Coalition Forms to Oppose Property Tax Caps
While the proponents of the Montana Property Tax Initiative, CI-121 await word from the courts about the validity of their petition — a wait that is now weeks long – “a large, diverse, and unconventional coalition of Montanans has come together to oppose CI-121,” reports the Montana Chamber of Commerce.
Brookshire Named Manager of Heights Water District
The Billings Heights Water District has selected Peyton Brookshire as its new manager, following a search for candidates that brought over 40 applications of which four were interviewed by the board.
2022, Good Year for Montana and Yellowstone County
Economically, Montana had a “fantastic” year in 2021, and 2022 is being forecast to be much the same, but there are challenges. At the forefront of his forecast, Montana’s premier economist, Dr. Patrick Barkey, Director of the Bureau of Business and Economic Research at the University of Montana, is projecting a decline in the seven […]
Property Tax Cap Petition Can Continue Gathering Signatures
Signature gathering on a petition that would cap property taxes may continue. The Montana Supreme Court refused last week to take up a lower court decision that halted signature gathering on a petition for an initiative that would cap the rate of property tax increases, saying it couldn’t hear the case any sooner than could […]
Governor Listens to Problems by Local Crime Fighters
With the next state legislative session looming on the horizon, one of the biggest issues before it will surely be the issue of crime, which is especially true for Yellowstone County and Billings where crime has been escalating at a faster pace than the rest of the state.
City Loses Franchise Fee Case
The City of Billings has lost a case filed against it for charging illegal franchise fees for 26 years on utility services it provides city residents. Filed by six city ratepayers, the case has been on-going for over three years, after having been a contentious issue since the city imposed the fees in 1992. Both […]
Both Pitman and Morse File for Office
2022 is an election year that will see a vacancy open for election of the Board of County Commissioners for District 2. Incumbent County Commissioner Denis Pitman, who has announced that he will be filing for re-election, already has a Republican primary contender in Mark Morse, who is also vying for the position. Filing for […]
County Auditor Position Consolidated
With the end of his term next year, Scott Turner will be Yellowstone County’s last full-time elected auditor. In the future the position will be melded with that of the County Clerk and Recorder. County Commissioners voted at a public hearing on Tuesday to eliminate the full-time position and place those duties that are necessary […]
Marijuana Will be on the Ballot this Spring
Whether Yellowstone County voters want the production and sale of marijuana in Yellowstone County will be on the ballot this spring – May 4.
Four Parents File for School Board to Bring Change to Billings School District 2
Four parents are immediately filing as candidates for the school board in Billings School District 2 with the opening of candidate filing on December 9. They are parents who realized at the beginning of school in the fall, that they had “turned their heads” for far too long when it came to paying attention to […]