Citizens for a Better Flathead

“The board members review all the forms, supporting schedules and attachments for the 990 filing. Once the review is completed and all the items requiring additional attention are reconciled and corrected as required, the forms are submitted to the irs.”

“Cbf's conflict of interest policy covers all officers, directors, and key employees. These individuals are required to complete a potential conflict of interest form annually, and the forms are used to monitor any potential conflicts. Additionally, all officers, directors, and key employees have a duty prior to any item that they may vote on, to also disclose any conflict of interest and to abstain if they have a conflict. Any conflicts are resolved by the board. No one with a potential conflict is allowed to participate in any affected decisions.”

“Each year the board approves employee and contract employee's salaries as part of the budget adoption process. The decisions are documented in writing. The approval process includes a discussion or review of salaries for comparable positions in comparable organizations, but the review is informal because cbf's salaries are known to be considerably below those of its peers.”

“Each year the board approves employee and contract employee's salaries as part of the budget adoption process. The decisions are documented in writing. The approval process includes a discussion or review of salaries for comparable positions in comparable organizations, but the review is informal because cbf's salaries are known to be considerably below those of its peers.”

“Cbf makes its governing documents available for viewing ( articles of incorporation, irs recognition letter, most recent annual report filed with the mt sec. Of state, and the cbf conflict of interest policy) available on request, and will provide copies of its financial statements for the most recent three years (as part of form 990) if it is not otherwise publicly available. Upon written request and payment for the cost of copying, if requested cbf will provide hard copies available for pickup.”

“What do we do? The mission of citizens for a better flathead is to foster citizen participation and champion sustainable solutions needed to keep the flathead ecologically and economically healthy. Since 1992, citizens for a better flathead has been a leader at the forefront of addressing the challenges that rapid growth is bringing to our region. We work to protect the valley's clean water, natural beauty, and friendly communities through solid planning and policy solutions. We champion the democratic principles, sustainable solutions, and shared vision necessary to keep the flathead special forever. Primary program overview: over our thirty-two years of work in the flathead, we have built a reputation as a non-partisan, well informed, and solution-oriented community advocacy organization. We focused on land use, water quality, transportation, and waste reduction issues. We work to alert and inform the public of opportunities to be actively involved in critical decisions shaping how the flathead grows. We provide critical analysis and research to inform the public and decision-makers. We support comprehensive planning and advocate for solutions that respect the well-being of the whole community, the environment, and future generations.”

“Protecting water quality and conserving water resources: citizens for a better flathead (cbf) monitored and responded to projects, policies, and resident's concerns on matters that could threaten and impact water quality and water rights within the flathead basin. We work daily to identify the best available science and proactive solutions to protect and sustain the flathead's waters for current and future generations. We have been actively sharing research and information with the public, encouraging public participation, attending meetings and submitting comments. We are working to hold decision makers accountable to protecting our water quality and water resources, through several recent court filings. Community driven planning: cbf educated individuals about current updates to growth policies and transportation planning in the flathead's three cities and the county, by sharing research and information, encouraging public participation, attending meetings, and submitting comments. We have long-standing and deep relationships with neighborhoods across the county and work in collaboration with these neighborhoods. This year, we worked closely with four different neighborhood groups and provided research and assistance to them, including supporting them on making effective comments on pending policy decisions impacting their neighborhoods. Through research-based newsletters, public testimony, and collaborative legal action, when necessary, cbf informs and empowers the flathead citizenry. We work on an on-going basis to ensure that local government policies and decisions give meaningful consideration to the well-being of the whole community, the environment, and future generations. Cbf's efforts have contributed to the adoption of policies that limit urban sprawl, encourage affordable housing strategies, protect groundwater, preserve agricultural lands, and champion local control in local planning and governance. Reducing waste-conserving resources: for over 30 years, cbf has been dedicated to advancing practices of waste reduction, reuse, and recycling and promoting sustainable practices throughout the flathead area. In 2024, cbf delivered waste reduction and recycling lessons to more than 1,360 students across the county. We have also published and distributed thousands of resource guides to encourage reuse, repair, and recycling as well as proper disposal of hazardous waste for three decades. Cbf currently maintains an informational website to support public awareness on waste reduction and reuse. Public participation: encouraging, increasing, and defending the public's right to informed and meaningful public participation is at the heart of the work we do. It is an issue we have raised in numerous public hearings this year. This year, we also filed an amicus brief in support of a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the montana land use policy act (mlupa) that restricted the public's voice in local land use decisions. The courts ruled this part of the act was illegal as it limited public participation in state, county and city decisions.”

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