If you’re unhappy with the way your local government is run, voters have an opportunity this year to set the wheels in motion for potential changes in the way their city or county is governed.

The Montana Constitution requires that residents statewide get this opportunity every 10 years. Voters not only countywide but also within the cities of Columbia Falls, Whitefish and Kalispell will decide during the June 3 primary election whether or not to approve reviews of their local governments.

Should voters opt for a review, the process moves forward to the general election in November, when voters would choose study commission members. City residents vote on two ballot issues — one to establish a government study commission for their city and another to vote on a study commission for the county.

With the growth that Flathead County has experienced over the past decade, it seems prudent to conduct a review to determine if any changes are warranted.

Perhaps it’s time to consider increasing the number of county commissioners from three to five. We frequently hear comments from citizens questioning how effective or logical it is to have just three people calling the shots for an $81 million budget and major spending decisions.

Some wonder why positions such as county treasurer or clerk and recorder — seemingly nonpolitical positions — are partisan races. It also may be time to consider switching some county elected positions to appointed posts.

Any changes recommended by the study commission would be voted on by the electorate.

Local government reviews do cost money. The county would set aside one mill, or roughly $240,000 for each year of the two-year review if voters favor the study. That money covers any costs associated with the study, such as mileage and expenses for the study commission members to attend meetings and training. It also can be used for consultants and other professional services. Any unused money reverts to the general fund once the commission’s work is done.

We can’t imagine it would cost anywhere near $240,000 a year for a local group of citizens to study their government and suggest changes.

In 2004 Flathead County rejected the opportunity for a local review. A lot has happened since then and we encourage each and every voter to carefully consider if this should be the year we put our local government under the microscope.