August 19,2022 Agenda #1

Agenda Action Report

Prepared for the
Cascade County Commission

ITEM: Public [Iearins

Resolution 22-57:
A Resolution for a Public Safety Mill Lery
and Submit the Lery to a Vote of the Public

PRESENTED BY: Josh Racki, County Attorney

GENERAL INFORMATION
Cunently, monies dedicated to the Cascade County Sheriff s Office and Cascade County
Attomey's Office are not sufficient to maintain necessary services ofthe Sheriff s Offrce and
County Attomey's Office. As Cascade County continues to grow in population, so too do the
demands on Sheriff and County Attomey services.

Additionally, the Cascade County Sherifls Deputies starting salary is approximately 26%o less
than the starting salary ofthe Great Falls Police Department and other competing law
enforcement agencies. Similarly, the current starting salary for Deputy Cascade County
Attomeys is 18% less than the starting salary of attomeys hired by the Office of Public Defender
and are 17o/o below the market compensation-rate for a new prosecuting attomey in the state of
Montana. Accordingly, both the Cascade County Sherifls Office and the Cascade County
Attomey's Office are currently having difficulty hiring and maintaining qualified and skitled
deputy sheriffs and deputy attorneys to the extent that both offices are currently understaffed by
approximately 200% in swom personnel. Limited resources and personnel also limit the Sheriff s
Office's ability to devote resources and personnel for additional school safety initiatives needed
to protect county schools.

Further, Cascade County does not currently have a pretrial services/supervision program.
Pretrial services and supervision programs provide a beneficial increase to public safety and
provide rehabilitation services to pretrial offenders and such programs have been shown to
increase public safety.

1
August 19,2022 Agenda #1

Based on the foregoing, and pursuant to MCA $15-10-420(2), the Cascade County Sheriff and
County Attomey request the Board authorize the implementation of a perpetual Public Safety
Mill lery at 14 mills and submit such for voter approval as authorized by MCA g 7-6-25 1 3. The
revenue raised would be approximately $2.46 million annually. This is a decrease from the 20
mills originally requested by the Sheriff and County Attomey. After reviewing public comment
and having further discussion with the public after the Resolution oflntent was passed, the
Sheriff and County Attomey re-worked the numbers and believe 14 mills is more appropriate
given the amount oftax requested from each citizen. They request that the revenue raised by a
Public Safety Mill levy be a dedicated source ofrevenue to fund Sheriff and County Attomey
services for recruitment and retention services; public safety; school safety; and pre-trial
services.

Two Motions Provided for Consideration:

MOfiONTOAPPROVE:
Mr. Chairman, I move the Cascade County Board of Commission approve Resolution #22-57: a
Resolution for a Public Mill Lery and Submit the Le\T to a Vote of the Public.

MOTION TO DISAPPROVE:
Mr. Chairman, I move the Cascade County Board of Commission disapprove Resolution #22-57.

Attachment(s): Resolution #22-57

Proposed Ballot Language

2
BEFORE THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
CASCADE COUNTY, MONTANA

RESOLUTION FOR A PUBLIC SAFETY MILL

LEVY AND SUBMIT THE LEVY TO A VOTE
OF THE PUBLIC Resolution No. 22-57

WHEREAS, MCA $15-10-420 (2) provides authority to the Board of County Commissioners to
submit for voter approval a County Public Safety Mill Lery as authorized in MCA 57-6-2513;

WHEREAS, the cunent monies dedicated to the Sherifls Office and the Cascade County Attorney's
Offrce are not sufficient to maintain necessary services of the Sherifls Office and County Attomey's
Office;

WHEREAS, Cascade County continues to grow in population and accordingly, the demands on
Sheriff and County Attomey services continue to grow at an accelerated rate;

WHEREAS, the Cascade County Sherifls Deputies starting salary is approximately 267o less than
the starting salary of the Great Falls Police Department and other competing law enforcement
agencies:

WHEREAS, the Cascade County Attorney's Deputies current starting salary is 18% less than the
starting salary of the Offrce of Public Defender and l7%o below the market compensation-rate for a
new prosecuting attomey in the state of Montana;

