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TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR LEAGUE MEMBERS
Expert help. Included with your membership.

Local government questions rarely come with simple answers. The League is here to help Montana’s cities and towns move forward with practical guidance, useful resources, and a team that understands municipal government. Technical assistance is available to League members at no cost.

You do not need to know which program, statute, agency, or expert holds the answer. Start with the League. If we cannot answer your question directly, we will help connect you with someone who can.

Municipal Finance Questions? Start With Our Team. 

Have a question about a municipal finance form, reporting requirement, accounting process, budget, or another financial matter? The League’s Municipal Finance Team provides technical assistance to League members at no cost. Completing municipal finance formsUnderstanding reporting requirements and deadlinesWorking through accounting or budgeting questionsFinding the right resource, agency, or next step Call us at 406-442-8768 or email the Team. We are here to help you find the answer. 

Need More Advanced or Longer-Term Finance Assistance? 

When your municipality needs more extensive, hands-on, project-based, or ongoing support, our experienced Municipal Finance Team also offers expanded services at flexible hourly or set rates. Choose one service, a combination of services, or comprehensive support designed around your municipality. Learn more.

Land Use and Planning Questions? Gain Expert Guidance.

Land use and planning are among the most complex, and consequential, areas of local government. New legislation, development pressures, housing needs, and community expectations can make Montana’s land use landscape difficult to navigate, even for experienced municipal staff. Connect with our Land Use Services Director who can:

  • Answer questions and provide practical guidance on land use and planning issues
  • Explain relevant statutes, case law, and legislative changes
  • Review and comment on local land use plans, ordinances, and regulations
  • Provide onsite or virtual training tailored to your community’s needs
  • Connect municipal officials with helpful resources and subject-matter experts

This assistance is available to League members at no cost, regardless of the size or capacity of your community. Learn more.

Legislative and Advocacy Support

State and federal policy decisions can have immediate and lasting effects on Montana’s cities and towns. The League helps municipal leaders understand what proposed legislation means for their communities, identify opportunities to engage, and advocate effectively for local priorities. Our Team is available to:

  • Provide plain-language analysis of state and federal legislation affecting municipalities
  • Share timely updates about bills, hearings, deadlines, amendments, and legislative outcomes
  • Explain how proposed policies may affect municipal services, budgets, authority, and residents
  • Help municipal officials prepare testimony, talking points, letters, and messages for legislators
  • Offer guidance on communicating local impacts and community priorities
  • Help coordinate outreach and amplify municipal voices on issues of shared concern
  • Provide background information and data to support local advocacy efforts

Whether you are preparing to testify, contacting a legislator, or explaining an issue to residents, the League can help you communicate clearly and confidently. Legislative and advocacy assistance is included with League membership. Reach out any time. And to learn more about the League's legislative priorities, review our Legislative Resolutions.

Communications Assistance

Clear, timely communication builds public trust. The League can help your municipality communicate with residents, the media, employees, and community partners during everyday operations, major projects, policy changes, and challenging moments. We actively:

  • Share best practices for resident, media, employee, and stakeholder communication
  • Help develop key messages, frequently asked questions, talking points, and public information
  • Review newsletters, public notices, website copy, presentations, and other communications
  • Provide ready-to-customize toolkits, templates, sample language, and social media posts
  • Offer guidance for responding to misinformation, difficult questions, or heightened public concern
  • Help make complex municipal information clear, accessible, and easy for residents to understand

You do not have to start from a blank page. Bring us your draft, your challenge, or simply the topic you need to explain, and we will help you determine the best way forward. Communications assistance is free for League members. Connect at your convenience. 

Reliable Legal Support for Montana's Communities

Does your city or town need municipal legal counsel on a permanent or as-needed basis? The League helps members identify qualified legal professionals so communities can obtain efficient, effective, and reliable representation.

  • Tell us what you need by completing the League’s legal services intake form.
  • The League will identify potential matches and strive to provide recommendations within five business days.
  • Your municipality makes the final selection and works directly with the chosen legal professional.

The League’s matching service is provided at no cost to members. Attorney fees and engagement terms are arranged directly between the municipality and the selected legal provider. Learn more.

Grants and Funding Navigation

Finding the right funding source, and understanding where to begin, can be difficult, especially for communities with limited staff capacity. The League can help members navigate available information and connect with the right programs and partners. We are here to:

  • Help identify funding programs and resources that may align with a community need
  • Assist members in understanding general program information and eligibility requirements
  • Share notices about relevant grant and funding opportunities
  • Connect municipalities with agencies, grant specialists, and technical resources
  • Help communities organize questions and prepare for conversations with funding partners

While the League cannot guarantee funding or replace a professional grant writer, we can help members find a practical place to start. Reach out today.

Training and Peer Connections

Sometimes the most useful technical assistance is learning from someone who has worked through the same challenge. The League can help members find training, examples, and connections across Montana’s municipal community. We aim to:

  • Connect members with peers in cities and towns facing similar issues
  • Identify relevant League trainings, webinars, institutes, and conference sessions
  • Share sample documents, local examples, and promising practices
  • Help arrange topic-specific conversations or small-group learning opportunities

These connections and referrals are included with League membership. Email us with your training needs and most pressing issues.