Bozeman Tax Increment Finance Advisory Board Meeting – September 17, 2026

The Tax Increment Finance (TIF) Advisory Board of Bozeman, Montana met on Thursday, September 17, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. The meeting covered a special presentation on the Montana State University (MSU) Innovation Campus, public comments on the campus’s defense‑related tenants, and a vote on the North Park TIF Assistance Program application criteria.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes Approval: The board unanimously approved the minutes from the August 20, 2026 meeting. (Motion by a member, seconded, all in favor.)

Public Comments & Testimony

• Non‑agenda public comment: None received at the start of the meeting.
• Comment after special presentation:
  • Audriana Carreon (MSU student): Urged the city to limit investment in companies involved in war profiteering. Noted that several Innovation Campus tenants have provided technology or aid to Israel during the Gaza conflict and benefit from TIF funding. Requested preventative measures to ensure companies directly involved in a genocide recognized by the United Nations do not benefit from TIF funding now or in the future.
  • Daisy Baertschi (recent MSU graduate in conservation biology and ecology): Expressed concern that 48% of MSU research funding comes from the Department of Defense (which she referred to as the Department of War). Stated that MSU has not been transparent about tenants on the Innovation Campus, particularly regarding war profiteering, and referenced a company (Reveal Technology) whose technology was allegedly used by Israel. Criticized the extension of the TIF district for another 25 years and called for reduced reliance on the military‑industrial complex.

Discussion Items

• MSU Innovation Campus – Special Presentation
  • Presenter: Mike Veselik, Assistant Vice President for Federal Relations & Economic Development at MSU. He provided an overview of the 42‑acre campus (west of 19th Avenue, north of Garfield, south of College), initially a research park that saw little development until a partnership with Charter Realty began around 2017.
  • Buildings described:
    • Applied Research Lab (20,000 sq ft, classified research up to TS/SCI and Q level – only commercially available classified space in Montana).
    • EngineWorks (78,000 sq ft, multi‑tenant incubator, including QCorp for quantum computing and a spin‑out Resilient Computing).
    • Aurora (80,000 sq ft, houses Aurora’s LIDAR technology for autonomous trucking; market cap $14 billion).
  • TIF investment: $3.6 million from the South Bozeman Technology District (formed 2012) for road extension (Technology Boulevard) and sewer capacity. The developer fronted the infrastructure cost, providing an interest‑free loan to the city, repaid from new increment (tax collection jumped from ~$30,000 to ~$520,000 annually).
  • Future plans: Big Sky Science Center (life sciences, anchor tenant Center for Biofilm Engineering), Applied Research Lab Phase 2 (non‑classified), and an EngineWorks expansion. MSU Alumni Foundation owns the land; Charter builds and leases buildings. The campus is zoned as a Planned Development Zone (PDZ) allowing higher density.
  • Board discussion:
    • Board member asked about food/retail; Veselik replied that the development agreement ties uses to the university mission (possible coffee shop, but not large commercial).
    • Board member inquired about the purpose of the TIF district and whether local TIF funds subsidize federal government activities. David Fine explained the district aims to attract high‑wage, value‑adding industries; the road and infrastructure investments enable private development that generates new property tax value.
    • Board member clarified that land is state‑owned (not taxable) but TIF captures increment from building improvements; the infrastructure improvements were funded via a developer advance, making the structure efficient.
    • Board member asked whether the board should consider limiting tenancy based on ethical concerns (e.g., defense contracts). Several board members responded that the board’s role is limited to infrastructure (roads, pipes, sidewalks) and that dictating tenants is outside its purview and would politicize decisions.

Key Outcomes

• North Park TIF Assistance Program Application Criteria – David Fine presented revised criteria based on previous board feedback:

  • Increased points for value‑adding industries.
  • Clarified definition of public‑private partnerships as projects implementing adopted city plans (e.g., climate plan, parks plan).
  • Standardized point values.
  • Vote: The board unanimously (all ayes) approved a motion to recommend that the Bozeman City Commission adopt the updated criteria. Applications over $50,000 will be brought to this board for review.

• Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at approximately 1:30 p.m.