WHEREAS, both the Cascade County SherifPs Office and the Cascade County Attomey's Office are
currently having difficulty hiring and maintaining qualified and skilled deputy sheriffs and deputy
attomeys to the extent that both offrces are currently understaffed by approximately 20% in swom
personnel;

WHEREAS, Cascade County does not currently have a pretrial services/supervision program and
such a program would provide a beneficial increase to public safety and provide rehabilitation
services to pretrial offenders; such programs have been shown to increase public safety;

WHEREAS, Cascade County currently lacks adequate resources and personnel for additional school
safety initiatives needed to protect county schools;

WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners received a request from the Sheriff and Cascade
County Attomey to establish a perpetual Public Safety Mill lery at a rate of 20 mills;

WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners Passed a Resolution of Intent on July 29,2022, to
place the Sheriff and County Attomey Public Safety Mill Lery on the ballot during the November
2022 general election;

WHEREAS, legal notice ol the August 19, 2022, Public Hearing on The proposed Mill Levy For
The Support Of Sheriff And County Attorney Services To Cascade County Funded Through A Public
Safety Mill Levy was advertised on August 3, 10 and 17 in the Great Falls Tribunel
 Resolution No. 22-57

WHEREAS, following passage of the Resolution of Intenl on July 29, 2022, the Sherifl and the
Mill lery request to 14 mills;
Cascade County Attorney reduced their Public Safety

WHEREAS, revenue raised by a Public Safety Mill lery will be a dedicated source of revenue to fund
Sheriff, County Attomey, and law enforcement services;

Purpose: Provide funding for the Sheriff s Office and County Attomey's Office in the
enforcement and prosecution of crimes, including but not limited to:
recruitment and retention; public safety; school safety; and pre{rial services.
Amount: Approximately $2.46 million annualtl'
Mills: 14 mills
Duration: Perpetual

Impact: Fair Market Value $ I 00,000 home : $ 18.90 per year (approximate)
Fair Market Value $200,000 home : !i37.80 per year (approximate)

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that Cascade County must establish the County Public
Safety Mill Lely to continue to provide its necessary services by asking the voters ofCascade County
to approve a 14 mill County Public Safety Mill Lery as authorized under MCA 57 -6-2513. The mill
levy shalt be perpetual. The mill lely would be subject to the approval of the voters of Cascade
County.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Cascade County Board of Commissioners shall ask this issue
to be placed on the ballot during the general election scheduled for November 8,2022, and a ballot
sample is provided as attached. The Board of County Commissioners hereby makes the request of
the Cascade County Election Administrator to conduct the Sheriff and County Attomey Public Safety
Mill Lerry on the ballot during the November 2022 general election.
 Resolution No.22-57

Passed and Adopted on the _ day of 2022.

BOARD OF COLTNTY COMMISSIONERS

CASCADE COUNTY, MONTANA

Joe Briggs, Chairman

James L. Larson, Commissioner

Don Ryan, Commissioner

Attest
On this _dayof _2022, I hereby attest the above-written signatures of the Board of
Cascade County Commissioners.

Rina Fontana Moore, Cascade County Clerk and Recorder

* APPROVED AS TO FORM:

Josh Racki, County Attomey

DEPUTY CotNTYAfioRNEY

+ TEE CotNTY ArroRNEy HAs pRovIDED AD\rtcE AND AppRovAL oF THE FoREcotNG DoCUMENT LANGUAGE
oN BEHALF oF THE BoAp.D oF
CASCADE CotNTy CoMMrsstoNERs. AND Nor oN BETLALF oF orHER pARTlEs oR ENrrrtEs. RE\,tEw AND ArpRovAL oF THrs DocuMENT By rHE
Cot rY A]_roRNEYwAs coNDUcrED soLELy rRoMA LEGAL pERspECTIvE AND FoRTHE ExcLUSIvE BENEFIToF CAscADECoLNTy OTHERPARTIES
SHOULD NOT RELY ON THIS APPROVAL ANDSHOULD SEEK REVIEW ANDAPPROVAL BY THEIR OWN RESPECTIVE COTNSEL,
 CASCADE COUNTY
COUNTY PUBLIC SAFETY MILL LEVY ELECTION
PROPOSITION

Shall the voters of Cascade County authorize a County Public Safety Mill Lery of 14 mills to
support the Sheriffs Office and County Attomey's Office in the eniorcement and prosecution of
crimes, including but not limited to: recruitment and retention; public safety; school safety; and
pre-trial services?

