[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-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",[32,76],{"_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":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6024997,"mediaKeyId","5757126-79105622003414c1268beeb8ac3b32ce","parentId",5757126,"title","Public urges Yellowstone County to restore Yellowstone Art Museum funding as budget hearing is continued","audioSeconds",3047,"startMs",215000,"endMs",3262000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5757126-79105622003414c1268beeb8ac3b32ce&start=215&end=3262","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5757126-79105622003414c1268beeb8ac3b32ce/thumbnail_215000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6024997/Montana/Public-urges-Yellowstone-County-to-restore-Yellowstone-Art-Museum-funding-as-budget-hearing-is-continued","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6024997-9a9e3287780a209eb8ae765fcb179bee/orig.mp4?Expires=1775049391&Signature=AayWLsiyBP8ghVT34bCBXk23Tagb74XW~LhIHIEmEAXiiAronla9vhg3Ac4fUjpOtWD0AOTs-4Wf1QSDKseh1SW5n6pF8HjOHVcE5asw2cZSG~P02ZUtWkmuZPcAL3DSmZe9BR5aDFKxAq~~V1LUcbh4cKrnKt-JfCL5L1ummYYp4i6x2S6jzIOb2Yuh2xltC3n0xCpAnTvbYVidhUxPC9y488M8bNDOnVRGNlZfuqD13t59P9A-VwrBJXUR5eC2tmU2uSHT4JtcjvN-tSP6pjxzDcMW3aytApDpxpF~t0uPS-TADYHfpPduwb6uLd46Du3ahFi8LlpFjvMVMLn7wA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Yellowstone County","date","2025-08-26T00:00:00Z","article","Billings, Aug. 26 — Dozens of residents, artists and elected officials told the Board of Yellowstone County Commissioners on Tuesday that proposed cuts to the Yellowstone Art Museum (YAM) would harm education, downtown economic activity and public access to the arts.

The public hearing on Resolution 25-100, which covers the amended fiscal 2025 regular budget and initial fiscal 2026 grant budgets, remained open but was tabled for final action next Tuesday; commissioners did not vote on budget allocations at Tuesday's session. Most speakers used the hearing to urge the board not to reallocate money from the county Museum Fund, which is supported by a mill levy.

Jessica K. Ogden, executive director of the Yellowstone Art Museum, told commissioners the museum expects $50,000 in county support in fiscal 2026 and said a proposed reallocation of nearly $100,000 — following a similar reallocation last year — would force program cuts. \"To weather a cut this severe for the second year in a row, we will be forced to eliminate public programs and services currently enjoyed by our community,\" Ogden said. She said the museum draws roughly 25,000 visitors annually and employs about 20 full- and part-time staff.

Speakers framed the museum as an economic driver and an educational resource. John Smiley, speaking for the Billings First Congregational Church, asked the commission to restore funding \"to at least last year's level of 20% of the annual revenue of the Museum Fund and preferably to its historic level of 25% or more.\" Several callers repeated that 25% figure as the museum's historical share; one speaker said a recent proposal would reduce YAM's share to about 6%.

State Rep. James Reavis told commissioners the museum levy is distinct from the county general fund and said that, in his view, levy dollars earmarked for museums cannot simply be repurposed for public safety. Former state legislator Dave Wandsenried urged the commission to review the statute governing county museum monies and the 2002 levy that established the fund before reallocating money.

Other commenters — including artists, educators, a retired physician and business owners — emphasized youth programs, free admission that widens access, and the museum's role in downtown vibrancy. Several speakers linked arts education to crime prevention, citing national research and local police comments offered by others to argue that the museum supports public safety indirectly through youth engagement.

Some speakers sought greater transparency about the county's plan to address public safety funding shortfalls and asked commissioners to identify alternative revenue sources rather than drawing from the Museum Fund. Kevin Nelson, a resident who later addressed county business, raised a separate point that tax increment financing (TIF) districts in Billings divert county tax dollars and reduce the pool available to taxing entities, including the Museum Fund.

The public hearing was left open and \"tabled to be continued next Tuesday at 9 a.m.,\" the chair said. No formal budget votes or reallocations were taken on Aug. 26.

