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HAMILTON- It's probably going to be after the first of the year before Ravalli County commissioners have more details on the idea of reducing the size of the board to save money.

It's been a nearly month since commissioners moved to explore a move to reduce the size of the board from five to three commissioners.

Commissioner Matt Kanenwisher suggested the county look at rolling back to a three-member board to see if it's possible to save money.

His fellow commissioners endorsed the idea, and sent a request to the county attorney's office for more details on how a change could be made.

But Kanenwisher tells Montana's News Station the idea is still being researched. He says they have learned existing law does cover how the expand the board, such as happened five years ago.

But the statutes don't clearly address cutting the number of commissioners. Kanenwisher says the county will be "breaking some new ground" as the board analyzes the idea.

One major question is the present commissioners right to serve a full-term. Kanenwisher says that could mean any transition would have to "take place well in advance" of the next election cycle.

The county also needs to figure out how any reduction in commission size would take place prior to the next "study commission" cycle in 2014, when a citizens' panel could start the process all over again.

Kanenwisher is hoping to have a report from the county attorney soon, but says it could be another "three to four weeks" before that's available.

Contact Dennis Bragg