MSU's Local Government Center future in doubt

For three decades, city and county officials throughout Montana have been attending programs sponsored by the Local Government Center at Montana State University in Bozeman.

Officials learn the complexities of their job at the session, They say they get information they can’t get anywhere else.

But the future of the program is in jeopardy because money to fund it is not in Gov. Steve Bullock’s proposed budget.

Havre City Council is concerned about the loss of the program, and Monday night it passed a resolution asking that the program be continued.

Mayor Tim Solomon and City Clerk Doug Kaercher have attended training sessions sponsored by the center. They said they found them very valuable.

Perry Atchison, a member of the three-person board reviewing the city's form of government, said the center has been invaluable in giving officials information they need to make decisions.

Instructors were a font of information on alternatives the panel will face as it draws up a form of government, he said.

Brekke said local officials have no other option when looking for help in making such decisions.

Dan Clark, the center’s executive director, said Tuesday that his program remains a high priority of MSU President Waded Cruzado and the Montana Board of Regents. Both included the $240,000 needed to run the program in the 2015-16 budget.

While popular with local officials, it has to fight for money every year, he said.

The program was once operated by MSU’s political science department, but several years ago, it was taken over by Extension Service.

The program was partially funded last year, he said. On the final day of the legislative session, the Senate fell one vote shy of approval for full funding.

He said he doesn’t know why funding was removed from Bullock’s budget, but he has been heartened by support it has received by local officials around the state, including Havre.

There are always programs going on that can help some local officials.

He noted that county commissioners will be in Helena for a training session, he said.