Passage of the Mill Levy will result in an increase of property taxes of$18.90 (approximate) on a
home with a taxable valuation of $100,000 or $37.80 (approximate) on a home with a taxable
valuation of $200,000. The mill levy will raise approximately $2.46 million dollars annually.

FOI{ THL, LEVY

tr AGAINST THE LEVY

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON A PROPOSED MILL LEVY FOR THE SUPPORT
OF SHERIFF AND COUNTY ATTORNEY SERVICES TO CASCADE COUNTY
FUNDED THROUGH A PUBLIC SAFETY MILL LEVY
On July 29, 2022, the Cascade County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution ofintent to
impose a mill lely of 20 mills that would generate approximately $3.52 million for the provision
of funding for the Sheriff s Oflice and County Attomey's Office in the enforcement and
prosecution of crimes, including but not limited to: recruitment and retention; public safety;
school safety; and pre-trial services. A public hearing regarding the mill levy has been set for
August 19, 2022 at9:30 a.m. in the Commission Chambers, 325 2nd Avenue N, Great Falls, MT
59401, across from the Cascade County District Courthouse in Great Falls, Montana. At the
public hearing, the Board will receive comments on the proposed lery. A copy of the proposed
mill lery resolution may be obtained from the Cascade County Clerk and Recorder's Office
located at l2l 4th St. N #1B1, Great Falls, MT 59401. If you would like to submit a written
comment on the proposed mill tely, please send them to the Cascade County Clerk and
Recorder, Attn: Public Safety Mill Levy,l2l4'h St. N #lBl, Great Falls, MT 59401. If you
would like more information about the proposed mill lery, please contact
publicsafeWlevylrDcascadecountymt. gov or (406) 454- 6915.

Dated this 29th day of JUJy , 2022

Board of County Commissioners

Cascade County

/s/ Joe Briggs, Chairperson

Publication: A3/22, 8/ 10/22, 8/17 /22

 BOARD OF COI.IN'I'}' CO]\tNIISSIoNEIIS REnm TO coilt l8tnil
CASCAI)Ti COLINI'\" I\TONTANA
RESOLUTION NO. 22.5I
RESOLUTION OF INTENT TO IMPLEMENT A PUBI,IC SAT'F,Tl'
MILL L}]V}' AND SUBYIT THE LEVI' TO A VOTE OF TIIE PUBLIC
WHEREAS, MCA $15- 10-420 (2) providcs 8u$ority to thc Board ofCounty Commis.sioncrs ro submit
for votcr apf,roval to establish r County Public Safcty Mill t vy as authorizcd inMCA 9742513, End

WIIEREAS, the monies dcdicdcd to th€ Cascade County Sherilfs Offrce and Coscadc County
Ano cy's Offtcc arc not zuflicicnt to maintain rcccssary scrviccs ofthe Shcriffs Oflicc and County
AnorDCy's Offrce'

WIIEREAS, Carrde Coonty continucs to gro* in populuion and rccordingly the dcman& on Shcriffand
County Attomey scrriccs continuc to grow at an tccclcrttci r8te;

WHEREAS, thr Csscadc County Sheritfs Deputies st8rting stlary is rpproximately 26% lcss than thc
grrtirl8 salrry ofthc Great FsUs Policc Depuunent ald othcr csnpctisg law ciforcemcnt agcnaics:

