Bozeman Study Commission adopts draft budget, funds recording secretary and outreach

The Bozeman Study Commission unanimously approved a draft budget on Jan. 22 that allocates funds for a short-term recording secretary, contracted communications and outreach, and election costs for its work toward charter- and government-structure recommendations. The motion, moved and seconded during the meeting, carried with all members voting in favor.

The budget is intended to fund the commission’s public engagement and administrative needs as it develops a timeline required by statute for the commission’s next milestones. Michael (Mike) (City staff/ex officio) told commissioners the city’s previous ballot-related expenses provide a baseline: "we were at, just over $31,000 for the November general election" and staff suggested budgeting about $35,000 for a comparable future election. Mike also outlined other buckets such as contracted communications, venue costs and facilitation.

Why it matters: The budget establishes the commission’s ability to hire a temporary recording secretary and pay for outreach and consultants that will shape how the community is informed and engaged as the commission prepares recommendations that could reach voters.

Commissioners prioritized a short-term worker to serve as recording secretary, with human resources guidance that a short-term city hire would be limited to 90 days. The HR director’s suggested pay range was $21–$25 per hour; commissioners discussed budgeting approximately $15,000 for the role as a conservative estimate, while staff noted the maximum cost at $25/hour for the full 90-day cap would be about $20,000. Mike said the short-term worker would be supervised by city staff and could perform agenda production, minutes, remote public-comment handling and logistics.

On contract and outreach spending, commissioners proposed categories rather than highly detailed line items. Commissioners cited the prior use of a public-relations firm during a ballot measure that cost roughly $55,000 and discussed using a similar amount for communications strategy and implementation. Suggestions included a communications strategist, facilitation, legal review, research/best-practices work, and modest funds for venue rental, printed materials and modest hospitality at outreach events.

Commission discussion also recorded smaller, specific expenses and constraints: a Local Government Center training invoice of $1,925 remains unpaid; venue rentals for half-day events were described as "just a few hundred dollars"; mailing a postcard to every property owner during the prior campaign was reported by staff as about $17,000, a figure commissioners considered when weighing outreach options.

City attorney Greg Sullivan told the commission his office will provide legal assistance to the study commission without charging the commission for city attorney services: "for whatever services that we provide, the city will not charge the study commission." Commissioners noted, however, that they may still choose to budget for outside legal review or specialized counsel for drafting recommendations and to manage potential complexity.

The commission’s adopted draft budget will be forwarded to the City Commission for approval; staff anticipated it would appear on the Feb. 4 City Commission consent calendar. Commissioners said they expect to revisit and amend the budget as planning and outreach needs become clearer.

Votes at a glance: The meeting record shows two formal items on which the commission voted. On the approval of the Dec. 9, 2024 and Jan. 8, 2025 minutes, the consent-agenda vote carried unanimously. On the draft budget as presented (the motion described in the meeting as the proposed budget to be submitted to the City Commission), the commission voted unanimously to approve and forward it to the City Commission for final action.

Looking ahead: Commissioners signaled a priority on a communications strategy and on ensuring enough legal and facilitation support to produce a recommendation that will withstand public and legal scrutiny. They asked staff to return with implementation details — including recruitment steps for the short-term recording secretary, schedule options for outreach events, and more precise cost estimates — at upcoming meetings.