HELENA — The Montana Board of Livestock on Wednesday took steps to tighten its oversight of the state’s livestock agency in the wake of financial problems and the resignation of its executive officer last month.
The board updated the Department of Livestock’s policies and procedures during a meeting in the Capitol, including revisions to keep the board apprised of the department’s spending and to allow it to fire the head of the agency at will.
Over the past year, the agency has cut jobs and furloughed other workers because of a budget shortfall brought on in part by a cut in state funding and a reduction in money coming in from brand inspections.
Those budget problems were compounded when a 2014 legislative audit found the department spent $197,000 in state treasury money without recording the expenditures. The audit also found the department used deferred revenue from previous years to illegally pay for current year operations.
Former livestock department executive officer Christian Mackay resigned last month after an executive session of the board. State veterinarian Marty Zaluski was named the interim executive officer for three months.
Board members Nina Baucus and Ed Waldner called Wednesday’s policy changes routine updates to a document that had not been revised in years. However, board chairman John Lehfeldt acknowledged several of the changes were made in response to the agency’s problems.
The executive officer must now submit the livestock department’s budget to the board for approval before it is sent to the governor’s office to be included in the overall state budget proposal, according to the new policy.
The next executive officer will be an at-will hire who is not subject to the state employees’ grievance policy. He or she also will be charged with effectively communicating with livestock industry officials, addressing a complaint board members said was made about Mackay by industry officials.
Board members also will require the next executive officer to forward all correspondence that is meant for them, not just the documents the agency’s staff decides warrants the board’s attention.
“It’s just ridiculous to have somebody decide what is and isn’t important,” said board member Lila Taylor.
Another measure passed in an attempt to impose tighter fiscal controls is a requirement that the department not hire an employee unless the position is accounted for in the agency budget.
“We’re living the nightmare” where agency department heads did not know how many employees they are budgeted for, board member John Scully said.
The changes should ensure stronger board oversight of the livestock department’s spending, Lehfeldt said. “This board is very budget-oriented,” he said.
A job listing for Mackay’s permanent replacement is expected to be posted this week, Lehfeldt said.