System Online system for applying for and managing burn permits, including fire restriction tracking; serves residents and landowners in fire-prone areas.
• Public Records Search Online search system for accessing and retrieving public county records and documents; serves residents, attorneys, title companies, and the public.
• 911 Call Taking System Emergency dispatch system for receiving and processing 911 calls, awarded to Zetron Max with DIS Technologies as local technical partner; serves county residents and emergency responders.
• Events Calendar System Calendar system for county events including commissioner meetings, planning board meetings, and community events, with subscription options for Google Calendar, iCalendar, and Outlook.
• Simulcast Radio System Radio communications system for emergency services including law enforcement, fire, and EMS dispatch; under evaluation for upgrade.
• Sheriff Law Enforcement Services Law enforcement services provided by the Sheriff's office, including the DUI Task Force, concealed weapon permits, crash reports, and tip submission via the Zuercher Portal; includes contracted law enforcement services agreements with towns such as Fromberg.
• Road and Bridge Maintenance Road and bridge maintenance for the county's priority road system, staffed by multiple road foremen and general road crew members.
• Fairground Rentals Fairground facility rentals at the Edgar Gruel Building in Red Lodge, managed by the Fair Board for community events.
• Emergency Alert System (CarbonAlert) CarbonAlert.org emergency notification system for fire danger, emergency alerts, and critical community updates distributed to county residents.

Quantifiable outcome

• Mental Health Center served 117 clients in 2017

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• EverPower (Mud Springs Wind Project LLC, Horse Thief Wind Project LLC, Pryor Caves Wind Project LLC, Bowler Flats Energy Hub LLC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 January 2018EverPower is developing multiple wind energy projects in Carbon County. The county approved New and Expanding Industry (NEI) tax abatement applications for these projects with conditions including a limited tax appeal agreement similar to Stillwater County. Projects involve US Fish and Wildlife eagle conservation plans and require county development permit amendments.
• Big Horn County WY Fire District #5 (Frannie)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 December 2017Mutual Aid and Emergency Services Agreement allowing calls south of the viaduct to be directly dispatched to Frannie, WY. Historical arrangement had Bridger dispatched first. Agreement facilitates cross-border emergency response coordination.
• Beartooth Resource Conservation Development CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 December 2017Annual update provided by council including rate assessment review and economic overview. Council provides grant/loan programs for local projects.
• Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 December 2017Licensed establishment inspections agreement and general public health coordination. State agency providing oversight and partial reimbursement for local public health services.
• County Employees and OfficialscoreOthers · 11 December 2017County government employs elected officials (Commissioners, County Attorney, Clerk and Recorder, Treasurer, Sheriff, Justice of the Peace) and appointed staff including DES Coordinator/GIS Manager, Sanitarian, Extension Agent, and various administrative staff.
• Spectrum Group ArchitectsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 30 November 2017Kathleen Armstrong and Gary Levine met with commissioners to discuss capital improvement planning for county buildings and conduct space needs assessment to determine current space deficits for future capital improvements.
• CTA Planning ServicescoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 30 November 2017Contract planning services through Forrest Mandeville for development permit reviews, consistency reviews, subdivision regulations updates, and planning board support.
• GreatWest EngineeringminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 30 November 2017Engineering services for TSEP Bridge Evaluation and Preliminary Engineering Report (Task Order No. 8). Provides engineering consultation for county infrastructure projects.
• Tom Dunne / Dunne CommunicationscoreTechnology or Integration · 29 November 2017Tom Dunne conducted evaluation of the Simulcast radio system and provided quotes for system replacement. Evaluated surplus Motorola QUANTAR repeaters and provided technical expertise on radio system reconfiguration. Quote for new turn key Simulcast system at $266,000 for one channel at 4 sites.
• Forest Service (USFS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 November 2017Cooperative law enforcement annual operating plan and financial plan coordination. Forest Service is installing a new radio repeater on Wapiti Mountain to extend radio coverage in the Beartooth Mountains.
• Fish Wildlife and Parks (FWP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 November 2017Regular coordination on wildlife management including Chronic Wasting Disease monitoring and special hunt programs. FWP Region 5 Supervisor provides updates on CWD status and hunt expansions.
• Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 November 2017Storm water permit approvals for development projects, subdivision review, and combined public water and subdivision review sections. DEQ reviews affect floodplain and development permitting.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Big Horn County, Montana: Montana county of similar rural profile and small-staff governance model, with overlapping agricultural, energy, and public-lands economic drivers — making it functionally comparable in service-mix and funding-base composition.
• Sweet Grass County, Montana: Neighboring south-central Montana county of similar size and rural character. Shares comparable tax-base structure, transportation-corridor economy, and emergency-services coordination patterns with Carbon County.
• Stillwater County, Montana: Neighboring Montana county referenced directly in Carbon County's NEI tax abatement framework as the comparable template (limited tax appeal agreement). Similar rural profile, comparable governance structure, and overlapping renewable energy development exposure.
• Park County, Montana: Adjacent Montana county sharing the Beartooth Mountains region and similar tourism-driven economic base. Comparable population scale, rural service delivery model, and reliance on interagency partnerships for emergency and environmental services.
• Wheatland County, Montana: Small rural Montana county with comparable budget scale, agricultural economy, and dependence on state and federal grants for infrastructure investment — a structurally similar peer for resource-base and service-delivery analysis.

Regional players

• Big Horn County, Wyoming: Wyoming county with which Carbon County has an active mutual-aid and emergency-services agreement (Frannie Fire District #5). Comparable rural profile and emergency-services delivery model across the Montana-Wyoming border.

Broad incumbents

• Yellowstone County, Montana: Montana's most populous county, providing a benchmark for scaled county-government operations across the same state regulatory and tax framework. Comparable statutory authorities (planning, NEI tax abatements, public safety) but at materially larger scale.

Others

• Montana Association of Counties (MACo): State-level association in which Carbon County's commissioners hold committee seats (Justice & Public Safety; Agriculture). Provides shared services, legislative advocacy, and training that directly affect Carbon County's operating model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubecarbonmt.gov/events
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/carbon-county-montana

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CARBON COUNTY (MONTANA)