City Council 2023: Bill Kennedy - Billings Chamber of Commerce

Why do you want to be a Billings City Council member and what expertise will you bring to City Council that will help you make good policy decisions?

I have served the residents in Yellowstone County as an elected County Commissioner for 24 years. I retired in 2016 to take the position as the President/CEO of the MSUB Foundation. I served in that capacity for 5 plus years and was able to raise 5+ million dollars to finish the fundraising and building of the New Science building at MSUB. I contracted with the YWCA to raise funds for the Horizon Gateway house. Domestic Abuse has increased over 21% since Covid. We now have a safe place for women and children. My years of experience with planning, zoning, roads, taxes, and working with the Legislature will help me to hit the ground running on my first day as a councilmember.

Local government issues sometimes blur conventional party lines. How do you anticipate representing your constituents and basing your policy decisions?

My constituents have always been my top priority. I accept phone calls, visiting with my constituents, and researching solutions to help our residents and add to a growing city. This is a non-partisan race. I am obligated to the residents to make the best decisions for a safe community where they live.

What are your top three policy priorities and why?

My Top 3 Priorities:

Public Safety. This was the number one concern in the 2022 Citizen survey of our residents (58%). The number of murders and shootings, especially in my ward, has brought this to my attention. I applaud the voters for passing a public safety levy, but the police force is still stretched thin with a city our size. I am thankful that the community officers are responding to calls, and they can take the information, but who can investigate the burglaries? I have talked to people on the doors and their Number 1 concern is public safety.
Seniors- about 30% of Billings Montana’s population is made up of senior citizens. Many are living in their own homes on fixed incomes. To be Economically vibrant we need to grow our economy. We also need to be able to address property taxes on our senior population.
Mentally ill in Billings, Montana. Since 1995 we have looked at the cost of mental health services in our community. Managed Care decreased the services offered. We have been fighting for more dollars since the 1990’s. I chaired MACO’s Health and Human service committee for 15 years addressing mental health services. Our community is no different than other cities across the state. There is not an easy fixed, but I appreciate that the City Council acknowledges a need. For many years no one wanted to acknowledge mental illness. I helped pass the Levy to establish the Crisis Center and the Hub. I served on the Mental Health Center Board for 30 years. I have experience working with the mentally ill services and funding sources.
Veterans– I have worked with veterans in our community for the last 30 years. I accompanied 750 WWII vets to Washington DC to see their WWII Memorial. I raised 1.6 million dollars to send them. This was a community effort. I serve on the VA’ National Cemetery and Memorial Commission. I chair the Friends of the National Cemetery. I have been organizing Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day services for many years. Yellowstone County is home to 25% of our veterans in the state. Our Veterans are vital members of our community. I would like to serve them as a council member.

What policy measures would you support to make housing more affordable and why?

The city owns many city parcels of land on the Southside. I would recommend we work with a housing group to build affordable housing. The cost of land is expensive, a donation would reduce the overall cost of the building the house or apartment complex to achieve an affordable rate for the resident.

What do you know about Billings’s Tax Increment Finance (TIF) districts? How should TIF districts be used to encourage infill development?

I voted to create TIF districts as a County Commissioner and spoke at the legislature to keep this economic tool. This is a tool to help our different areas to pay for infrastructure needs.

Public Safety remains the City Council’s number one stated priority. What do you believe Billings should do to improve public safety and why?

This is my top priority.

City Council voted to send voters a $143 million parks and recreation bond that, if approved, would fund the construction of a Sports & Recreation Center, development of Castle Rock Park, Poly Vista Park, and many other projects. Do you support this initiative? Why or why not?

This is a good project, and now the voters have their chance to voice their opinion. I have gone to 3 different presentations, and I have heard a different number, one said 143M, one said 141M, and another said that the number was 12M dollars less than 141M. Talking to constituents on the doors, many are confused about the cost ,and then the new evaluations has put more questions about the bond issue. The city needs to have a fact sheet and have everyone saying the same thing. This would allow voters to have the facts to make up their minds.

The Montana Constitution requires local governments to ask voters whether they wish to review local government’s structure every 10 years; Billings voters will be asked during the 2024 election whether they wish to appoint a study commission to review the Billings City Charter. What changes to the Charter, if any, would you support and why?

The Charter needs to be changed. The city council can see that the charter reflects the city’s needs. I have supported the opportunity for study commissions to open dialog into changes to our local government. I wholeheartedly support a study commission to make recommendation changes to our charter.

Do you believe that the City of Billings needs a Non-Discrimination Ordinance? Why or why not? If so, are there any specific provisions or exceptions that you would want to see in the ordinance language?

The city has a discrimination policy in place. The city also has a Human Rights commission. If there is a need then the city should address their policy.

Do you support the current Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID) assessment and its use as supported by the Chamber and Visit Billings? Why or why not? (The Billings lodging industry imposes a fee on each night in an occupied room in Billings. Those fees are used to promote, market and sell the community and are managed by a 7-member board of hoteliers as required by statute. Annually, City Council adopts the budget presented by the TBID board.)

I lobbied for this legislation. We had our own imposed room tax to support the National Bowling Tournament years ago. This is needed and helps our community. I support TID.