City Commissioners approved final payment during their Jan. 20 meeting for the Mansfield Theater seating project.
The final payment includes $47,215.98 to Wadsworth Construction and $476.93 to the state miscellaneous tax fund.
The project was initially estimated at $650,000 and the city received $487,500 in state funds for the project, plus $162,500 of downtown tax increment financing funds for the project.
But, the bids came in significantly higher and in December 2024, commissioners awarded a $995,190 contract, despite a funding shortfall, that staff said at the time they could fundraise to cover.
City considering additional TIF funds for Mansfield Theater projects [2025]
The increase was in part due to the amount of seating needed, a complete demolition and reconstruction plan and inflation since the last estimate, according to city staff.
Last spring, The Electric heard about a discrepancy in the bid and asked city staff, to which Tom Hazen, city grants manager, responded in May that the SLIPA application was based on an older estimate that had been presented “to the Mansfield as a ‘quote’ that was purported to be good for five years. Unfortunately, outside factors caused price increases that caused bid submissions to exceed the estimate. And the estimate was for a lower number of chairs. Mansfield was, at that time, considering having an open ‘standing area’ in front of the stage for contemporary music shows that could be filled with portable seating for traditional shows. Unfortunately, this design difference was not taken into account when the SLIPA applications were prepared.”
City staff requesting additional TIF funds for Mansfield Theater projects [2025]
Fundraising efforts yielded no donations, so city staff requested additional downtown tax increment financing funds for the project.
City Commissioners approved those requests bringing the total approved TIF funding to $466,358.29 for the seating project, according to city staff.
Once the project was substantially completed in December 2025, there remained $41,331.71 in unused contingency funds so those funds remain available in the downtown TIF.
The city was allocated $755,461 of SLIPA funds and commissioners approved the package of projects for SLIPA funding in March 2024 and ratified contracts with the Montana Department of Commerce in September 2024 for the project.
Local projects receive historic preservation grants [2023]
The project includes the replacement of auditorium seating installed in 1938 with newer more comfortable seats that still maintain historic character. The project was identified as a potential priority use of ARPA funds in 2022, and was eventually a second tier project.
The previous commission decided to wait until the city received notification of the result of an application for the Montana Historic Preservation Grant application. The city was awarded a $250,000 grant.
The grant funds were used for the Mansfield ceiling repair project.
City approves contract for public facilities feasibility study [2025]
The seat installation was supposed to be completed before the Great Falls Symphony opens its season on Oct. 4, but several hundred seats have not yet be installed on the balcony, limiting the symphony’s ability to sell tickets for the opening season.
In October 2025, when staff requested additional TIF funding for the Mansfield, Hazen told commissioners that their fundraising effort was “ineffective.”
Old Mansfield Theater seats for sale as replacement project gets started [2025]
Commissioners voted 3-2 during that meeting to approve the additional TIF funding, with Commissioners Joe McKenney and Shannon Wilson dissenting.
Mayor Cory Reeves said at the time that he’d support the request, but “I don’t like it,” and that staff needed to look at other funding avenues.
Commissioner Joe McKenney said in October that he didn’t think he was in favor of using TIF for the theater projects since the city was “public enemy No. 1” to the Montana Legislature when it comes to TIF districts and he thought the city had become used to using TIF for public buildings.
City approves Mansfield Theater ceiling repair project, also with a shortfall [2025]
“TIF is becoming a piggy bank to make up for our shortfall in the general fund,” McKenney said and staff needed to find an alternative funding source.
Under state law, public buildings are eligible for TIF funding and City Manager Greg Doyon said that the downtown master plan allows the city to make improvements to the Civic Center.
Facing shortfall for Mansfield theater projects, staff looking to private donors [2025]
The city is currently undergoing a study of how it manages public facilities, including the Civic Center and Mansfield Theater.
In October, Doyon said that even if the city hired an outside entity to manage the facility, “we’re not going to leave this building, so we’re going to have to maintain it.”
The facility is a downtown anchor that hosts large scale events with ripple effects throughout the community.
Tryon said he might be opposed if the Downtown Development Partnership hadn’t supported the additional funding.
Mansfield seat project progressing, staff looking at fundraising options [2025]
In October, staff requested an additional $382,690 in downtown TIF funds toward the Mansfield projects, on top of the previously approved $400,000 of TIF funding, bringing the total of approved TIF funds to $782,690.
The Mansfield projects include replacing the theater seats, restoring the theater ceiling and upgrading the Civic Center elevator, which is expected to see more use as the Municipal Court moves upstairs.
