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Commission refers fire governance question to Secretary of State after commissioners express fairness concerns
Summary
Facing legal limits on how multiple fire governance options can be presented on the ballot, the commission voted to submit a three-option structure to the Secretary of State for review rather than finalize ballot wording at the May 11 meeting.
Butte–Silver Bow — The Government Study Commission voted unanimously May 11 to submit proposed fire governance ballot language to the Montana Secretary of State for legal review after commissioners raised concerns about fairness and voter clarity.
County Attorney Enrooth presented revised draft language offering three choices for voters: adoption of a volunteer fire department proposal; adoption of a consolidated Butte–Silver Bow Fire Department under unified government authority; or retention of existing charter language. Enrooth summarized legal counsel guidance that constrained how the options could be structured on a primary ballot and said staff would seek Secretary of State review before finalizing wording.
Commissioners expressed frustration that the legal constraints could prevent voters from directly choosing between the two substantive reform options. Commissioner Perdue-Dolan told the commission she was uncomfortable moving forward without further clarification and said she did “not want to punt the issue down the road for 2 years and assume the council of commissioners will deal with it.” Several commissioners supported submitting the proposed structure to the Secretary of State; the motion to do so passed unanimously.
Enrooth and deputy county attorneys indicated they will submit the proposed structure for review and report back; Chairperson Brandl and others noted public education will be needed should the Secretary of State approve multiple questions or require revisions. The commission’s next procedural deadline for ballot materials was cited as July 7.
The commission did not adopt final fire language at the meeting; next steps depend on Secretary of State guidance and potential subsequent decisions by the commission or the Council of Commissioners.
