The Great Falls Public Library Board of Trustees voted unanimously (5-0) on November 26, 2024 to approve a new management agreement with the City of Great Falls, marking a new chapter in the Library’s 140-year partnership with the City.

The new five-year agreement maintains current funding levels through the remainder of FY2025 and establishes annual funding of 3.5 mills for fiscal years 2026-2029. While this represents a reduction from the previous agreement’s 7-mill commitment, the Board expressed appreciation for the City’s continued support and commitment to library services.

“While this agreement presents operational challenges, we are grateful to maintain a strong partnership with the City of Great Falls,” said Whitney Olson, Chair of the Library Board. “We appreciate the diligent work of both negotiating committees over the past several months to reach this resolution.”

The Library Board will begin the FY2026 budget planning process, with final approval scheduled for their April meeting. This process will include careful evaluation of services and staffing to align with the new funding level. Potential adjustments may affect various areas including youth services, outreach programs, digital resources, and operating hours. The specific changes will be determined during the budget process and communicated to the public well in advance of implementation.

“Our commitment to serving the Great Falls community remains unwavering,” said Susie McIntyre, Library Director. “We will work creatively and diligently to maintain core services while adapting to these new circumstances.”
The new agreement will take effect upon signing by both parties. The Library will continue to benefit from the voter-approved mill levy passed in June 2023, which demonstrates the community’s strong support for library services.

Establishing a City Library: Since 1890, when Paris and Valeria Gibson, and Robert Vaughn, contributed toward the establishment of the first library, the people of Great Falls have enjoyed the benefits. The City of Great Falls assumed operation of the library in 1892. City Ordinance 341 establishing the Library was adopted in 1910 and the ordinances were updated in 2017.

Signing a Management Agreement: In 1993, the City of Great Falls and the Library Board signed an agreement “to provide a basis for cooperation between the Library Board and the City for more efficient management of library services.” The agreement established the relationship between the City and the Library Board and established that the City would “support the library budget in the amount of at least seven (7) mills.”
Current City/Library Management Agreement (PDF)

Passage of the Library Levy: In June of 2023, the Great Falls community came together to vote in favor of amending Article I, Section 3 of the Charter of the City of Great Falls. This crucial decision to levy up to 17 mills –an increase of 15 mills — generates approximately $1,785,000. These funds are vital for the operation, maintenance and capital needs of the Great Falls Public Library.

Library Levy funds are separate from the City funding provided through the City/Library management agreement and have not been impacted by the negotiation of the new agreement.

We are profoundly grateful to the voters of Great Falls for investing in our community’s future. Your support empowers us to enhance our services and make the library an even more vibrant and accessible hub for everyone.

Updating the Management Agreement:

  • In March 2024, the City requested the Library open the current Agreement for negotiations to update the language and to help find possible sources of funding for Public Safety needs. The City Renegotiation Committee (City Manager Greg Doyon, City Commissioners Joe McKenney and Susan Wolfe, and City Attorney David Dennis) and the Library Renegotiation Committee (Director Susie McIntyre, board members Whitney Olson and Anne Bulger and attorney Bill Bronson) have been meeting for the past 7 months.
  • On August 28, 2024, the City Renegotiation Committee presented their “last, best, final offer.” This offer named the library director as an administrative liaison rather than department head. It provided for 3.5 mills for the next two fiscal years and then reduced the city’s support of the library to 0 in following years.
  • On September 5, 2024, the Library Board of Trustees held a special meeting. to consider the City’s offer and a proposal from the Library Negotiation Committee. In a rejection of the City’s offer, the Library Board approved the Library Negotiation Committee’s proposal which accepted all of the City’s structural changes (including naming the library director as an administrative liaison rather than department head) and reducing the city’s annual support of the Library to 4.5 mills annually
  • The City reopened negotiations with the Library and offered a new ““last, best, final offer.” This offer is essentially the same as the previous offer except that it continues funding for the Library at the level of 3.5 mills per year for the duration of the contract—including during any one-year renewals of the agreement.
  • The City Commission voted to approve the new Management Agreement at their November 19th City Commission meeting.
  • The Library Board voted to approve the new Management Agreement at their November 26th Library Board Meeting.