Great Falls Library and City to Restart Negotiations on Funding

Great Falls Library and City to Restart Negotiations on Funding

One of the more common hot topics in Great Falls through the spring and summer has been the question of funding between the City of Great Falls and the Great Falls Public Library.

READ RELATED:  Why Is the Great Falls Library Funding at Risk?

Over the past 5 months the two entities have been trying to negotiate help to find possible sources of funding for public safety needs.  In August of this year the Library Renegotiation committee was presented with the last, best, final offer from the City Renegotiation Committee.

Get our free mobile app

Offer then Countered by the Great Falls Public Library Committee

That offer included taking back the 7 mills that had been allocated in the original 1993 agreement.  In a special meeting on September 5, 2024, the Library Board voted 3-1 to counter the City’s proposal to take those mills instead proposing to reduce the funding by 2.5 mills, or about $300,000 annually.

READ MORE:  Great Falls Library Levy Election Controversey

Instead of either side accepting either or any of the offers that had been put on the table, those are scrapped, and it appears that renegotiations are back on the schedule.

Great Falls Public Library Renegotiation Committe Lawyer Makes Statement

In a release through their website, the Great Falls Public Library announced that in an email from the Library Renegotiation Committee lawyer Bill Bronson, Mayor Cory Reeves and the City Renegotiation Committee would still be open to negotiations.

The email stated:

In the wake of the Library Board of Trustees’ decision to send an alternate proposal to the City Commission, in response to what was previously presented to us as their “last, best, final offer,” we have been advised the City Commission is willing to reopen negotiations. We welcome this decision by the Commission. The parties are currently planning to meet after the first of October to continue negotiations. We will keep the public apprised of the results of our conversations.

To see the complete transcript of the library meetings and other public information regarding the committee, click here.