Billings council approves first reading to expand South Billings Boulevard Urban Renewal District amid public pushback

The Billings City Council on Oct. 27 voted on first reading to expand the South Billings Boulevard Urban Renewal District and adopt a modified urban renewal plan that would extend the district boundary and add identified projects eligible for tax increment financing (TIF).

Planning director Wyeth Bridal presented the proposal’s history, outreach and statutory steps. He said the original district was created in 2007, is tied to bonding and will sunset in 2046. He said staff performed a blight analysis that identified infrastructure deficiencies, unsafe structures and excessive vacancies in parts of the proposed expansion, and that the expansion would give the city tools to target strategic public‑works and revitalization projects. Bridal said staff mailed 3,900 letters to property owners in the existing and proposed areas and would submit the package to the Montana Department of Revenue for conformity and a 2025 base year if the council proceeds.

During the public hearing, Tanya Ludwig (school trustee, Zone 1) supported the expansion and praised past TIF-funded projects such as Riverside softball improvements and school solar panels, and urged investment in South Park Pool. Paul Clark, a South Side resident, supported pocket parks but raised concerns about pollution from the Western Sugar facility and asked the city to press the company to improve conditions. Kevin Nelson, a resident, argued the council was using TIF to capture revenues from other taxing jurisdictions to pay for a pool voters had rejected and questioned whether statutory notice requirements were met. Wyeth and a technical consultant, Brad Archibald of Pioneer Technical Services, said staff had actively engaged other taxing jurisdictions, put items on their agendas and performed the required notices; Archibald described the outreach as best practice and said the Department of Revenue has accepted similar processes in the past.

Council members debated the district’s size and fiscal capacity. Wyeth and staff estimated a potential project list in the amended plan totaling roughly $25 million, including a $10 million estimate for South Park pool improvements. Council member Shaw moved approval of the first reading and Council member Kennedy seconded; after discussion the council approved the ordinance on first reading with one dissenting vote from Council member Ripsis. Wyeth said the ordinance would return for second reading on Nov. 10 and staff will compile materials for submission to the Department of Revenue.