2026 Proposed Amended Charter and ballot sub-options
Summary
Round two edits strengthen neighborhood associations, the Inter-Neighborhood Council, and city boards as partners in city decisions. Approval is set for May 20, with several commissioners still pushing to strip vague language and possibly add community impact statements.
At a glance
- Total mentions
- 5
- Last 30 days
- 0
Last discussed Jul 30, 2026.
Impact analysis
The article itself has no direct cost, though supporting neighborhood programs and a city liaison would require city resources.
Residents and neighborhood associations would gain formal standing and clearer channels to influence city hall.
Advocates of participatory budgeting who wanted a stronger charter guarantee of resident input on spending.
Mentions & discussions (5)
Study Commission - Jul 30, 2026
The commission is finalizing the report and ballot language voters will see on November 3, covering how many commissioners serve, whether they're elected by ward or at-large, and residency requirements. Wording choices like "recommend" and the structure of the sub-options got close scrutiny.
Study Commission - Jun 4, 2026
The commission is finalizing an amended city charter that goes to voters on November 3. This meeting locked in edits on neighborhood consultation, board vacancies, and audit independence.
Study Commission - May 27, 2026
The draft charter no longer names "participatory budgeting" — a process where residents directly help decide how some city money is spent. Instead, the city may create public engagement processes around budgeting, a change that passed 3-1.
Study Commission - May 13, 2026
Round two edits strengthen neighborhood associations, the Inter-Neighborhood Council, and city boards as partners in city decisions. Approval is set for May 20, with several commissioners still pushing to strip vague language and possibly add community impact statements.
Study Commission - Jan 15, 2026
Bozeman's Study Commission is deciding how the city government should work — how many commissioners, their terms, the mayor system — and will draft charter recommendations voters may eventually decide. Franks and Cestero will write the first draft of the report.
We'll email you when it's on an upcoming agenda and when it's voted on, at most once a day.
The weekly brief for Bozeman
What the council decided, in plain English — one email a week.
Free. Unsubscribe with one click any time. We never sell your email.