Rate​/Budget Analyst

Play a key role in shaping the financial foundation of essential City-County services. In this position, you’ll partner with multiple departments to develop and administer rate structures for utilities including Landfill & Garbage Collection, Water, Metro-Sewer, Storm Water, and Special Improvement Districts. You’ll also support departments in building budgets, preparing rate resolutions, and presenting financial information to the Council of Commissioners.

This role offers the opportunity to manage select budgets and contribute to meaningful, community-focused work that keeps our city running strong.

This position is responsible for analytical and professional work involving administrative and technical work related to the maintenance of the utility rates and assessment of various Special Improvement Districts. The work is performed under the general direction and supervision of the Finance & Budget Director with work also assigned by the Land System Administrator. Extensive leeway is granted for the exercise of independent judgement and initiative.

The nature of the work performed requires that an employee in this class establish and maintain close cooperative working relationships with other department and division leaders, the Treasurer and Assessor, City-County employees, and general public.

• Assists the Land Systems Administrator with utility Rates and SID fee allocations to property in the City-County;
• Assists with maintaining tax billing system and updating property files for utility rates and SID assessment rates; including Landfill & Garbage, Metro Sewer, Stormwater, Water Utility, Sidewalks, Roads, Lighting, Fire Hydrants, and new services.
• Assists the Assessor, Treasurer, and Land Systems Administrator with balancing of reports for tax purposes.
• Assists with the review of Commercial and Industrial users to determine appropriate programs
• Assists with the preparation of timely reports to the Finance & Budget Office related to Utility Rates and SID administration;
• Assists with maintaining accurate records for utility rates and SID assessment rates; including Landfill & Garbage Collection, Metro, Stormwater, Water Utility, Sidewalks, Roads, Lighting, Fire Hydrants, and new services.
• Drafts resolutions for the Council of Commissioners to implement rates and assessments for rate increases and SID Assessments;
• Receives tax appeals from property owners and completes analysis, including field work, to make recommendation to management on the determination of the appeal.
• Maintains a working knowledge and understanding of the Montana Code Annotated, City-County municipal code and other applicable rules and laws that govern public utilities and special improvement districts.
• Assists Public Works with sidewalk assessments for City-County properties;
• Attends meetings, conferences and workshops as requested and authorized;
• Performs related work as required.
• Performs all duties and work assignments in a safe, healthy, and environmentally sound manner. Specifically, complying with the Health & Safety Program; maintaining work areas in a safe and orderly manner; identifying and reporting unsafe conditions; reporting all accidents; wearing required personal protective equipment; and attending safety-related meetings, training sessions, fit testing, etc.
• Performs all duties and work assignments in compliance with project quality requirements.
• Acts responsibly and ethically, and in conformance with generally accepted business, occupational, and professional standards.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

• Knowledge of the policies, procedures, activities and operations of the division or department;
• Knowledge of Special Improvement Districts organization and funding within the City-County;
• Knowledge of the public owned Utilities organization and funding within the City-County;
• Knowledge of accounting and finance
• Thorough knowledge of business arithmetic, financial record-keeping, statistics and English composition and spelling;
• Thorough knowledge in using Excel, Word and database applications.
• Good knowledge of construction bids and evaluation of bids;
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other City-County employees and supervisory personnel
• Ability to communicate well with the Council of Commissioners, other City-County employees and the general public both orally and in writing, using both technical and non-technical language;
• Ability to prepare accurate and reliable reports…