[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6196118,"mediaKeyId","3858039-0d334ac1e358622b13ffa56ea4922536","parentId",3858039,"title","County outlines three noxious‑weed grants, cost‑share structure and timing issues","audioSeconds",515,"startMs",1037000,"endMs",1552000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3858039-0d334ac1e358622b13ffa56ea4922536&start=1037&end=1552","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3858039-0d334ac1e358622b13ffa56ea4922536/thumbnail_1037000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6196118/Park-County/Montana/County-outlines-three-noxiousweed-grants-costshare-structure-and-timing-issues","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6196118-111a584e961ebb8a169843f259df68e1/orig.mp4?Expires=1774956691&Signature=OcTKVbBhW5Pn9W4TSPC3v3iq-0bM0FOst-oqvCaL5lmY-XCRKBSVBl8SGCcfqevcDhUFTSaH~qw40Z5WfV2EmKswdaIszbtgyeWdIEAMLx8De9o042T1cxwPT6m1a7Ixkm-g7uDR0NYSmY8TVl8Kl7asMu6msr8BbZlOCpmRraeMV6gFLZrdmTgg7QnkwUCwY7NApN-2NgOvbRWBmvLCmSMPFDm-jSFh94p2UCkC2P5J7wwHwesKltOPeKWIbMAOqP1t3KbHTwUv7hsv04Qwcjj88X7tm2GJ9hqGFF1gBcxsus1gZqyrYYSWMQvyZMUZYXcr5jj--0hZOYsItk0gbQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","MT / Park County ","date","2025-06-12T00:00:00Z","article","Park County staff summarized noxious‑weed grant activity for commissioners on June 12, saying the county currently manages three grant projects: two nearing completion and one newly awarded.

Erica (county budget staff) explained the usual structure: the county purchases chemicals and pays applicators, landowners reimburse half the chemical costs, grants reimburse the county for the grant share, and commercial application costs are split and then reimbursed by the grant. ‘‘So every grant should 0 out at the end of the branch cycle,’’ Erica said, meaning the grant budget should reconcile to zero once claims are filed and reimbursements received.

Specific projects: staff described Strawberry Fields (budget reconciliation identified a $2,500 receivable), Shields Valley phase 2 (reapplication for the same area this year; $3,600 remaining from the prior award), and Shields Valley North (a new $30,000 award already under contract; most chemicals purchased and most participant checks expected by week’s end). Staff noted that landowners must spend grant monies within about 18 months and submit claims by the deadlines; delayed landowner claims can create timing problems that show as receivables in one fiscal year and reimbursements in the next.

Why it matters: the grants require county cash outlay before state reimbursement and the county must manage timing so grant cycles reconcile without leaving unrecovered costs on the county’s books.

Next steps: staff will submit pending claims and monitor the Montana grants portal for updates; they asked commissioners to expect that the new commercial application (Strawberry Creek / commercial application) reconciliation will generate a receivable for FY2025 that will be collected when the state processes claims later in the fall.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Park County Commission Budget Workshop June 12, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Staff described three ongoing noxious‑weed grants—two closing and one new—explaining the typical 50/50 cost‑share with landowners and timing issues that can produce receivables across fiscal years.","taxTitle","Park County, Montana","taxId",52297,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6196123,"Museum seeks county support for plumbing, asphalt repairs and potential $500,000 preservation grant",243,1975000,2218000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3858039-0d334ac1e358622b13ffa56ea4922536&start=1975&end=2218","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3858039-0d334ac1e358622b13ffa56ea4922536/thumbnail_1975000.jpg","/articles/6196123/Park-County/Montana/Museum-seeks-county-support-for-plumbing-asphalt-repairs-and-potential-500000-preservation-grant","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6196123-c2c037ca22ba5d32ccbc67cc54070bbe/orig.mp4?Expires=1774956691&Signature=nf-oanhTsJQQL8PwgyJ6ZHPg-sr~n3qv1YoBl-DueQU5bOFdfFCDNZ4GSreSEEilFQmYSX5sDywRZJnxAsouueZXmnLOdYZq0cSPS7g1rLN3cwL3xwhQqMJCQZGmrZjD9lv6xH~CQ2g8v~QTYTwUWx6EVQQtoemsV~MfkQVE15IA0toArdTatkkjI5604bravXFlYIfLdGFqIJW9WzjX5rCG7lCC6TgVVM-laBuj976jhfS9~WxeUBCX7S3hxkJMpCWgq4Mfh~4LqvKKApk0P3O89ECafNfqOsdAtRID2DPwUMScWj~B~llp2gKTCVC6KrMNDyvrABj2p5VeyX~yyQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Museum staff presented the department’s FY2026 budget and two capital improvement project requests to the commission on June 12, and described a pending state grant that could provide significant funding for building improvements.

