by Jim Crews, Stevensville
Mayor Michalson, when he was a council member, “I’ll stick to my job as much as I can, running by the rules that I see fit.” That was reported in the Bitterroot Star, January 15, 2020. Now 5 and 3/4 years later, it appears that is exactly what Mayor Michalson does. He obeys only the rules that he sees fit.
The current issue the town faces is passage of the 25/26 Budget, which is a mess to begin with, worse is that the Mayor and Town staff have repeatedly refused to post all of the Budget for the public to see as required by state law. That is you, Mr. and Mrs. Citizen. We are talking about the wages and salaries of all Town officers and employees. They do not have to be named by person, but the wages and salaries by position are to be reported. The agenda for 9-23-25 contains the Budget Resolution, which is proposed Resolution 574. In that resolution is the budget, but what is being left out is the actual wages and salaries of your town officers and employees. Something that you have a Constitutional Right to Know, refer to Article II, Part II, Section 9 of the Constitution of the State of Montana.
State law § 7-4-4201 MCA – Salary of officers. The council shall determine by ordinance or resolution the salaries and compensation of elected and appointed city officers and all city employees. This is to be a public document. Not a secret document within the realm.
Jim Crews says
It looked like they had to work Sunday to get the documents uploaded, But we got them to report a bit of it, However, listening to the assistant finance officer, it seems they have two budget documents, one for us and the council, another one they send to the state.
What the heck?