In Montana, the commission form puts a small group of elected people in charge, and each one runs a department.
On paper, that sounds efficient. In reality, in a town like Eureka where only 8 to 24 people show up to meetings, it creates pockets of power.
Each commissioner can end up “owning” their department. That means hiring, contracts, and decisions can stay inside that one person’s circle. When only a handful of citizens are watching, there isn’t much pressure to explain those decisions.
This is where small-town problems show up fast:
- Hiring friends or family
- Favoring certain businesses
- Keeping information inside departments
The public may not even know what’s happening until it’s already done.
The problem isn’t just corruption, it’s that everything becomes personal and territorial. One person controls one piece, and it’s hard for anyone else to step in.
With such low turnout, this system becomes easy to control quietly.
Bottom line: Simple structure, but high risk of favoritism and “good old boy” control that’s hard to break.
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