BROWNING — The aldermen in Browning voted 2-1 to begin disincorporating the town, but the vote failed because they needed three “yes” votes.
Lee Newspapers of Montana reports one alderman did not attend Wednesday’s meeting. If there had been a tie vote, Mayor Willie Morris would have broken it in favor of disincorporation and residents would have been asked to vote on the matter.
Alderman Terry Bremner said the town has no money and no way to bring in revenue.
The town blames its financial difficulties on the Blackfeet Tribe and a dispute over management of a water system. The tribe says the town owes it money and it is responsible for its own poor fiscal management.
Under state law, a town can also be disincorporated if its governing body ceases to exist or fails to function for two years.