Helena Fire Chief John Campbell discussing the upcoming public safety mill levy.
The Fire Department’s calls for service have increased 892% since it began operating a second fire station (1979).
The need for a third fire station was identified in 2006 and 2022 master plans.
The Fire Department doesn’t have space for all its response vehicles to be stored in Helena. Its’ hazmat vehicle, for example, is stored in Montana City, which substantially impacts response time.
What would the funding provide?
The Public Safety Mill Levy would provide funding for 9 Police Department staff and 15 Firefighters. The Police Department would add 3 call-taking Patrol Officers, 3 detectives, 2 Community Resource Officers, and 1 Civilian Crash Investigator.
The Bond request would allow the City to issue and sell General Obligation Bonds to fund the construction of a third fire station. Currently the City has two fire stations, which are both located south of the railroad tracks. Limited access to various areas of town substantially impacts the Fire Department’s response time. As part of the bond question, the City Commission is also requesting the authority to levy 5.66 mills per year to pay for the debt service tied to construction of the new fire station.
Helena Police Chief Brett Petty discussing the upcoming public safety mill levy.
The Helena Police Department's Patrol Division has not increased staffing in 20 years. In that time, the City limits have grown by approximately 3 miles.
The Police Department Patrol Officers currently spend 34% of their time engaging in proactive policing. The industry standard suggests 50% of patrol time should be spent in proactive activity.
Currently, the average caseload for each detective is 13.5 cases per month. In 2023, HPD Detectives worked 521 total cases.
What would the funding provide?
The Public Safety Mill Levy would provide funding for 9 Police Department staff and 15 Firefighters. The Police Department would add 3 call-taking Patrol Officers, 3 detectives, 2 Community Resource Officers, and 1 Civilian Crash Investigator.
The Bond request would allow the City to issue and sell General Obligation Bonds to fund the construction of a third fire station. Currently the City has two fire stations, which are both located south of the railroad tracks. Limited access to various areas of town substantially impacts the Fire Department’s response time. As part of the bond question, the City Commission is also requesting the authority to levy 5.66 mills per year to pay for the debt service tied to construction of the new fire station.
