OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Butte Silverbow Council of Commissioners Regular Meeting – August 19, 2026

Council of Commissioners & Committees — Thursday, August 20, 2026
BodyButte Silver Bow, Montana
SessionCouncil of Commissioners & Committees
DateThursday, August 20, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:13:28

Transcript — Verbatim
0:56

Can commissioners please check in.

1:26

Okay.

1:30

I'd like to call the Butte Silverbow Council of Commissioners regular meeting for Wednesday, August 19th, 2026 to order.

1:37

Clerk, can we please have roll call?

1:39

Twelve present, zero absent.

1:41

Twelve present, zero absent.

1:44

Um Commissioner Walker, could you please lease in the pro prayer and the pledge?

2:10

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.

2:29

Next we'll move on to any public comment on any item on tonight's agenda.

2:34

If you'd like to speak on any item on tonight's agenda, please come forward, state your name, address, and the item you would like to speak upon.

2:42

Seeing none, we'll move on to the approval of the minutes of the August fifth, twenty twenty-six regular meeting.

2:47

Commissioner Morgan.

2:49

Thank you, Mr.

2:49

Chief Executive.

2:50

At this time I'll make a motion that we approve the minutes of the April fifth, twenty twenty-six regular meeting agenda.

2:56

We have a motion and a second to approve the August fifth, twenty twenty twenty twenty-six regular meeting minutes.

3:02

Is there anything on the question?

3:04

Could Commissioners please vote?

3:10

And would anyone like to change their vote?

3:13

Clerk, please record the vote.

3:17

Twelve, yay, zero, nay.

3:19

Twelve, yay, zero nay.

3:20

Motion passes.

3:21

We don't have any items that are not addressed on tonight's agenda, so we'll move on to the chief executive's report.

3:27

First item I want to share good news just in my family.

3:31

Um and his fiancee had a baby boy this morning.

3:38

His name is Elias uh William.

3:41

Yeah, seven pounds four ounce, so I want to congratulate them.

3:44

Mom and baby are healthy and happy, and so congratulations to them.

3:48

So that's that's good news for our family, and so excited about that about being a grandpa.

3:54

Um other things, um, as we get hopefully close out and and work through the the uh our budget as we work through this.

4:03

We know that we have uh um you know work through and have a uh a budget that we feel good about.

4:11

We know that there may be some challenges as we move forward.

4:14

We know that that we are already um having some of uh some people that are already contesting some of their their taxes already, and so we want to make sure that we pay attention as we move forward with the budget and that we are are prudent watching uh as the budget moves forward, and and so um look forward to to um finalizing the budget and uh working with everybody on on our budget this next year and and really being um focused on what happens in this next fiscal year as we go into the legislative session, and I think we got to be laser focused and paying attention to what happens at the legislature and and and paying attention to the bills and the things that are gonna happen with that because it will be a reappraisal year as well, which will affect taxes as well in the local community.

5:05

So I think it's a it's really important for us to pay attention to that.

5:09

And then I know today was the hearing on the um debt data center ballot initiative, and that that will continue on and in uh the local government um working with the county attorney and and the clerk and recorder.

5:22

Um we're taking neutral position.

5:24

I know the council is that as well of you know, really where that position is going to be in and really um we'll let the courts decide what what's gonna happen there.

5:34

I know Yellowstone County is has uh move forward on theirs.

5:38

We are just kind of waiting to see and let the courts decide on that with the ballot initiative, and so we'll wait and see what happens with that.

5:46

So with that, I'm gonna end the the chief executive's report and we're gonna move on to section one, be it openings, public hearings and/or presentations.

5:54

Um we have a couple public hearings tonight and presentations.

5:58

So county attorney Ann Ruth, do we have proof of publication for our public hearings and presentations?

6:05

Uh there was proof of publication on both of Director Hassler's uh public hearings.

6:11

They've been able to do that.

6:11

And we don't need it for the presentation.

6:13

Yeah.

6:14

Um I do not have proof of publication for the presentation.

6:16

And we don't need it.

6:18

We don't.

6:18

So we don't look at Cons like we don't need that.

6:20

We're okay.

6:22

So our first our first public hearing is communication number 2026-366.

6:29

Karen Hasler Finance and Budget Director requests some council of commissioners permission to schedule a public hearing on August 5th, 2026 for the adoption of the fiscal year 2027 final year uh final budget and establish the user rates for stormwater system, solid waste disposal, and light lighting and fire hydrant districts.

