A committee is being formed in Billings to raise funds to help compensate losses usually incurred by MetraPark when they bid on high school athletic events. Representatives of the Big Sky Economic Development Board and the MetraPark Advisory Board have formed the committee, which will be asking for contributions from local hospitality businesses and retailers who are the most direct beneficiaries of the economic activity the events bring to Billings.

Mid-year budget adjustments for Yellowstone County will see little change except for some additional squeezing brought about by larger than expected tax protests from property owners in Yellowstone County this fiscal year. Director of Finance Scott Turner said "The impact of the protested taxes and how long it will take to resolve these issues continues to be of concern."

The total amount of tax revenues under protest in Yellowstone County amounted to almost $30 million as of the end of 2011, including $13.35 million "for just this year." It's almost 10 percent of total property tax collections and it is having a significant impact on the districts and jurisdictions which would normally receive the tax revenues, said Scott Turner, Yellowstone County's Director of Finance, on Tuesday.

Jeff Martin, Yellowstone County Clerk and Recorder, has filed for election to the position he was appointed by County Commissioners to fill following the retirement of Tony Nave last spring. State law requires that the position be filled for its remaining term, by an election at the next general election. Martin, who filed as a Republican candidate for the position, said that he is "thankful that the county commissioners had faith in me to appoint me to the position." They selected him from a broad...

“The U.S. Supreme Court just unanimously overturned the Montana Supreme Court’s decision requiring PPL and other landowners such as our members to pay rent for the use of Montana’s riverbeds.  The state of Montana and a number of environmental groups had argued that the state owned the riverbeds. MFBF filed a brief in this case arguing that our members would be irreparably harmed if the Montana Supreme Court’s ruling was allowed to stand and that the state’s claim was an unconstitutional...

The Montana Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors has endorsed Legislative Referendum 119 (LR-119). This referendum, which will be on the Primary Election ballot, will change elections for Montana Supreme Court justices from statewide elections to elections by district. The Board made the decision following presentations from individuals who support and oppose the referendum.  After hearing both sides, and discussing the arguments, LR-119 received the Board's endorsement.

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The U.S. Commerce Department's Economic Development Administration (EDA) has informed Montana State University- Northern that they will receive a grant of $647,748 from EDA to support the North Central Montana Renewable Industry Initiative, which will commercialize green technology and create new high-skill, living-wage jobs.