Hitting pause for now

You may have already heard the news: Bozeman City Commission voted against putting this project on the November ballot during the 7/18 meeting.

What does that mean for us? We're looking at the possibility of putting this project on a future ballot, so you may hear again about this project in the future. We know that swim classes are full and spots in recreation programming get filled within minutes. We know that Bozeman's west side has grown rapidly and literacy rates increase the closer you are to a library. We know that there are few free or low-cost spaces where people of all ages and abilities can go during the winter. The Bozeman Community Center would help fill those needs, and until a project is built, our growing community will continue to add challenges in these areas.

At the same time, we understand that rising property values and taxes have caused strain and stress for our community, especially those property owners on fixed incomes, and renters who are bearing these increased costs as well. We heard at the City Commission meeting that though this project is needed, now is not the right time.

As we look towards the future, we hope you can stay connected with us and continue the conversation. We want this facility to be representative of our community's needs and hope you can continue to help us envision a space where we can all learn, play, and connect.

Thank you for all of your thoughtful input and interest throughout this project.