6:50

Commissioner Armin, Director Hassler.

6:53

Uh thank you, Chief Executive Gallagher, members of council.

6:56

Um before you this evening, you'll find a couple of different documents that just kind of uh provide a snapshot of where we are this evening.

7:07

There is a balanced resource and requirement schedule, which is our um mechanism for balancing our budget for this fiscal year uh 27.

7:17

It is um including all of the amendments that are also on this um legal size sheet.

7:24

We have um a couple of different amendments that were added um since last week's uh budget.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural████████████████████████████28%
Budget Equity Analysis███████████████████████23%
Taxation Policy███████████████████19%
Tourism Promotion████████████12%
Fire Services███████7%
Water And Wastewater Management█████5%
Personnel Matters████4%
Data Center Development██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Butte Silverbow Council of Commissioners Regular Meeting – August 19, 2026

The Butte Silverbow Council of Commissioners held a regular meeting on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, at 1:29 AM UTC (transcript timestamp). All 12 commissioners were present. The meeting covered the fiscal year 2027 budget adoption process, a presentation on the Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID), and several consent agenda items including a retirement notification and a fire station alerting system contract.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No public comments were made on any agenda items during the designated periods. Two public hearings were opened (budget and metro sewer rates) but no proponents or opponents came forward. Both hearings were left open to allow further public participation until the final adoption of resolutions.

Discussion Items

  • Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Adoption (Communication 2026-366): Finance and Budget Director Karen Hassler presented the amended budget totaling $168,269,621, a decrease of 9.55 mills from the previous year to 360.45 mills. The mill value is $103,912. Key changes included an additional $110,000 for radar speed signs near schools, $17,125 for an agenda module, and a $480,000 intergovernmental transfer from the URA debt service fund to the URA for grant projects. The budget also accounts for a potential decrease in tax revenue due to two pending tax protests (Northwestern Energy and Intermountain Infrastructure). Director Hassler highlighted that the certified values from TIFF districts (3MCT/Montana Connections and South Butte TED) were lower than expected. The council discussed Senate Bill 117, which allows the creation of a large taxpayer reserve fund ($39,129 from reduced mills). Commissioners debated whether to leave the public hearing open until the regular meeting on September 2, 2026, for final adoption of resolutions. Commissioner Morgan preferred the regular meeting to maintain public awareness. The hearing was left open.
  • Metro Sewer Rate Increase (Communication 2026-367): Director Hassler proposed a 3% increase in user rates for Metro Sewer, equating to $3.63 per unit annually. A single-family residence (assessed at 3 units) would see an increase of $10.88 per year. The hearing was also continued until the September 2 meeting.
  • Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID) Presentation: Kelly Hazlet presented the TBID work plan for FY 2027, funded by a $2 per occupied hotel room assessment. The total budget is $672,972, covering administration ($81,800), tournaments ($75,000), meetings/groups ($21,000), leisure/travel ($56,700), festivals ($65,000), special projects ($50,000), reserves ($25,000), community marketing ($133,472), and an airport guarantee ($165,000). Commissioners questioned the assessment amount compared to other Montana cities (Helena and Great Falls at $2, Billings, Bozeman, Kalispell, Missoula at $4). Commissioner O’Neill expressed interest in increasing the assessment to match larger cities, but TBID representatives noted the current rate is competitive. Commissioner Callahan suggested expanding the assessment to include Airbnbs if legislation allows.
  • Retirement of Treasurer Lori Baker Patrick (Communication 2026-415): Treasurer Baker Patrick submitted formal notification of her retirement, effective December 31, 2026. Commissioners expressed gratitude for her service and voted to note the communication on file (12-0).
  • Fire Station Alerting System (Communication 2026-427): Emergency Management Director Lisa Carey requested authorization to sign a $199,800 contract with BRYX Inc. for a new fire station alerting system, funded by a reimbursable grant. The current system is over 30 years old and unreliable. The RFP process yielded two bids; one was disqualified for missing a bid bond. The new system is expected to be installed by November 2026 and includes 10 years of service/maintenance. The contract was approved unanimously (12-0).
  • USDA Forest Service Water Use Agreement (Communication 2026-424): Segregated due to typos in the agreement. The amendment will be returned at a future meeting. It does not affect current water operations.
  • Consent Agenda Segregations: Item 2 (Committee of the Whole minutes) and items related to the budget public hearing (2026-366), treasurer retirement (2026-415), Forest Service agreement (2026-424), and fire station alerting system (2026-427) were pulled for individual consideration. Two other items were withdrawn as friendly amendments.

