The latest cut leaves the YAM with only $50,000 of county funding for the 2026 fiscal year which started July 1 and runs through June 30. That’s down from the county’s contribution of $188,053 in 2025, which was significantly reduced from $220,000 the previous year.

The jam-packed county jail, which was built with for 434 inmates but now regularly houses more than 600, has strained public safety resources in recent years. In 2025, the county had to shift an additional $3 million to the sheriff’s office, up from a $2.5 million budget shortfall the year before.

“Our pool of money is only so big and that money has to come from somewhere,” Commission Chairman Mark Morse said.

So, he said, officials chose to cut funding to the YAM and other programs, including Big Sky Economic Development. Although the commission redirected the mill levy money for BSED into public safety, the agency will still receive $1.3 million from county coffers through an alternative agreement.

David Wanzenried, who served 18 years in the Montana Legislature and later taught political science at MSU-Billings, questioned whether it was legal for the county to use money intended for museums for other purposes, including public safety.

He urged the commissioners to review the law and the language that established the county’s museum mill levy before moving forward with the proposed budget cuts.

“Ask yourselves, is the statute going to allow us to do that in good conscience and faithfully employ the law or is there another alternative,” he said, joining almost 20 people who voiced opposition to reducing funding for the YAM during a public hearing Tuesday. “I believe there is and I’d encourage you to take a look at it.”

However, staff from the legislative services office in Helena said it’s unclear which state statute currently applies to the county’s museum mill levy because it depends on when it was established and local decisions after the law changed in 2009.

Steve Williams, the county’s chief in-house counsel, said since the legislation was updated the museum mills have been treated as discretionary.

"Because the mills are discretionary, the board of county commissioners has the authority to reallocate them during the annual budget process," Williams said by email.

Three former commissioners also raised questions about the county's recent budget reallocations and expressed their disappointment in reducing funding for the YAM by 77% over the past two years.

“Such a dramatic and disproportionate cut raises serious concerns — not only about financial sustainability, but also about whether the spirit and intent of the museum mill levy is being honored,” Mike Mathew, Robyn Driscoll and Denis Pitman wrote in a joint letter to the current commissioners. “The museum levy was never intended to become a shifting prize but rather a stable foundation of public investment in institutions that serve Yellowstone County residents. We urge you to revisit these decisions and restore a fair and balanced allocation of museum fund dollars — one that reflects the value and contributions of the YAM as a public good, not a luxury.”

Still, Morse said, the idea that the money is restricted and can’t be redirected is a misnomer.

“And I’m kind of tired of hearing about it,” he said. “We can do it and we did it.”

After the commission’s discussion Wednesday morning, Morse said they would not reconsider the cuts.

“This was not a flippant, easy decision,” Commissioner Mike Waters said. “We just had to make some tough choices.”

The commission is expected to adopt the $196.9 million county budget for 2026 after a final public hearing at 9 a.m. on Tuesday at City Hall.