Billings City Council Regular Meeting – August 24, 2026

The Billings City Council held its regular business meeting on August 24, 2026. The council approved the August 10 minutes, took up a divided consent agenda, held several public hearings, and adopted resolutions on the airport authority, assessments, mill levies, and a budget amendment. The meeting also included a lengthy public-comment period on sanctuary-city and immigration issues.

Consent Calendar

• Council unanimously approved the minutes from the August 10, 2026 meeting.
• The remaining consent agenda was approved unanimously after Items 1E and 1M were separated for individual votes.
• Councilmembers recognized community donations, including a $2,100 donation to the Billings Police Department canine program, and thanked city and airport teams for the recent air show.

Council Reports and Proclamations

• Mayor Mike Nelson proclaimed August 31, 2026 as Overdose Awareness Day in Billings and signed the proclamation. Representatives of Overdose Awareness Day Montana spoke in support.
• Councilmember Nicholson recognized Dr. Maurice Hilleman and announced Riverstone Health’s walk-in immunization clinic on August 27.
• The city administrator announced that Jennifer Robinette was selected as the new public works director starting October 1, reported over 1,700 free bus rides during the Bananaball weekend, and noted there would be no council meeting on August 31.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Jeff Kettleson, a Ward 5 resident, spoke in opposition to an $11 million storm and sewer revenue refunding bond, arguing it should be funded by impact fees and saying the city is controlled by builders and developers.
• During the Highland Elementary School public hearing, Lane Dorsey of the Billings Alliance for Immigrant Rights criticized the council for not placing a sanctuary-city item on the agenda and referenced the recent detention of a nine-year-old girl at a school-supply event. The mayor reminded him to follow meeting rules.
• During non-agenda public comment, multiple speakers, including Tessa Miller, Catherine Schulitz, Tanya Schulitz, and other members of the Billings Alliance for Immigrant Rights, asked Billings to become a sanctuary city or to refuse voluntary cooperation with ICE, citing the alleged ICE detention of a child and father and fears of family separation. Tanya Schulitz asked the council to prohibit city personnel and city-owned facilities from being used for federal immigration enforcement and to require judicial warrants.
• Jennifer Strong of Ward 3 opposed sanctuary-city status, thanked the council for following state laws, and criticized the Freedom Road Socialist Organization. Other commenters also spoke against ICE and in favor of immigrant-rights demands.

Discussion Items

• Highland Elementary School EMD sign (Item 2): The council held a public hearing on a proposed electronic message display sign in a public/civic/institutional district. Highland Elementary principal Justin Huck said the current sign is outdated and unsafe because staff must change it with a ladder in winter weather. No council action was required.
• Billings Airport Authority and Board of Commissioners (Item 3): Staff presented the resolution creating the airport authority, with amendments adding “or becomes physically or mentally incapacitated” and removing “city council elect.” John Brewer, president/CEO of the Billings Chamber of Commerce, spoke in support. Councilmember Pittman asked airport staff to hold additional employee information meetings. The resolution passed unanimously.
• Road Maintenance District Number 6 (Item 4): The council approved a resolution setting fiscal year 2027 assessments, including about $2,800 for maintenance of the Briarwood Emergency Access Road. It passed unanimously.
• Park Maintenance Districts (Item 5): Staff reported 36 park maintenance districts, about 6,500 properties, total annual assessments of just under $1.7 million, and an average annual charge of about $275. The resolution passed unanimously after public comment.
• General Fund, Transit, Library, and Public Safety Mill Levies (Item 6): Staff reported taxable value increased 7.6%, raising the value of one mill from about $233,000 to $250,000, and that the proposed resolution would generate 4.2% revenue growth and lower the median home’s city tax bill by about $20 per year. Several councilmembers opposed taking more than the originally budgeted 2.95% growth, and the council passed a motion to set the levy at 233.66 mills, with Councilmembers Shaw and Neice in opposition.
• Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Amendment (Item 7): Staff presented two cleanup amendments for fire department overtime and municipal court grant costs, including $115,000 for the fire department. The resolution passed unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• The August 10, 2026 minutes and the remaining consent agenda were approved unanimously.
• Item 1E, regarding maintenance of a county street light, was approved 9–2, with Councilmembers Nicholson and Neice opposed.
• Item 1M, regarding residential solid-waste carts, was amended to clarify one residential cart is included with more available for a fee; it passed 8–3, with Councilmembers Aspenlighter, Kennedy, and Nicholson opposed.
• The Billings Airport Authority and Board of Commissioners resolution passed unanimously with the proposed amendments.
• Road maintenance district and park maintenance district resolutions passed unanimously.
• The mill levy resolution passed with the 233.66-mill amendment, preserving the 2.95% revenue growth level; Shaw and Neice voted no.
• The fiscal year 2026 budget amendment passed unanimously.
• The council took no action on the Highland Elementary electronic sign, as none was required.