HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-26-25 Public Comment - B. LaMeres - Action Item J.1. to Adopt the resolution repealing section 3 of Resolution 3954.From:Brian LaMeres
To:Terry Cunningham; Joey Morrison; Jennifer Madgic; Emma Bode; Douglas Fischer; Bozeman Public Comment
Cc:Lisa Sebena; Brian LaMeres
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Action Item J.1. to Adopt the resolution repealing section 3 of Resolution 3954.
Date:Tuesday, August 26, 2025 12:00:15 PM
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Hello Mayor and City Commission –
Just a reminder that in September of 2006 the City Commission promised Bozeman voters
that, going forward, the City would lower its tax levy by 9 mills if the County-wide mill levy on
the ballot for 911 Dispatch & Records Services was approved by the voters.
That levy was approved by the voters, and the Bozeman City Commission has kept its promise
ever since.
So it’s a “promise” that’s on the line tonight, and not some technical repeal of an old
Resolution.
Over the years, some of you have advocated for a Local Option Sales Tax, and part of that
would be a “promise” to Bozeman taxpayers that their property tax would decrease or maybe
even disappear.
How is an idea like that ever going to stand a chance if the City demonstrates that it can’t keep
its promises?
Please consider the possibility that what you really have here is not a revenue problem but
instead a spending problem.
It’s understandably difficult to tell with this biennium budget. Remember that you are in
charge and you can put things back to how they were before if you want to.
That also applies to the whole notion of having an adopted budget by June 30th. 99% of the
Cites and Towns in Montana still do it the “old way” and don’t officially adopt their budgets
until they know their mill value.
And please don’t let anybody tell you that not having an adopted budget for the first two
months of the fiscal year causes a bunch of problems. I worked in the City’s Finance
Department for 25 years and I never knew that to be the case.
Suffice it to say that, the way things stand now, this whole process is confusing and it’s too
difficult for the average citizen to figure out what’s going on.
My suggestion would be to delay your vote tonight, propose some spending cuts, and direct
staff to come back with the actual dollar savings of those proposed cuts.
When adopting your budget you professed to “get back to basics”.
The basics of municipal government are pretty much spelled out in State law. For example,
poke around here a bit: TITLE 7. LOCAL GOVERNMENT - Table of Contents, MCA
Think about the things that this City is doing which you don’t see listed in State law and
seriously consider completely cutting those things – top to bottom – from the City’s budget.
Furthermore, the time is ripe to bring back all the old Advisory Boards, return power to them,
and let those volunteers run the show.
So again, please consider that perhaps the very last straw of trust is on the line tonight and
don’t rush into to repealing section 3 of Resolution 3954.
Instead please focus your energy on cutting costs and truly adhering to your pledge to “get
back to basics”.
Thank you!
-Brian
Brian LaMeres
Bozeman resident, property owner, business owner