Faced with a state mandate aimed at increasing transparency for groups that manage taxpayer dollars , Billings City Council has approved new oversight for each of the city's three urban renewal areas.

The Montana Legislature earlier this year passed Senate Bill 3 , which requires local governments to appoint advisory committees for economic development and neighborhood revitalization districts that use tax increment financing or TIF money.

Currently, board members are appointed independently by stakeholders in each renewal area or TIF district. They provide incentives to develop blighted areas by leveraging increases in the tax base that are brought about by neighborhood improvements.

The new law requires TIF districts to have advisory committees that include at least one representa

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