Mark, the museum presenter, said the museum protects county collections and that donated items ‘‘become county property, with certain restrictions’’ and therefore require long‑term care. He described two CIP requests the museum submitted: plumbing and hot‑water system upgrades to remove lead and improve reliability, and replacement of the back lot asphalt, which staff said had degraded to mud and limited outdoor programming.

Grant opportunity: Mark and county staff told the commission the museum applied (through the Gateway Museum Foundation) for a Montana Historic Preservation grant worth $500,000; the county pledged about $50,000 as a local match and is listed as a finalist. The museum’s presenter said that if the state award is approved through the legislative process, the county pledge and the foundation’s fundraising would leverage a substantially larger project. The grant outcome remains contingent on the state budget process.

Operating notes and donation: museum staff reported the department has built modest cash reserves through conservative spending and fundraising; the Gateway Museum Foundation covers roughly two‑thirds of one staff salary, pays interns and underwrites programs. A local donor has offered to fund replacement of eight end‑of‑life computers for the museum through the foundation; if the donated machines become county property the county will record an offsetting revenue and expenditure.

Next steps: staff asked the commission to retain the museum’s CIP requests in the draft budget pending the grant outcome; commissioners discussed whether to keep $48,000 in CIP authorization available as a flexible match for grant opportunities.","Museum staff presented budget performance, two capital improvement project requests (plumbing upgrade, back‑lot asphalt) and a possible $500,000 Montana Historic Preservation grant for which the county has pledged roughly $50,000.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6196128,"Clerk of district court warns court fund shortfall as electronic filing reduces fees",172,64000,236000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3858039-0d334ac1e358622b13ffa56ea4922536&start=64&end=236","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3858039-0d334ac1e358622b13ffa56ea4922536/thumbnail_64000.jpg","/articles/6196128/Park-County/Montana/Clerk-of-district-court-warns-court-fund-shortfall-as-electronic-filing-reduces-fees","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6196128-5d4804401fa7add45010d72a4a81887a/orig.mp4?Expires=1774956691&Signature=ERpCiz1ywkAeyNS3S8qvTz61DLSpPxQwEGYuEglQZLkBmim7S2ZAW3i7KFu4OGOsh0pv4OMrQgk9tbzSQO4WRERQkHmPRJxu9GRdaKIcHzl8PkMM500pIuxQtaIZ6do~jUd1LadBvfLW~UjyNWQLalpjtqd2NkUUW4NKnq1J3ba1omjuZpiKlHV-vttXokt7LGHhYBOOhndAsqY3GVpN7QrwaaEg51Xl~SeGhWyjWgIlakl25njaW9J7o-VSwuQjl8dQqzNbDuVRn-NjyelWzB5FFCiL13kP2TeafYNAcC~hV3aYT04Gt5AH9mflM68fAG~0aAr-mKzhr7ZTGIbI9A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Molly Bradbury, Park County clerk of district court, told the commission June 12 that technological changes and higher caseloads have reduced district court fee revenue and left the fund with a projected shortfall for FY2026.

Bradbury said the district court fund began FY2024 with a healthy cash balance but that expenditures consistently exceed revenues. She presented an FY2024 ending balance of about $52,950 and said current projections for the start of FY2026 show available cash closer to $14,000–$15,000 under different COLA scenarios; projected negative cash positions ranged from about $22,000 to $29,000 depending on COLA and pay requests.

Why it matters: the district court fund pays for court operational costs not borne by the general fund and shrinking fee revenue puts pressure on either the county’s shared mill levy or the general fund to cover core court functions.

