BOZEMAN — The Bozeman City Commission approved a city budget for 2021.
The Commission reported the most public engagement in the budget process that they had ever seen.
Over the last few weeks, many Bozeman residents sent public comment about increasing spending towards social services in the community and lowering the funds going towards the Bozeman Police Department.
Commissioners say, those voices were heard, and organizations like Haven, the Help Center and Streamline Bus saw an increase in budgeted funds.
The Bozeman Police Department received the requested budget increase towards personnel and operations costs, but the Commission decided to delay the purchase of a police car costing $61,000.
“We’re obviously in an economic recession. And so net, we cut more than a million dollars from the budget. Times are hard, so the city needs to be tightening its belt just like families and businesses are,” said Mayor Chris Mehl.
“So we cut significantly more than that amount, but then we put some of those cuts into programs like Streamline or the Help Center.”
The city can amend the budget at any time.
There will be a quarterly review of the budget in August.
