Study commission hears mixed views on city-manager switch and moving to six full-time commissioners

Butte-Silver Bow — Commissioners, department heads and public commenters offered competing views on whether Butte-Silver Bow should switch to a city-manager form of government and on proposals to cut the commission from 12 part‑time seats to six full‑time seats.

The debate surfaced repeatedly during the May 19 meeting of the Butte‑Silver Bow Study Commission while department leaders described operational needs and residents urged more active neighborhood coordination. The commission is gathering input as it prepares recommendations on the county‑city charter.

Why it matters: changing the government form or shrinking the commission would alter who makes day‑to‑day administrative decisions and how neighborhoods are represented. Backers argue a professional manager and full‑time…