Hill County Commission considers online county budget access

The Hill County Commission discussed the possible implementation of a tool that would allow the public to see a great deal of data about county budgets, increasing transparency regarding how the county collects and spends money.

This system is already used by a number of counties in Montana and Hill County Treasurer Sandy Brown said during the commission’s weekly business meeting Thursday that the tool would be a benefit to virtually everyone.

Brown said the system would pull data from county systems displaying budgets, budgeting processes, receivables, payables, expenses, tax collection broken down by district and more, online so people can look at data more easily.

She said she thinks it is a great tool, but cautioned that, like all data, people have to ask the right questions and know what they’re looking for or they will have trouble understanding it.

“It is data,” she said, “and … you’re only going to get what you ask for.”

Brown said the data would be updated once a month, and can be used to create data visualizations like pie charts and other graphs.

Hill County Commissioner Mark Peterson asked how the commission would benefit from the project and Brown said, while she and Hill County Clerk and Recorder Sue Armstrong have been some of the most positive voices in favor of the project, it is something everyone should be on board with.

She said collating all of that data into one place in a transparent way benefits everyone.

Brown said the system would need to pull data from the past year to create a baseline for this year’s data.

Armstrong said because the process is fairly complicated they want to get started as soon as possible.

The commissioners decided to place the issue on next week’s agenda so they have some time to discuss and gather more information about the system, and whether it is worth the expense of setting it up.

The commission also unanimously approved a pair of resolutions to adjust county budgets to account for new grant funds received.

One adjustment was for the Hill County Council on Aging budget to receive more CARES Act funds for their Meals on Wheels Program.

Hill County Commissioner Diane McLean said the senior center just opened up to in-house dining but is still doing a lot of meals on wheels and this money will certainly be helpful to them.

The second resolution increased the county’s general fund budget to receive a grant from the Center for Tech and Civil Life for election purposes.

McLean said the budget for the general fund was completed before the county was aware it was receiving this funding so an adjustment needs to be made.

The third resolution also adjusted the general fund to allow for the Hill County Sheriff’s Office to receive a grant from the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Program.

McLean said the vests the grant will be used to purchase are very expensive and she’s glad the department is getting some help for these necessary pieces of equipment.

The commission also unanimously approved a Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation grant authorization that will allow Bear Paw Development Corp. to apply for a $15,000 grant from the Renewable Resource Grant and Loan Program to address erosion in the area below the Beaver Creek Dam.