EBS STAFF
The Gallatin County Study Commission will host its first public hearing on Thursday, April 10 in Bozeman.
Gallatin County voters chose in June 2024 to create the study commission, a once-in-a-decade opportunity unique to the Montana Constitution allowing citizens to review structures of government. Once approved in June, voters selected seven citizens to serve on the commission. The group is now hosting its first public hearing as it evaluates the existing form and powers of a local government, and how local government services are delivered, and compares them with other forms available under Montana law.
The event will be hosted at 5:30 p.m. at the Gallatin County Courthouse, in the third floor Community Room, according to a March 28 press release from the study commission.
“We strongly encourage your participation in this discussion and invite you, a member of the public, to provide insights from your work and interaction with our county government,” Jackie Haines, vice chair study commissioner, stated in the release. “Your input will be invaluable in helping us form our understanding of how our local government structure supports or challenges your work.”
During the hearing, the commission will share an overview of the study’s scope, introduce the current form and structure of Gallatin County government, and share examples of different county government models in Montana. The commission will also share a timeline for the study process.
“The Montana Constitution is unique in that every 10 years it allows the citizens of a county or municipality to review if the current form of county government could more efficiently, and effectively, deliver services to the county residents,” stated Don Seifert, a member of the commission. “The seven citizens elected to study our local government have begun the review process and invite the public to become involved with the process.”
Residents will have an opportunity to share feedback and ideas about Gallatin County’s government structure, and public comments will be captured as part of the study. Residents will have “many more” opportunities to provide feedback at listening sessions that will be hosted around the county over the next year and a half, according to the release.
In 2024, in addition to Gallatin County, Montana voters in 12 counties and 44 municipalities—also including Madison County, Bozeman and West Yellowstone—voted to conduct a local government review.
