State pension dilemma causing headaches for Montana legislature
Six state legislators – three Republicans and three Democrats – have formed a coalition to address the looming problem of funding the state’s retirement funds for public employees. Five of those legislators were in Billings last week to gather input from city, school and county officials regarding the problems that surround the issue and to […]
State pensions outgrow funds due to over-estimated return rates
The next session of the Montana State Legislature will be facing a really big problem – one that will eventually fall to Montana taxpayers to resolve. Montana’s retirement funds for teachers and for public employees face a $4.5 billion shortfall. The issue is one that will be a matter of discussion with city and county […]
New TIF being proposed for Billings
A group of property owners in the west end of downtown Billings want to create a new tax improvement district. The proposed boundaries of the new district would be Division Street, 1st Avenue North and North 31st
Olszewski, Fox & Gianforte squared in gubernatorial debate
The three Montana Republican gubernatorial primary candidates fielded a lot of questions, most often dealing with the economy, taxes and crime and drug abuse, last Thursday evening at the Billings Hotel and Convention Center, during a debate sponsored by the Yellowstone County Republican Women’s organization.
35 mph to be implemented on Highway 87 through Lockwood
The results of a speed study on Highway 87 as it enters Lockwood from the Lockwood interchange have been received by the Yellowstone County Public Works Department from the Montana Department of Transportation.
MFPE Union pay raise contract finalized with Yellowstone County
A contract has been reached between the Montana Federation of Public Employees (MFPE) and Yellowstone County. According to Human Resources Director Dwight Vigness the union has agreed to a three-year contract, the primary focus of which is to raise worker wages at lower levels to the mid-point range of the pay scale. The agreement comes […]
Mental health service funding awaits provider proposals, Pitman resigns
Following months of very public discord and disagreements regarding Yellowstone County’s funding of mental health services and what that should entail in the future, Yellowstone County Commissioners seem to have decided that that they will be issuing a “request for proposals” from health service providers for plans on how best to provide services. The proposals […]
Detention Center requests $402,672 for nursing staff
Since Yellowstone County is held liable for the welfare of prisoners once they are admitted into the Yellowstone County Detention Facility, it’s become increasingly apparent to the Sheriff’s Department and other detention administrators that the county must elevate the level of assessment given to prisoners before they are admitted.
County Treasurer moves ahead with employee background checks
With few of her employees holding any strong objections about doing so, Yellowstone County Treasurer Sherry Long will move forward to conduct background checks of all her employees so that they will be able to continue to access the state’s computer system.
Billings schools support relocating Daylis Stadium
The superintendent of School District 2, Greg Upham, was in attendance at this month’s Metra Park Advisory Board meeting to make a most emphatic point that he and the school district’s board of trustees are very interested in developing some kind of sports / stadium complex that can take the place of Daylis Stadium for […]