City votes to include local gov't review on ballot

Every 10 years, the Havre City Council decides whether or not to give voters the chance to decide if they want to create a three-person council to review the city’s government.

Havre Mayor Tim Solomon said this is to give voters a chance to change the way the city government works.

“If they want to study their type of government, they have the choice to vote for a group of people to review it,” Solomon said Tuesday during a City Council meeting.

The Montana Constitution requires that local governments conduct an election once every 10 years to give citizens a chance to change their government’s structure and placement of powers within it if they deem it worthy to change.

The last time a review was approved in Have was 20 years ago.

The item on the ballot will tentatively read, “(FOR or AGAINST) the review of the government of the City of Have and the establishment and funding, not to exceed 1 mill or approximately $8,500, of a local government study commission consisting of three members to examine the government of the City of Havre and submit recommendations on the government.”

The item will be included on the primary election ballot June 3.