Your Commissioner
Ross Butcher is the District 1 Fergus County Commissioner, serving the people of central Montana with more than a decade of dedicated public service. A lifelong Montanan raised on a ranch, Ross brings a background in agriculture, small business ownership, and community leadership to county government.
He is a past President of the Montana Association of Counties and has represented Montana's public lands interests before Congress. Ross is running for re-election to continue his work for Fergus County's families, economy, and future.
Ross Butcher
Fergus County Commissioner
Work & Accomplishments
Administrative
Dispatch Consolidation
Sheriff/Coroner Consolidation
Developing the County Finance Dept.
Restructuring the Fergus County Fairboard
Restructuring the facilities/maintenance Dept
Local records preserved digitally, provides security of loss or damage and available on-line.
Courthouse renovations
Clock/bell tower
Fountain
New flag display
Elevator
New Parking spaces
Acquisition and cleanup of old service station for parking
Upgrade security, mag door locks and cameras
Financials & Economic Development
Funding the construction reserve fund
Helped in leading efforts to bring VACOM to Fergus County
Many years of clean Audit
Debt free, no current bonds
Full budget reserves
Fair grounds investments
and upgrades
Equipment
Storage addition on trade center
Roof replacement 26’ on trade center
Security gates preventing vandalism
CCC camp memorial
Solar arrays on trade center and pavilion
All season bathroom/showers by pavilion
Renovation of siding and windows Ag building
Lighting across grounds and grandstands
LED lighting upgrades in trade center
Renovation of Trade center bathrooms
Montana Association
of Counties (MACO)
As President of the Montana Association of Counties he provided direct representation for local government and Fergus County to Montana’s leaders. He has spent many legislative sessions ensuring that the voice of local government is heard in the state legislative sessions.
National Association
of Counties (NACO)
Ross serves on the Public Lands Steering Committee of the National Association of Counties.
This ensures that when NACO advocates in DC Fergus County and MT are at the table.
Montana Natural Resource Coalition
(MTNRC)
He has been challenged with the responsibility of a local government official to engage with federal agencies who impact the local community.
The necessity to have support and resources when fulfilling their responsibility to advocate for their county he started the Montana Natural Resources Coalition of Counties, MTNRC is that resource for local government officials. MTNRC has been very active since its inception in 2019, fully maturing into its current structure in 2023. Ross is the current president and has carried the concerns of citizens on issues relating to federal agency rule making to federal
agency leadership, DOI, FWS, BLM, ACUS (Administration Conference of the US), SBA, OSHA
and testified before congress.
Ross is engaged in assuring that federalism and the 10th amendment are recognized when pushing back against federal government overreach.
Community Growth & Character
"If you don't reach out and befriend and network with the new folks that are moving to your town, they're going to start developing their own cultures off to the side. And if you really want to maintain what you think makes your community what it is, then you need to bring them in and help them become part of that culture."
Land Use Testimony
On March 7, 2024, Ross gave testimony before the Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations. The hearing at hand was “Monetizing Nature and Locking up Public Land: The Implications of Biden’s Strategy for Natural Capital Accounting.”
He spoke to the important issue of land use decisions being made locally rather than by agenda driven federal bureaucrats.
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Policy & Priorities
• Limited government power, the decisions made closest to the people are generally better.
• Local government should provide only essential services required by the citizens while maintaining a fiscally conservative stance.
• Open transparent governance.
• Accessible to all, open door policy and personal phone number available.
• Investment in infrastructure and public safety.
Want to Connect?
Have some thoughts and concerns, please reach out.