State asks Yellowstone County for contract, setting jail rates
Sheriff Mike Linder is sending a letter to the state Department of Corrections (DOC) to inform them that the actual cost to Yellowstone County to house a prisoner is $77.22 a day – not the $69.31 that the Montana State Legislature set as a cap of what the state will pay. The real cost is […]
County Economics 2019
2019 is unveiling to be a year of continued growth, according to the state’s premier economist, Pat Barkey of the Bureau of Business and Economic Research (UM), in a mid-year update of Montana’s economy, last week. “It’s a good news story,” he told his audience at the Northern Hotel in Billings.
County considers jail expansion
As the county weighs proposals for the new budget for FY2019-20, one of the pending considerations is whether to construct a new booking area for the Yellowstone County Detention Center.
Commissioners discuss 2 percent salary increase for county officials
To increase salaries of elected county officials by two percent is a pending motion before the Yellowstone County Elected Officials Compensation Committee, which held its first meeting last Tuesday. They will meet again on June 25 to make a final recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners. County Commissioners will take up the committee’s recommendation […]
Erecting the symbol of success for Lockwood
The first element of the new Lockwood High School that observers will see rise from the earth will be the walls of the auditorium. That will happen the third week in May, according to Joe Clark of Langlas Construction. Clark was among several of the building team and school administrators who met with Lockwood citizens […]
Local Government weighs mill levies in the balance
What local government might run a mill levy request of the voters and when? That seemed to be one of the top concerns of local government officials during a luncheon discussion last week at the Lincoln Center among a broad range of civic leaders, including those from the City of Billings, Yellowstone County and School […]
Lockwood Sewer rate to go up in July
Higher sewer rates will go into effect on July 1 for the Lockwood Water and Sewer District, including higher system development fees for Phase 2 Sub-district, the implementation of which were originally postponed to encourage residents to connect to the new system at the lower fee. That opportunity ends on July 1.
City confirms $76,845 overpayment to Steve Zeier
It took a sharp-eyed citizen to catch an almost $80,000 error in the City of Billings finances. An outside review of a citizen’s complaint confirmed the error, and concludes there is no evidence that it is the result of deceit or fraud, according to a release from city officials.
Johnson Lane Interchange bypass date moved up
The diverging diamond interchange proposed as part of the Billings Bypass at Johnson Lane and Interstate 90 in Lockwood will be built two to three years earlier than originally planned.
OBSD takes a nose dive
The legislation upon which hopes of funding One Big Sky District were pinned failed to pass through committee to the floor of the Senate last week. SB 340, which would enable 406 Impacts Districts, tied in the Senate Taxation Committee, effectively killing the bill.