Plans for Law and Justice Center bond still uncertain

BOZEMAN, Mont. - Bozeman city and Gallatin County commissioners met Friday afternoon to discuss how to move forward with plans for a Law and Justice Center bond. That meeting left plenty of uncertainties still in the air. What is known for sure is Gallatin County voters can expect to see another Law and Justice Center vote on their June ballot.

Last November a massive fix-up bond for the building failed. The $68 million measure would have paid for a joint city-county facility with separate buildings for courts and law enforcement.

City and county commissioners decided they will work together to bring the issue back to voters, but it came with provisions. While both governments went to the voters together last November there's a chance the city could try to do something on their own.

City commissioners expressed their desire to look into the cost of renovating a property they own on North Rouse Avenue. The idea is to possibly build their own municipal courts and police departments there, while adding a fire station too. Bozeman city staff will look into the cost and decide if that’s a route they want to go with. They will make a decision on that Jan. 22.

County commissioners said they were concerned about putting too much work into plans only to have the city say they wanted to go ahead on a project alone.

What exactly will be on the ballot and how much it will cost is unknown. If the city and county go into the ballot issue together, commissioners decided they would do the Law and Justice Center project in phases. They chose to do the law enforcement building first, leaving the courts facilities for a later date. That went against what some county officials had expressed earlier in the meeting. 

Whatever is decided, Gallatin County Attorney Marty Lambert told commissioners the court facilities in the current building need to be improved.  

“Overnight, that would be a tremendous improvement in the services we provide to the most vulnerable of our citizens. Those who have been preyed upon or are victims of sexual violence or domestic violence,” Lambert said. 

If the county and city decide on a project together, they will need to have the price tag, design and ballot language ready by March 6. If that deadline is missed, the bond cannot go on the June ballot.