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In the June 4 election, voters in the City of Three Forks decided against commissioning a study of local government. The results differed county-wide, with Gallatin County residents approving moving forward with the study.
In the unofficial final results from the Gallatin County Elections Department, 199 Three Forks residents voted for, and 229 voted against the question that the Montana Constitution allows once every ten years. In Gallatin County, 13,700 voted for and 11,094 voted against the question.
Now that the measure has been passed in Gallatin County, seven residents will be elected to serve on the commission in a nonpartisan election in November. According to the Gallatin County Commission, the commission will be tasked with studying the existing form, powers, and delivery of public services of county government and comparing those with other forms of government available under state law.
At a February meeting, the Gallatin County Commission capped the cost of the study commission at one-half of one mill, equivalent to $360,000.
Gallatin County Commissioner Zach Brown said if changes to the form of government are ultimately put forward, those changes would be put on the ballot in 2026, and voters would have the ultimate say as to whether or not they want them to be implemented.
Brown added the last time Gallatin County did a robust study was in 1994.
“Our population has more than doubled since then, as have our service needs, community issues, and the complexity of our organization,” Brown said in a guest editorial published in the May 22 edition of the Three Forks Voice.
Voters in the City of Three Forks last approved a study commission in 2004.
According to City officials, the study commission recommended moving from the “Commission-Executive” form of government to the “Charter form of government with self-governing powers.” Voters approved the changes, and the City of Three Forks adopted its charter in 2006.
LEGISLATIVE RACES
In unofficial primary results from Montana House District 77, Republican Dr. Jane Gillette defeated Kyle McMurray by a vote of 1,561 to 1,496. Gillette will advance to face Jeremiah Dawson in the November General Election.
In Senate District 35, Republican Tony Tezak was the top vote-getter with 2,2256 votes. Ray Shaw finished with 2,216, and Mark McGinley finished with 1,251 votes. There was no Democratic Candidate.
