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

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.