Key Outcomes

  • The public hearings for the FY 2027 budget and metro sewer rates were left open, with final adoption of resolutions scheduled for the regular meeting on September 2, 2026.
  • The council voted to hold the budget public hearing item (2026-366) in abeyance until September 2, with Director Hassler to prepare two resolutions regarding the Senate Bill 117 large taxpayer reserve fund (one to create, one not to create).
  • The Metro Sewer rate increase hearing was continued to September 2.
  • The TBID presentation was received and filed without a vote.
  • The treasurer’s retirement notification was noted on file (12-0).
  • The fire station alerting system contract was approved (12-0).
  • The Forest Service agreement was held in committee of the whole pending corrected documents.
  • Council Resolution 2026-34 (sale of tax-deeded properties) passed on final reading (12-0).
  • The consent agenda was approved with segregations (12-0), including the withdrawal of Communication 2026-421 (at the clerk’s request).
  • No additional public comments were received.

Meeting Transcript

Can commissioners please check in. Okay. I'd like to call the Butte Silverbow Council of Commissioners regular meeting for Wednesday, August 19th, 2026 to order. Clerk, can we please have roll call? Twelve present, zero absent. Twelve present, zero absent. Um Commissioner Walker, could you please lease in the pro prayer and the pledge? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. Next we'll move on to any public comment on any item on tonight's agenda. If you'd like to speak on any item on tonight's agenda, please come forward, state your name, address, and the item you would like to speak upon. Seeing none, we'll move on to the approval of the minutes of the August fifth, twenty twenty-six regular meeting. Commissioner Morgan. Thank you, Mr. Chief Executive. At this time I'll make a motion that we approve the minutes of the April fifth, twenty twenty-six regular meeting agenda. We have a motion and a second to approve the August fifth, twenty twenty twenty twenty-six regular meeting minutes. Is there anything on the question? Could Commissioners please vote? And would anyone like to change their vote? Clerk, please record the vote. Twelve, yay, zero, nay. Twelve, yay, zero nay. Motion passes. We don't have any items that are not addressed on tonight's agenda, so we'll move on to the chief executive's report. First item I want to share good news just in my family. Um and his fiancee had a baby boy this morning. His name is Elias uh William. Yeah, seven pounds four ounce, so I want to congratulate them. Mom and baby are healthy and happy, and so congratulations to them. So that's that's good news for our family, and so excited about that about being a grandpa. Um other things, um, as we get hopefully close out and and work through the the uh our budget as we work through this. We know that we have uh um you know work through and have a uh a budget that we feel good about. We know that there may be some challenges as we move forward. We know that that we are already um having some of uh some people that are already contesting some of their their taxes already, and so we want to make sure that we pay attention as we move forward with the budget and that we are are prudent watching uh as the budget moves forward, and and so um look forward to to um finalizing the budget and uh working with everybody on on our budget this next year and and really being um focused on what happens in this next fiscal year as we go into the legislative session, and I think we got to be laser focused and paying attention to what happens at the legislature and and and paying attention to the bills and the things that are gonna happen with that because it will be a reappraisal year as well, which will affect taxes as well in the local community. So I think it's a it's really important for us to pay attention to that. And then I know today was the hearing on the um debt data center ballot initiative, and that that will continue on and in uh the local government um working with the county attorney and and the clerk and recorder. Um we're taking neutral position. I know the council is that as well of you know, really where that position is going to be in and really um we'll let the courts decide what what's gonna happen there. I know Yellowstone County is has uh move forward on theirs. We are just kind of waiting to see and let the courts decide on that with the ballot initiative, and so we'll wait and see what happens with that. So with that, I'm gonna end the the chief executive's report and we're gonna move on to section one, be it openings, public hearings and/or presentations. Um we have a couple public hearings tonight and presentations. So county attorney Ann Ruth, do we have proof of publication for our public hearings and presentations? Uh there was proof of publication on both of Director Hassler's uh public hearings. They've been able to do that. And we don't need it for the presentation. Yeah. Um I do not have proof of publication for the presentation. And we don't need it. We don't.

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