Granite County Study Commission updates tentative report to place government-form and term-limit questions on the ballot

The Granite County Study Commission on April 29 voted to update its tentative report with the certificates required by Montana law and to publish the updated report on the county website, clearing the way to place a proposed shift to a commission form of government and a related commissioner term-length question on the ballot.

Chair Bryan Senn moved to approve the update and Secretary Luke Ulatowski seconded; Vice Chair Elena Gagliano initially raised concerns and abstained during an earlier vote but ultimately voted in favor, and the motion passed with all three study commissioners recorded as voting yes.

The move follows a presentation by Dan Clark, director of the Local Government Center at Montana State University, who reviewed statutory requirements for counties changing their plan of government. Clark told the commission that adopting an alternative form of government requires certificates documenting the existing form, the proposed form, the election date, the ballot language and the effective date of any approved changes. He also said counties typically face voter confusion when proposing government-structure changes and noted that adopting a commission form could allow future commissions greater flexibility to place additional government-change questions before voters without triggering another decade-long review cycle or a petition process.

Clark also told the commission that the 2023 Montana Legislature removed statutory authority for creating at-large commissioner systems, meaning such structural changes would now require pursuing a charter form of government with broader self-governing powers.

Secretary Ulatowski presented draft versions of the first three certificates (existing form, proposed form and election date) adapted from examples provided by Clark. The commission also discussed the statutory requirement to include a minority report and a corresponding certificate if any study commissioner dissents from the final recommendation; Clark cited Gallatin County’s experience with a substantial minority report.

Ex officio member Blanche McLure raised concern about placing the government-form question and the term-length question on the same ballot, saying combined questions could confuse voters. Clark acknowledged that risk but suggested packaging the questions together might motivate voters to approve the structural change. Vice Chair Gagliano urged including a nonpartisan-election question in the proposal, and the tentative report retained language recommending nonpartisan elections rather than removing it at the meeting.

The commission heard a brief budget report from Secretary Ulatowski, who said the commission spent $35.26 on printing and notices since the prior meeting and listed a remaining balance of $6,207.32.

On the vote over updating the tentative report and posting it on the Granite County website, Dan Clark reminded commissioners they have "a duty to vote, either yes or no," after which Gagliano cast a vote in favor and the motion passed as recorded.

The commission set its next meeting for 6 p.m. June 3 at the Granite County Courthouse. No additional public comment was offered, and Chair Senn adjourned the meeting at 7:37 p.m.