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Billings council signals plan to cut urban renewal administrative budgets after heated public comment
Summary
After hours of public testimony, the Billings City Council indicated support for reducing operating budgets for the city’s three urban renewal/TIF district managers and asked staff for revised budgets and efficiency proposals ahead of contract renewals.
Billings City Council members moved on April 6 to push staff toward trimming administrative spending tied to the city’s three urban renewal (TIF) districts, after an evening of public comment in which downtown leaders and neighborhood advocates clashed over whether consolidation would erode local expertise.
The council did not adopt a formal ordinance or take a roll-call vote, but multiple members said they favored Option C — a staff-directed plan to reduce the three URD entities’ annual operating budgets, require sharper budget proposals from each nonprofit manager, and explore adding a city staff position to centralize routine administrative work.
The issue dominated the meeting. Dozens of residents, property owners and nonprofit leaders told the council they rely on the district managers to recruit businesses, shepherd redevelopment projects and…
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