Director Mark Brown says Yellowstone Gateway Museum expects to finish FY26 near budget, flags HVAC and capital needs
June 29, 2026 | Park County, Montana
This article was created by AI summarizing key points discussed. AI makes mistakes, so for full details and context, please refer to the video of the full meeting. Please report any errors so we can fix them. Report an error »
Director Mark Brown told the Yellowstone Gateway Museum Board on May 26, 2026, that the museum expects to finish fiscal year 2026 very close to its approved county budget and approximately $3,939 under that total. “The Yellowstone Gateway Museum is, I expect to finish FY'26 ending June 30 very close to its approved county budget,” Brown said, noting the museum’s total budgeted expenses are “$402,694 dollars and 8¢” and that projected spending currently stands at “$398,754.84.”
Brown said staffing remains the museum’s largest expense and provided a payroll figure: “permanent payroll projected at 298,000, $91,” later restated as “$298,091.05.” He described the year as “tight” but credited careful management and use of reserves for keeping the museum solvent through the fiscal year: “I think we can always count on that…we are expected to come in just barely, but we will be under budget this year.”
The director flagged lines that ran over—exhibits, professional services, and certain repair-and-maintenance supply lines—and explained offsets in other lines such as utilities and memberships: Brown said recent solar panels have helped reduce utilities and that some memberships and operating supplies were covered by grants. He also described accounting timing for a private donation routed through the Friends/Foundation: the museum has spent a private $20,000 donation for new computers but had not yet invoiced the Friends/Foundation, which will adjust that project’s accounting.
Brown credited reopening and programming with a rise in admissions: the museum more than doubled admissions compared with the prior year, a result he attributed partly to reopening after a 2025 closure and a modest admission increase. He said an insurance payout covered most building repairs from the closure, limiting budgetary impact but noting the loss of months of admissions.
Looking ahead, Brown warned that the museum’s environmental controls are aging: “we are about 8 years past where they expected this thing to fail on us,” he said of the HVAC/humidity systems, and described an HVAC project and future capital planning as significant upcoming needs. He said he had not put in capital projects this year to reduce strain on the operating budget but expects an HVAC project in the next few years.
Brown also promoted public events and volunteer needs, including Living History Day on June 6 and a family-day plant giveaway at the end of May; he asked for volunteers for setup, front-desk assistance, and event staffing. He said the museum will begin work on its annual report in July once the county finalizes budget numbers, which Brown said he expects by September.
No formal board action was taken on the budget at the meeting; the board moved on to other business after questions and brief discussion.
Brown said staffing remains the museum’s largest expense and provided a payroll figure: “permanent payroll projected at 298,000, $91,” later restated as “$298,091.05.” He described the year as “tight” but credited careful management and use of reserves for keeping the museum solvent through the fiscal year: “I think we can always count on that…we are expected to come in just barely, but we will be under budget this year.”
The director flagged lines that ran over—exhibits, professional services, and certain repair-and-maintenance supply lines—and explained offsets in other lines such as utilities and memberships: Brown said recent solar panels have helped reduce utilities and that some memberships and operating supplies were covered by grants. He also described accounting timing for a private donation routed through the Friends/Foundation: the museum has spent a private $20,000 donation for new computers but had not yet invoiced the Friends/Foundation, which will adjust that project’s accounting.
Brown credited reopening and programming with a rise in admissions: the museum more than doubled admissions compared with the prior year, a result he attributed partly to reopening after a 2025 closure and a modest admission increase. He said an insurance payout covered most building repairs from the closure, limiting budgetary impact but noting the loss of months of admissions.
Looking ahead, Brown warned that the museum’s environmental controls are aging: “we are about 8 years past where they expected this thing to fail on us,” he said of the HVAC/humidity systems, and described an HVAC project and future capital planning as significant upcoming needs. He said he had not put in capital projects this year to reduce strain on the operating budget but expects an HVAC project in the next few years.
Brown also promoted public events and volunteer needs, including Living History Day on June 6 and a family-day plant giveaway at the end of May; he asked for volunteers for setup, front-desk assistance, and event staffing. He said the museum will begin work on its annual report in July once the county finalizes budget numbers, which Brown said he expects by September.
No formal board action was taken on the budget at the meeting; the board moved on to other business after questions and brief discussion.
View the Full Meeting & All Its Details
This article offers just a summary. Unlock complete video, transcripts, and insights as a Founder Member.
✓
Watch full, unedited meeting videos
✓
Search every word spoken in unlimited transcripts
✓
AI summaries & real-time alerts (all government levels)
✓
Permanent access to expanding government content
30-day money-back guarantee
