Butte-Silver Bow study commission clarifies three-question limit for form changes, adopts revised timeline

The Butte-Silver Bow Local Government Study Commission on Oct. 28 heard a legal clarification that the state limits ballot questions about alternative forms of government to three options and approved a revised timeline for drafting its preliminary report to the public.

County Attorney Matt Enworth told the commission the statute and related attorney general opinions allow only three ballot questions that directly relate to the form of government — for example, the number of commissioners, their terms and the overall form (mayor/manager/commission). He said other charter changes that do not relate to the form of government ("stylistic" changes, department reorganizations, or other policy matters) are not limited by that three-question rule but recommended the commission keep the total number of nonform items small to preserve clarity and meet deadlines.

Enworth said the commission does not itself have authority under Montana law to order a forensic audit, but it can place a charter question on the ballot asking voters whether to require one.

The commission voted to adopt an amended schedule for its work. Under the timeline discussed and approved on Oct. 28, the body will deliberate issues through November, draft a preliminary report in December and adopt that preliminary report in January 2026. The commission plans additional public listening sessions and a public hearing after adoption of the preliminary report, and the final report would be prepared in time for the county's election deadlines in midyear; staff noted a practical internal deadline for final materials in early July to meet ballot-processing timelines.

Commissioners said the three-question limit for form-of-government questions will require bundling related choices into single clear questions (for example, the number of commissioners, their term lengths and start dates in a single ballot question). Enworth and the deputy county attorney advised the commission to frame ballot questions carefully and to expect review by state election officials.

Commissioners discussed the practical effect of the limit on their priorities, saying they planned to concentrate on the primary structural questions and reserve other charter changes for nonform questions or recommendations to the council. Chair Raylan Bridal and several commissioners said they would use subcommittees and focused meeting agendas by topic to speed deliberations.

Motion and vote: The commission voted to adopt the amended timeline (motion by Commissioner Ben Thielen; second by Commissioner Mary McCormick). The chair called the question and reported the motion carried by unanimous voice vote of those present.

The clarification about ballot-question limits and the adopted timeline set the procedural framing for the commission's remainder of work leading into public review and, if applicable, ballot placement of charter changes.