Butte-Silver Bow delays tax-deed auction resolution to allow public comment

Butte-Silver Bow Treasurer Laurie Baker Patrick asked the Judiciary Committee on July 9 to direct the County Attorney to prepare a resolution that would authorize a tax-deed public auction and the sale of certain parcels owned by the city-county. Commissioners voted to hold the communication to provide the public more opportunity for comment.

Baker Patrick requested a council resolution to be read and passed on Aug. 20, 2025 authorizing the sale of tax-deeded parcels. County Attorney Matt Enruth said the resolution "will be prepared in time for us to for it to be acted upon on August 20." Enruth recommended holding the item in committee to give the public notice and multiple opportunities to comment, saying the plan was "to allow the public some time to comment on it and to see that it's on the agenda multiple times prior to the tax deed sale going up, and the spirit of transparency and allowing a lot of people to be able to have input on that and know that it's coming up." Commissioner Thatcher moved to hold communication number 2025-353 in abeyance; the motion passed.

The committee approved the claim docket elsewhere on the agenda, including one claim for $3,400 relating to a tax assignment redemption by James Barnes; the tax-deed sale resolution itself will be revisited at a future meeting after additional public notice and outreach.