Why it matters: County leaders must finalize the FY26 budget in the coming week. If the commission follows through with reallocation from the Museum Fund, speakers said, the changes could reduce free programming, staff positions and community outreach at the museum and could affect downtown economic activity. Commissioners did not announce any decisions on those specific reallocations at Tuesday's hearing.

The board will reconvene the public hearing next Tuesday to consider final budget resolutions and any amendments.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Yellowstone County Commission Meeting - August 26, 2025 ","oneSentenceSummary","Billings, Aug. 26 — Dozens of residents, artists and elected officials told the Board of Yellowstone County Commissioners on Tuesday that proposed cuts to the Yellowstone Art Museum would harm education, downtown economic activity and public access to the arts.","taxTitle","Yellowstone, Montana","taxId",9796,"location","Montana","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6024992,"Commissioners appoint board of viewers and set hearings to consider abandoning portions of county roads",171,3453000,3624000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5757126-79105622003414c1268beeb8ac3b32ce&start=3453&end=3624","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5757126-79105622003414c1268beeb8ac3b32ce/thumbnail_3453000.jpg","/articles/6024992/Montana/Commissioners-appoint-board-of-viewers-and-set-hearings-to-consider-abandoning-portions-of-county-roads","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6024992-bbbf27b7d2016f3f9d6b8c46b385e74e/orig.mp4?Expires=1775049391&Signature=e0glx2WZ1rByPi8yDOdISb4lXGHkTaACuvaEYu4zQ2H43UpOFXS~BlyigF2XLzMRpaKp5e-tTWzbPAC610ZWMR2AOly5LDPkFkOn-m1l32Sx5R6f3-26CaWcqP6f4KfVmbu4NQxcXFV8ef7qTzEWfIC1Wo9w1WIwTHVfICMz9ZGea7nx6r~CF7qN0oBPtsk3rTuQgW15KC6xNhpXcWzgFDP68KU-ZBPHBwNz6uwYCGm~TNptiwRuZZw5wiug5DJNJQVdrRSvmIGsIF940aDzp4R6xLiLUfmeA7kZbLis293NhrwqpTrB7yw0Gss~UD7nzM0R5-vgpkDWXHB1YAFnOQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Billings, Aug. 26 — The Board of Yellowstone County Commissioners approved several public-works items Tuesday, including fiscal year 2026 RSID assessments and appointments of boards of viewers to consider petitions to abandon portions of county roads.

The board approved Resolution 25-98, setting FY2026 Rural Special Improvement and Maintenance District (RSID) assessments as recommended by public works and finance staff. The resolution will send assessment information to the treasurer for tax statements.

Public works staff said the county received two petitions to abandon county interest in parts of original county roads that the Bureau of Reclamation previously maintained. Staff described the affected rights-of-way as constructed sections north of West End Road, including North Road 20 and North Road 22.

The commission passed Resolution 25-104 to appoint a board of viewers for abandonment of a portion of North Twentieth Road. The board of viewers was listed as Commissioner Mark Morris, Clerk and Recorder Jeff Martin, Transportation Planner Laura Maddox and Public Works Project Manager Logan McKise. The commission passed a similar appointment under Resolution 25-105 for abandonment of a portion of North 20 Second Road, with the same panel named.

Commissioners also approved Resolution 25-108 to set a public hearing on the board of viewers' report for abandonment of roads and alleys in Magnus Subdivision, second filing. The public hearing was scheduled for Sept. 9, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. in Room 3108.

Why it matters: Appointing a board of viewers and setting hearings are procedural steps that start a formal process to evaluate and potentially abandon county-owned road interests. If the board of viewers issues a report recommending abandonment and the commission later accepts it, the county's interest in those rights-of-way could be relinquished, which affects property owners, maintenance responsibilities and access.

The resolutions passed by voice vote on Aug. 26; the board set the Magnus Subdivision hearing date and forwarded RSID assessments to the treasurer.","The Board of Yellowstone County Commissioners on Aug. 26 approved RSID assessments and appointed boards of viewers to consider abandonment petitions for portions of county roads north of West End Road, and set a public hearing on a board of viewers report for Magnus Subdivision.","actionData","errors"]

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Public urges Yellowstone County to restore Yellowstone Art Museum funding as budget hearing is continued

Commissioners appoint board of viewers and set hearings to consider abandoning portions of county roads