Bozeman City Study Commission Meeting – Thursday, November 6 A major development demands public attention. Without prior discussion or consensus from the full Commission, a new agenda item has been added for Thursday’s meeting: Working Ventures, the out-of-state firm hired as the public engagement consultant, is now asking for an additional $9,000 — or at least $4,500 — to conduct “additional research.” Here Are the Facts: The Study Commission approved a $50,000 budget for this work. Working Ventures presented itself as a team of experts in municipal engagement and civic research. They submitted a detailed proposal for $48,000+ and signed a contract agreeing to deliver the full scope of work outlined in the RFP. A local firm — with extensive experience in Montana municipal government — submitted a competing proposal for $25,000 plus time and materials, not to exceed $50,000. The Commission chose to hire Working Ventures instead, trusting their stated expertise. To date, Working Ventures has held three public engagement events, with a total attendance of only 17 people. Now, despite that track record, the firm is asking taxpayers to fund their learning curve. In their own words, they are seeking money to conduct research that will “explore key areas of municipal governance to inform potential updates to the City Charter and ensure alignment with best practices, state law, and community needs.” — exactly what they were hired and paid to do in the first place. Working Ventures has also identified twelve “community partners” they plan to meet with during their December 4–6 engagement events. Not one conservative organization identified in prior meetings is included, while Forward Montana — a well-known activist group — is being given two special engagement sessions. Why This Matters: Bozeman taxpayers already paid for this expertise. Paying more to complete the same work is fiscally irresponsible. Every dollar spent here is one less available for essential city needs. Rewarding poor performance undermines public confidence and accountability. Local voices warned early on that this out-of-state firm lacked understanding of Bozeman’s local dynamics. The results confirm it. Representation in community outreach should reflect all viewpoints, not just one side of the political spectrum. Accountability matters. The firm claimed expertise in community engagement and local government review. Performance to date shows they over rated themselves and now expect taxpayers to pick up the slack. What You Can Do: Attend the Study Commission meeting on Thursday, November 6 at 4:00 -7:00 PM, City Hall. Submit written public comment before the meeting to govreveiw@bozeman.net Urge commissioners to vote NO on any additional funding for Working Ventures. Remind them: the public deserves accountability, not excuses. When citizens speak up, government listens. Let’s make sure they hear us loud and clear.
WARD Initiative - "Yes" Arguments (Info from Gallatin Valley Sentinel)
Background: From City of Bozeman
Bozeman City Commission Candidate Interviews
The City of Bozeman claims that a new Montana state law reducing property taxes has caused a $1.77 million budget deficit in Bozeman’s general fund, primarily affecting police and fire department staffing. The law lowered the city’s total taxable value by nearly 9% and reduced the value of a mill from $245,000 to $218,000. To address the shortfall, Bozeman commissioners approved using 4.5 of nine previously untouched mills, set aside in 2006 to ease taxpayer burdens, and cut the general fund budget by $810,000 through delaying non-essential expenses and keeping vacant positions open. The decision was justified by changing city needs, as the 2006 assumptions no longer apply. Commissioners also converted fixed mill levies for police and fire staffing to dollar amounts for consistency with other voter-approved levies. As a result, the property tax bill for a median home (assessed at $671,800) will decrease by about $126, with the total tax bill, including services like water and parks, set at $3,427.28, slightly lower than last year. Click the link below to read the full article from the Bozeman Daily Chronicle: