The most welcomed results of the election on Tuesday, for the City of Billings was the success of the Public Safety Mill Levy. The measure was passed by a comfortable margin, 19,839 to 12,787.
Other closely watched results means Billings will not allow the dispensing or sale of recreational marijuana within the city, while allowing the sales of both recreational and medical marijuana to be taxed 3 percent.
In a released statement, Mayor Bill Cole said, “Thank you to the Billings residents for passing this levy. This shows the community’s commitment to our police, fire, legal and code enforcement efforts. Passing this levy brings resources that will make our city safer and allow us to address the long-standing needs for many of our departments.”
“We appreciate the Billings citizens who supported the needs of our growing city by voting for the public safety mill levy. Coming to the residents of our city two years in a row was a big ask, and we are grateful they said yes,” said city administrator, Chris Kukulski. He added, “On behalf of the Billings City Council and the city administration, I assure all Billings residents that the dollars committed by passing this levy will go directly to improving our public safety through increased personnel and resources helping us all to secure a safer city.”
The levy will generate an additional $7.1 million in public safety funding. It passed with 16,978 votes in support and 10,770 in opposition.
Of Yellowstone County’s 101,017 registered voters, 46,015 cast votes in the election, generating a 45.55 percent turnout.
Throughout the county 37,185 people voted in support of a tax on recreational marijuana, and 8,048 were opposed.
27,176 people supported a tax on medical marijuana and 18,268 were opposed.
Citizens of Billings were asked to vote on whether recreational marijuana could be sold within the city limits, of which 18,045 voted no and 14,696 voted yes.
Election results for Billings City Council:
Ward 1
Ed Gulick 2,092;
Stephanie Krueger 1,628;
Write-in- totals 43.
Ward 2
Jennifer Owen 3,072;
Frank Ewalt 2,503;
Write-in-totals 60
Ward 3
Denise Joy 3,104;
Charlie Loveridge 2,728;
Write-In Totals 54
Ward 4
Daniel Tidswell 3,582;
Mary Hernandez 3,110;
Tim Warburton 2,149;
Write-in-totals 6.
Ward 5
Tom Rupsis 2,117;
Fred Wilburn 1,931;
Dennis L Ulvestad 1,815;
Write-In Totals 102.
Race for Mayor of Laurel
Dave Waggoner 721;
Bruce McGee 430;
Scot Stokes 274;
Write-in totals 14.
Laurel City Court Judge
Jean M. Ker 1,304;
Juliane E. Lore 364;
Write-in totals 5
Broadview City
Commissioner
Roger D. Swartz 38;
Write-In Totals 7.
