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Item 6.b.
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| City Council Regular | |
| Date: | 06/28/2021 |
| Title: | Resolution Approving Ballot Language for City Charter public Safety Mill Levy Amendment |
| Presented by: | Chris Kukulski, City Administrator |
| Department: | City Hall Administration |
| Presentation: | Yes |
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the Council approve the attached Resolution containing the ballot language for a special mail ballot election on November 2, 2021, which submits to voters a decision to approve or disapprove a City Charter amendment Section 1.05.2 which establishes an additional permanent, 34 mill levy to fund police, fire, prosecution, code enforcement, municipal court, mental health and addiction services, and related public safety expenses.
BACKGROUND (Consistency with Adopted Plans and Policies, if applicable)
By State statute, an amendment to a Charter form of local government may only be made by submitting the question of amendment to voters. Section 7-3-103(1), Montana Code Annotated (MCA). When the local governing body is proposing a Charter amendment, it must pass an Ordinance which describes how the Charter will be amended. Section 7-3-103(2)(b), MCA. The Council has now approved such an Ordinance on First and Second Readings and the Ordinance becomes effective thirty days after Second Reading.
Related to the Ordinance proposing a Charter amendment, is a companion Resolution which contains the actual ballot language to be placed on a ballot prepared by the Yellowstone County Election Administrator. The most important functions of the Ballot Language Resolution is to refer the Charter amendment question to the County Elections Administrator and clearly and succinctly explain the nature of the proposed Charter amendment and the financial impact on voters. Under the direction of Mayor Cole, Council Members Neese, Choriki, Shaw, and City Administrator Kukulski, an informal administrator committee has recently met to review and refine the ballot language in this Resolution.
The attached Resolution is the draft completed and recommended by this committee.The ballot language explains that if approved, the proposed 2021 mill levy will provide 34 mills (approximately $7,115,000) for police, fire, prosecution, code enforcement, municipal court, mental health and addiction services, and related public safety expenses. The proposed new mill levy will be permanent and in addition to all other mills allowed in the Charter.
Related to the Ordinance proposing a Charter amendment, is a companion Resolution which contains the actual ballot language to be placed on a ballot prepared by the Yellowstone County Election Administrator. The most important functions of the Ballot Language Resolution is to refer the Charter amendment question to the County Elections Administrator and clearly and succinctly explain the nature of the proposed Charter amendment and the financial impact on voters. Under the direction of Mayor Cole, Council Members Neese, Choriki, Shaw, and City Administrator Kukulski, an informal administrator committee has recently met to review and refine the ballot language in this Resolution.
The attached Resolution is the draft completed and recommended by this committee.The ballot language explains that if approved, the proposed 2021 mill levy will provide 34 mills (approximately $7,115,000) for police, fire, prosecution, code enforcement, municipal court, mental health and addiction services, and related public safety expenses. The proposed new mill levy will be permanent and in addition to all other mills allowed in the Charter.
ALTERNATIVES
City Council may:
- Approve the Resolution providing for the ballot language to be submitted to the voters at the general election on November 2, 2021, or;
- Modify the ballot language further, or,
- Disapprove the Resolution
FISCAL EFFECTS
If the Council approves the attached ballot language Resolution and voters approve the proposed City Charter amendment, it is estimated that an additional $7,115,000 will be generated to help police, fire, prosecution, code enforcement, municipal court, mental health and addiction services, and related public safety expenses.