Local Government
Study Commission

Study Commission

The State of Montana's 1972 Constitution created the requirement that all local government units be subject to a Local Government Study Commission review. That review began in 1974, with the final report due in 1976 and any suggested change in the government being submitted to the voters. The Constitution also provides that every ten years, the voters be given an opportunity to vote on whether or not to once again review the local government, with that vote occurring in the primary election in the year ending with 4 (i.e., 1984, 1994, 2004, etc.)

On June 8, 2004, the voters chose to once again create a Local Government Study Commission (LGSC) to review the City of Bozeman's form of government, on a vote of 1951 for and 1950 against. In November, five Study Commissioners were elected. They are:

Loren Olsen, Chair
Marilou Turrentine
Brian Close
Harold Fryslie
Bill Hayward

These five individuals are charged with reviewing Bozeman's form of government and submitting a report for voter consideration no later than the November 2006 election. This Study Commission has chosen a much more aggressive schedule, with the hope that a final report is prepared and submitted to the electorate at the November 2005 election or, at the latest, the June 2006 election.

The Study Commission has set a schedule of meeting the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at 7:00 p.m. on the Commission Room, basement of City Hall, 411 East Main Street. In addition, it recognizes that to meet the timeline it has established, it may be necessary to hold special meetings to get certain tasks completed and to hold public input meetings. All of these meetings are open to the public.

While the Study Commissioners do not have office hours, they may be contacted by calling 582-2383 (voice mail) or by e-mail at studycommission@bozeman.net. If you wish to submit written comment, you may send it to:

Study Commission
City of Bozeman
P.O. Box 1230
Bozeman, Montana 59771

The Local Government has completed their final report which will appear on the November ballot.  Citizens are encouraged to read the report in preparation for their upcoming vote. 

Recommendation Comparison Handout