City Council 2025: Daniel Tidswell

I want to continue serving on the Billings City Council to build on the progress we’ve made. My focus remains on strengthening law enforcement for a safer community, supporting small businesses to boost our economy, and ensuring responsible use of your tax dollars.. With four years of experience under my belt, I understand the challenges we face and bring a practical, results-driven approach to decision-making. I’m committed to representing Ward 4 and making policy choices that benefit all of Billings.

While local government issues do often transcend party labels, they don’t entirely escape ideological differences. If you watch a Monday meeting, it’s easy to see where the votes fall, and you can quickly identify who tends to lean conservative and who leans liberal. I am unapologetically a conservative vote, and that’s the foundation of my policy decisions. However, I am always open to hearing from my constituents. Whether they agree or disagree with my stance, I keep my phone close and value the opportunity to listen, learn, and consider their perspective in my decision making.

Prioritize Public Safety –
Public safety will always be my top priority. The most fundamental responsibility of any level of government is to ensure the security and well-being of its citizens.

Support Small Businesses –
Main Street businesses are the backbone of our community. They provide jobs, services, and economic vitality. After years of challenges, they deserve our support for all they contribute to our daily lives.

Ensure Responsible Spending –
The money in the city’s bank account doesn’t belong to the government, it belongs to you. Every tax dollar should be treated with the same care and accountability we’d expect in our own households. Responsible, transparent spending is vital.

To keep Billings safe and build on recent progress against violent crime, we must continue investing in stronger law enforcement and that starts with expanding our jail. The 2024 CPSM report confirms that our police are performing exceptionally well even under intense pressure, but without sufficient jail space, too many offenders are released early or go unpunished.

A jail expansion isn’t optional, it’s essential to holding criminals accountable, supporting our officers, and protecting our community.

I believe section B (zoning for higher-density housing near transit, jobs, and schools) and section I (raising height limits for housing by at least 25%) are the most sensible for Billings. However, overall, the best way to lower housing costs in the city is to generally cut red tape. Let builders build without making them follow unnecessary rules that raise costs without meaningfully improving life for homeowners or home buyers.

As our city faces increasingly difficult budget challenges in the years ahead, I believe zero-based budgeting is not just a smart option, it’s a necessary one. Unlike traditional budgeting, which simply adjusts the previous year’s numbers, zero-based budgeting requires every department to start from scratch and justify each expense, line by line. This ensures that every dollar spent is tied to a clear purpose and genuine need. At a time when resources are stretched thin, our residents deserve the assurance that their tax dollars are funding essential services, not unnecessary extras. Zero-based budgeting offers the transparency, discipline, and accountability that this moment demands.

I don’t believe it’s necessary for the council to direct the TIF districts toward any specific course of action. While I may not always agree with every proposal they put forward, TIF districts are an invaluable resource. They consistently contribute a critical and often underrepresented perspective to the broader discussion on infill and redevelopment.

The three community assets mentioned above are excellent examples of successful public-private partnerships. While the city does contribute to their renovations and improvements, each of them excels at securing community-driven funding, ultimately saving valuable tax dollars. I believe this model, leveraging limited city support while actively raising additional funds, should be applied more broadly to other city-owned properties not yet benefiting from this approach. 

I believe forming an airport authority would significantly improve the operations of Billings Logan International Airport. As other regional airports gain an edge in attracting new flights, Billings must act strategically. An authority model brings in aviation and business experts, as well as community stakeholders, who can focus solely on improving air service. This will help attract more flights, boost tourism revenue, support our local economy, and give residents more travel options.

I fully support the TBID. As I mentioned earlier, public-private partnerships are essential, especially in a city already facing a tight budget that will only get tighter next year. If initiatives like the TBID can help strengthen our business community and boost tourism to support those said businesses, we should embrace them every time.