Montana Association of Counties

Montana Association of Counties
Name	Montana Association of Counties
Abbrev	MACo
Formation	1974
Type	Association
Headquarters	Helena, Montana
Region served	Montana
Membership	56 counties
Leader title	Executive Director
Leader name	Brad Tschida

Montana Association of Counties

The Montana Association of Counties is a statewide membership organization representing the elected officials and administrative staff of county jurisdictions across Montana. It serves as a convener for policy coordination among local officials from communities such as Billings, Missoula, Great Falls, Bozeman and Helena and engages with statewide institutions including the Montana Legislature, Governor's Office, Montana Supreme Court, Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (Montana), and federal agencies like the United States Department of Agriculture and the National Park Service.

History

The association was established in the early 1970s amid statewide reorganizations following decisions and reforms inspired by precedents set in states such as Wyoming and Idaho. Early leaders included county commissioners and officials from counties like Yellowstone, Missoula County, Cascade County, Flathead County and Gallatin County. Over decades the organization worked alongside entities such as the National Association of Counties, Western Interstate Region, Association of County Commissioners and national advocacy groups including The Pew Charitable Trusts and National Conference of State Legislatures to professionalize county administration, influence legislation in the state capitol and respond to landmark events like federal policy shifts under administrations of Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama and Donald Trump that affected rural infrastructure, public lands, and federal funding to counties.

Organization and Governance

The association operates under bylaws adopted by a board comprised of elected officials from counties statewide, modeled on governance frameworks used by organizations such as the National Association of Counties, the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania and the Association of Washington Cities. Leadership positions include an executive director, a president drawn from active county commissioners, and committees addressing finance, legal issues, natural resources, public safety, and health. The board meets in locations across Montana including Helena and regional centers such as Kalispell, Glendive, Butte and Havre and coordinates with legislative liaisons during sessions of the Montana Legislature and at national conferences like the National Association of Counties Annual Conference.

Membership and Services

Membership comprises elected officials and administrators from all 56 Montana counties including Lincoln County, Roosevelt County, Powell County and Park County. Services offered resemble those of statewide associations such as the Texas Association of Counties and California State Association of Counties, and include technical assistance on property taxation, land use, election administration, and public records in coordination with agencies like the Montana Secretary of State and the Montana Department of Revenue. Training programs are developed with partners such as Montana State University and the University of Montana to support county treasurers, sheriffs, clerks, and human resources professionals, and to implement best practices from organizations like the International City/County Management Association.

Programs and Advocacy

The association runs policy committees and initiates advocacy campaigns on issues including public lands management, transportation infrastructure, health services, and emergency management. It engages in lobbying and coalition-building with organizations such as the National Governor's Association, Western Governors' Association, Tribal Nations including the Crow Nation and Blackfeet Nation, and federal entities like the Federal Emergency Management Agency during wildfire seasons and floods. Educational programs include workshops on the Public Land and Resources Law Review-style litigation implications, election law seminars tied to the Help America Vote Act, and intergovernmental forums that bring together representatives from Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, and regional planning districts.

Funding and Financial Services

Revenue sources include membership dues, fee-for-service trainings, conference registrations, and grant-funded projects from foundations and federal programs such as the Community Development Block Grant program and grants administered by the United States Department of Health and Human Services. The association provides pooled liability insurance, retirement plan consultation, and municipal financial advisory akin to services provided by the Public Agency Retirement Services and the Government Finance Officers Association. Fiscal stewardship emphasizes collaboration with county treasurers, auditors, and offices like the Montana State Auditor to maintain compliance with state statutes and to manage shared services for smaller counties.

Impact and Notable Initiatives

The association has influenced legislation affecting county authority over land-use planning, revenue streams such as property tax relief measures, and disaster response frameworks adopted after major events like Yellowstone-region wildfires and Missouri River floods. Notable initiatives include county leadership academies modeled after programs at the Harvard Kennedy School, regional broadband expansion projects coordinated with Federal Communications Commission funding, and collaborative public health efforts with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention during infectious disease outbreaks. Partnerships with regional economic development organizations, universities, and federal agencies have helped counties such as Beaverhead, Flathead and Missoula secure infrastructure investments and improved interagency emergency response protocols.

Category:Organizations based in Montana Category:Local government in Montana