HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-23-26 Public Comment - E. Kelly - Opportunity Zone CommentsFrom:City of Bozeman, MT
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL]*NEW SUBMISSION* Public Comment Form - City Clerk
Date:Tuesday, June 23, 2026 11:32:23 AM
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Public Comment Form - City Clerk
Submission #:4904924
IP Address:37.19.210.33
Submission Date:06/23/2026 11:32
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Full Name
Emily Kelly
Email
ekellyra@gmail.com
Phone
(406) 595-4873
Comments
Please see attached letter regarding tonight's Consent Agenda Item F.9. Thank you.
If you would like to submit additional documents (.pdf, .doc, .docx, .xls, .xlsx, .gif, .jpg, .png, .rtf, .txt) along with
your comment, you may alternately address comments@bozemanmt.gov directly to ensure receipt of all
information.
Opportunity Zone Comments 2026-06-23.pdf
Thank you,
City Of Bozeman
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June 23, 2026
To: Mayor Morrison, Deputy Mayor Fischer, Commissioner’s Madgic, Bode and Sweeney
Re: Consent Agenda Item F.9 Opportunity Zone Proposal
I am writing to you regarding Consent Agenda item F.9 Opportunity Zone Proposal. How is it
a proposal of this magnitude is being lumped in with the ordinary business Consent
Agenda. By definition “a consent agenda is a meeting tool that groups routine,
non-controversial items into a single agenda item”.
There was literally no notification of this, other than publishing the agenda, which, in my
book, does not constitute pro-active engagement. This proposal has the potential to make
a huge impact on the trajectory of growth for Bozeman and should be presented to the
public for debate. This is not a routine item.
These zones are for “low-income census tracts” and “distressed communities”. While we
have some pockets of distressed, low-income neighborhoods, that deserve some form of
investment or city support, can we really, with a straight face, say these will benefit by
giving developers tax breaks. Tax breaks like these will be a for sale sign to developers to
come and buy out these neighborhoods and displace them with new market rate housing
and chain stores.
OZ’s are designated on a limited basis across the state. For Bozeman, one of the fastest
growing and highest income cities in the state, to be asking for a break is, frankly,
disgusting. There are plenty of other communities in Montana that are more deserving. This
proposal smells to high heaven like it was formulated in the smoke-filled room of a robber
baron.
And one more thing regarding the Consent Agenda process. How is it that there are several
items on the agenda for contracts that will draw from the 2027 budget (F.7, F.11, F.12, F.13,
F.14), that are getting fast-track approval, before the 2027 budget has even been approved!
This is why people are disgusted and disengaged. There is clearly pre-approval for some
and not for others.
Sincerely,
Emily J. Kelly, Homeowner
2215 Ferguson Avenue
Bozeman, MT