The Bozeman City Commission approved budgets for six tax increment financing and urban renewal districts at its May 12 meeting, with all votes passing 5-0. The most significant action came on the Midtown Urban Renewal District budget, where commissioners made two amendments to clarify spending priorities and fund new planning work. Commissioners shifted $100,000 from parking garage design funding to update the district's 2017 action plan, and revised language on a $2.5 million line item to specify it would support affordable housing loans for nonprofit developers as a first priority, with other infrastructure projects as secondary uses. City Manager Chuck Winn confirmed these modifications were within the commission's purview to make.
The Downtown Business Improvement District approved a $295,000 voluntary levy for fiscal year 2027 to fund maintenance, graffiti removal, flower baskets, and holiday decorations including restoration of historic light spiders. The Downtown Urban Renewal District presented a projected ending balance of $11 million with planned expenditures of $9.7 million in FY27, directed toward parking infrastructure, the Fire Station 1 workforce housing project, and a downtown public realm plan. The remaining districts—South Bozeman Technology, North Park Industrial, Polk Yard, and Northeast Urban Renewal—passed with minimal discussion, though the Technology District budget drew public comment from MSU students opposing funding tied to a tenant with military contracts.
In other business, the consent agenda approved a third traffic circle at West Olive and South 6th Street funded through the multimodal traffic fund, continuing the commission's neighborhood traffic calming efforts. Commissioner Bode highlighted grant funding for an electric bucket truck and library photovoltaic system. The commission also heard public calls for an interim zoning ordinance in the Neighborhood Conservation Overlay District, with the Historic Preservation Advisory Board citing concerns about demolitions before updated design guidelines take effect, though no formal action was taken on that item.