Bradbury explained the revenue decline: after the county adopted an enterprise case management system in late 2020 and e‑filing six months later, attorneys could view and print filings themselves and therefore no longer paid copy fees. ‘‘When we went to that e file, attorneys didn't have to pay us for copies anymore,’’ Bradbury said, adding that the public portal launched in December 2022 further reduced search fees because the public can now run searches without staff assistance.

She also reviewed operating reductions she has made in recent years—cutting two positions since 2020, reducing professional services and travel—and said the largest pressure remains personnel costs. Bradbury told commissioners she has a wage increase request for her three remaining staff; the package in the budget documents showed an increase with benefits of about $11,455.51. She said personnel increases and other pay requests are routed through HR and brought to the commission later in the budget process.

Other clarifications: passport fee activity is handled separately from the county budget following a Montana Supreme Court decision, so passport receipts do not appear in the district court fund, Bradbury said. She also said caseloads have increased—mental‑health commitments rose from about eight to 17 since 2020 and juvenile cases have doubled or tripled—so staff workload has not decreased despite lower fee revenue.

Next steps: Bradbury asked the commission to consider larger revenue sources (mill levy) or transfers to cover the operating gap; formal wage requests will come through HR for commission action later in the budget cycle.","Clerk Molly Bradbury told commissioners that e‑filing and a public portal have sharply reduced traditional copy and search fees, producing a projected operating shortfall in the district court fund that staff expect to cover only through mill levy adjustments or transfers.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6196133,"Health department outlines grant‑funded staffing, vaccine revenue and inspection fee opportunities",576,3936000,4512000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3858039-0d334ac1e358622b13ffa56ea4922536&start=3936&end=4512","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3858039-0d334ac1e358622b13ffa56ea4922536/thumbnail_3936000.jpg","/articles/6196133/Park-County/Montana/Health-department-outlines-grantfunded-staffing-vaccine-revenue-and-inspection-fee-opportunities","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6196133-fc8fc38d84b97cf76e1dfc76b0b24ab8/orig.mp4?Expires=1774956691&Signature=RnUOTWZZ8Nq8tfBBrcSPkImEXElF27rL7QcplRvP8gLJAzr~PNsFgOZCzx0NJhMeCx9EazIsmdiyfzSfmYb~qAeT252OMmOqf2gufz0GpMmQVtEA4LBU8jpD05Hpk9TK0GiP7JDS-J66bbACqtNpvF6Pyu2t45bdhjhtlIQOxHThgg6DW~GGI6iH-Fvfblsw6dQmUXL-axXLLC5ti-hXDO09NSEK8wxS2H95n9PS6C79Kkv2VfKxHHonrpVqWEuCSxuKA72chqLCUl3pWtguvYnGXrunw2MGCkQsPVE4LUgaKXYif81eDobIZjNGa3vIt6XNJeDO~jNnD0azTj7TkA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Park County’s public health staff presented their FY2026 budgets and program adjustments June 12, saying they expect to cover payroll for next year but will draw down grant reserves for some programs.

Travis, speaking for the health department, described several revenue streams and changes: higher license fees for retail food and tourist homes approved at the state level, an increase in immunization purchases and reimbursements, and the county’s wastewater testing and other grant programs. He said DPHHS (Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services) advised local public health to plan for level grant revenue but cautioned there remains uncertainty.

Why it matters: the health department funds a mix of core services (immunizations, environmental health, school nursing) through state and federal grants. Increasing fee schedules and better insurance billing for vaccines could reduce reliance on the general fund.

Revenue and staffing highlights: Travis said the county had spent about $76,000 on vaccine purchases year‑to‑date and had $93,000 in revenue coming in for vaccines, which he cited as an example of turning program activity into offsetting revenue. He also said changes approved in the 2025 legislature raise license fees (tourist home licensing moving from $40 to $100 annually and new retail food categories) and that reaching reimbursement targets for inspections could increase county reimbursements from roughly $20–25,000 to as much as $50,000 in 2025 and potentially $100,000 in 2026 if inspection coverage reaches state targets.

Staffing and grants: the department plans to reallocate duties to reduce general fund exposure, including shifting some director duties into reimbursable grant work and seeking to refill a vacant communicable‑disease/home‑visit position contingent on grant funding. Travis said a previous strengthening public health workforce grant fully reimbursed a position; future hires would depend on available grant funding.

