Yellowstone Art Museum faces county budget cuts

YAM Executive Director Jessica Ruhle said she did not know the county was considering reducing its funding, so she was caught off guard by the news. In a letter dated May 28, the Yellowstone County Commissioners informed her they intend to cut the YAM’s share of the money collected from property taxes for museums from 25% to 20%, starting July 1, and from 20% to 15% in 2026 and beyond.

“That leaves us with a significant gap,” Ruhle said. “It definitely throws us for a loop.”

With the cuts, Ruhle estimates the YAM will need to raise around $32,000 to continue running its programs and services through the year and another $68,000 for next year. If the nonprofit is unable to come up with the money, she said, the YAM will have to look at cutting programs or staff.

“That, quite frankly, is what keeps me up at night,” Ruhle said.

In the past, the county has divided its museum revenue with the YAM, the Western Heritage Center, the Yellowstone County Museum and the Huntley Project Museum each receiving 25%.

This year, the county contributed about $220,000 to the YAM’s annual operating budget of about $2.5 million, Ruhle said.

Commissioner John Ostlund was not available to answer questions about the cuts Monday afternoon. However, in the letter to the YAM, the commissioners explained the additional museum dollars are needed for county-owned properties, such as the Western Heritage Center and the Yellowstone County Museum.

The commissioners are expected to take public comments on the museum funding during a budget hearing at 9 a.m. on June 26 in the Stillwater Building, 316 N. 26th St., Billings.

For more information, visit artmuseum.org/act-now.