Originally published in the 4/13/18 print edition of the Yellowstone County news.
BILLINGS — A supportive vote from Billings Mayor Bill Cole was necessary to break a council deadlock about whether the City of Billings would contribute a total of $500,000 to help finance a study for the future development of One Big Sky District, which involves two areas of downtown, including a proposal to build a downtown convention center.
The vote approved a $100,000 direct contribution from city coffers and another $400,000 on loan from Big Sky Economic Development that will be repaid through the Downtown Billings Partnership’s Tax Increment Finance District.
While proponents urged passage of the proposals as a unique and significant opportunity for the community, those opposed said that if it was a good idea, it would happen without taxpayer funding.
The study proposal comes from the Hammes Group, a Wisconsin-based company that wants to … Read full story in print or by subscribing online here.