Other notes: Kristen clarified that opioid abatement reserve funds are intended for community‑oriented responses (prevention, justice‑system assistance) and will come before the commission. Staff emphasized that some one‑time grant balances (for asthma and diabetes-related work) will be spent down in FY2026.

Next steps: health staff will refine grant carryforward estimates and follow up with the commission on proposed rehires and program adjustments.","Public health staff reviewed grant balances, discussed vaccine purchasing and reimbursement, and outlined opportunities to increase fee revenue from inspections and licensing.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6196138,"Park County staff present preliminary PILT, sheriff budget increases and reserve projections",827,6223000,7050000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3858039-0d334ac1e358622b13ffa56ea4922536&start=6223&end=7050","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3858039-0d334ac1e358622b13ffa56ea4922536/thumbnail_6223000.jpg","/articles/6196138/Park-County/Montana/Park-County-staff-present-preliminary-PILT-sheriff-budget-increases-and-reserve-projections","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6196138-fd933b822871476f42c125861c50fa69/orig.mp4?Expires=1774956691&Signature=UWB2gsxzXpb7IkArp7sxRyU3eCEh~TZJa7PhWADFaT7bLCV88tHDxSy-fXzedMgkS-R8eBSxwJ2TomppO9AD~np9H0LVwF9RoE9CpAZDreDlLLGuSZ38ELKQ0ViGglbMEMcK36RXyeMeajcmcOM7ltE70byBKUwdeCil1dZ8E-Uy~yt6DyrwczvzTEmVcApFkH3qSDGOIT77jJGjuewby3EAZKR7d~F3tN3eY7e6NGX-1xd4N~KHjQo2FfYhJBHpBqzVVjNl9tMLBpWmQQSrPUFUlyzjK2xU-2vxD1m7BNZSHmx-Ezze78Zib6cY~PVu-YyEDRYj00LWRsYG9A-Mog__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Park County finance staff presented a preliminary countywide budget picture on June 12, telling the Board of County Commissioners the county can cover next year’s spending but will draw down reserves if current proposals stand.

The presentation centered on the county’s PILT (payment in lieu of taxes) fund and internal transfers used to balance small special‑purpose funds. Erica, the county budget staff who led the review, told commissioners the FY2026 proposed beginning reserve would be about $2.03 million and that projected expenditures of roughly $2.28 million would reduce the reserve to about $1.9 million under current assumptions.

Why it matters: PILT and the county reserve position determine how much the commission can transfer to smaller funds (museum, fair, airport, dispatch, road operations) without increasing taxes or taking on debt.

Key items flagged for commissioners included a proposed increase in the sheriff’s budget and several fund‑specific adjustments. Erica said the sheriff’s proposed increase—driven primarily by base wage pressure—amounted to a $275,000 rise in that department’s budget but noted union negotiations and a formal proposal had not yet been completed. Dispatch was shown with an estimated increase (the presenter adjusted dispatch from $5.35 to $5.75 per unit) pending final figures.

Other points: road operations’ negative fund balance is under review; the presenter said accounting changes and equipment sale timing could eliminate that deficit for FY2026. Several fund decisions are timing‑sensitive: PILT receipts lag one year, so some FY2025 receipts are being carried into FY2026 projections. The presenter recommended holding certain CIP (capital improvement project) requests pending the final state grant outcomes that may affect the museum and other departments.

Next steps: staff proposed a follow‑up budget meeting to finalize figures after receiving remaining department estimates and the airport board review; the county planned to circulate the PILT spreadsheet to department heads for review prior to the next meeting.","County finance staff reviewed the preliminary FY2026 spending plan and PILT projection, flagging a projected draw on reserves and a large, as-yet-unspecified wage-related increase in the sheriff’s budget.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

County outlines three noxious‑weed grants, cost‑share structure and timing issues

Museum seeks county support for plumbing, asphalt repairs and potential $500,000 preservation grant

Clerk of district court warns court fund shortfall as electronic filing reduces fees

Health department outlines grant‑funded staffing, vaccine revenue and inspection fee opportunities

Park County staff present preliminary PILT, sheriff budget increases and reserve projections