Local Government Study

History

The Montana Constitution grants exceptional power to its citizens by affording them the opportunity to review the government structure of all counties and municipalities once every 10 years if they so choose. The last time city residents of Bozeman elected to conduct this review was in 2004. Currently, the City of Bozeman operates as a charter form of government. This means that the city has chosen to adopt self-governing powers that allow it to exercise all power not prohibited by the state constitution, law, or city charter. The current Bozeman charter was adopted in 2006 and outlines city operations be conducted in a commission-manager format, whereby the mayor and commissioners are elected at large and then subsequently appoint a city manager to serve as city administrator.

After 20 years, the residents of Bozeman have once again deemed a local government study review as necessary. This November, five individuals will be elected to serve on the study commission that will be tasked with reviewing the current city charter, engage with city staff, garner public input, and make recommendations on how to improve the effectiveness of our city government. These recommendations will be placed on the 2026 ballot for residents to vote for adoption.

Scope

The Bozeman study commission will examine the many facets of our city government structure and will critically assess the city charter. While it is not uncommon for cities of Bozeman’s size to operate under a commission-manager format, there are many opportunities to revise the city charter to make it more responsive to the needs of our community well into the future. Examples of charter changes could include:

  • Prescribing the powers and duties of the city manager

  • Changing at-large commission representation to ward representation

  • Ward representation would divide the city into separate districts with each ward electing a commission to represent it

  • Ward representation induces a more balanced representation among populations

A government study cannot:

  • Remove current city staff or elected officials

  • Add, change, or remove city services, policies, or ordinances

  • Change the elections process

  • Change fees, assessments, or taxes

GVS Goals

A successful restructuring of the city government can have many positive implications, including:

  • Increasing public safety through enhancements in funding of public safety departments

  • Examining and auditing existing relationships between the city and vendors, companies, organizations, and non-profits

  • Protecting neighborhoods from unnecessary and reckless development

  • Removing identity politics from city government and their appointed boards

  • Ending class warfare rhetoric and empowering residents through a shared vision that all socio-ecoomic strata can agree on

  • Restoring the balance between single-family neighborhoods and entry-level housing

  • Renewing the focus on the appeal, aesthetic, and experience of our downtown and surrounding areas

  • Preserving the parks, open land, and views unique to the Gallatin Valley

  • Implementing a sensible, moderate, and revocable growth plan

  • Cultivating and celebrating the identity of local residents by making them the priority for policy implementation

Meet the Candidates

Click here for a recording of our town hall event, responses to the GVS candidate questionnaires, and one-on-one recorded Zoom interviews completed with the City of Bozeman and Gallatin County Study Commission Candidates who chose to participate.