WHEREAS, thc Cascade County Anomcy's Dcputies cun€nt strrding salary is ltrZ less rhan rhc staning
srlary of the Oflicc of Public Dcfender and l7lo bclow thc mrrka compe nslrion-ratc for a nc\r prcsecuting
lttomc, in thc strc of Mont ns;
WHEREAS, both the Cascldc County Sheriffs Oflis.c and thc C&sc{dc Counry AnonEy's Offrce are
cunrntly having di{ficulty hiring aod mai aining qualificd and slillcd Dcputy ShcrilTs and Dcputy
Anomeys to thc cxtcnt tlEt both offices arr currently undc6tatTed by approximarcly 2flo in swom
pcrsmncl;

WIIEREAS, Cascadc Couot, does not cuncntly hsvc r prctrial rrviccJsupcwision progrrft and such a
prognm would povide a bencficial incrcasc to public ssfcty and providc Ehlbilitation serviccs to pretrial
ollcndcrs and such programs havc bccn sho*n to incrcasc Blblic safcty;

Wl IEREAS, Cascadc Coonty currcntly lacks adaluate resourccs rnd perrcnncl for additioml schq)l safet]
initiatiycs ne#
to protcct counr)- schools;

WHEREAS, thc Bo6rd ofCounty Commissioners has receivcd a rcqucst from the CsscEde Couoty
Shcniffand County Atlomey to implemert ! Public Safcty Mill lcvy rt ?0 mills;

WHEREAS, Ercnuc raiscd by a Public SEfcD, Mill lcra will bc a dcdicltcd so{rca of rcvcnuc rq fund
Shcriff, County Attomey, and law enforcamcnt scrviccs;

Purpose: Providc funding for thc ShcrilIs Oflicc and County Anomcy's Oflice in rhe
cnforccment and prcsccution ofcrimcs, inclrrding but not limitcd to: rccruitncnt
rnd rctcntion; public safety; school s.fcty; and pre-trial services.
Amonnt: Appoximately $3.52 million annuallv
Mills: 20 mills
Dursrion Perpctual
lmpact: Fair Market Vrluc S 100,0fl) home -- 327.00 pcr year (8ppmximarc)
l-air Martct Valrr 3200,000 home = 554.00 pcr year (spproximtte)

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NOW, TIIEREIORL BE lT RESOLVED, lhst (:tscsdc County musr implement a County Public Safer,
Mill Lcvy to continue to provide its nocessary scrvices by asking thc votc.rs ofCascade County to opprov.
20 mills for the County Public Sufcty Mill l.vy as .uthorizcd uldcr MCA !7-625 t 3.

BE IT F URIIIER RESOI.VED fiat the Crscade County Board of Commissioners intends to pass a mill
lct1 that r+ill implcftent 20 mills fo( the suppofl ofthc Cascldc Coun5 Sherills Oflice and Attomey's
Ollice opcrations. That it is hcrcby ordered that a public hearing is sd for August 19. 2022 at 9:l0am in
thc Crscade Count) Commissioners Board Room, 325 2nd Avcnuc N, Grcst F8lls, MI'59,101. to
detcrminc whcther to implement thc Sheriffard County Attomey Public Safety Mill l-evy for 20 mills for
suppon ofpublic safety. Thcmill lcvy would be pcrpciual, The mill lcvy would be subjcct to thc
approval of the vo(crs of Cascadc Couruy.. At the hcaring, thc Commissirxr wquld take commenl on
whether to place thc public safcty mill levy rxr the Novcmber t, 2022 gcocral clcction ballot. The Board
orders the CEscadc County Clcrl and Recorder to provide notice ofthe heering, male coprics ofthe
propord rcsolution available lo thc public and acccpt public commcnts on fie proposcd le!}. Afrcr thc
public hcaring, should the Boa.d ofcounry Commissioncrs find that it is in thc bcst intcrcits of the
public. it will pass a resolution to imposc the mill ler} subjccr to th€ appmval ofthe vot.rs on lhc
Novembcr 8, 2022 general elcction ballot.

BE IT IINALLY RESOLVED that lhc BoErd ofCounr] Commissiorcrs hcrcby makes thc requesi of rhe
Cascade Couoty Elcction Administrator ro conduct thc Sheriff and Counry Anomcy Public Safety Mill
[.vy on rhc ballot during the November general clection.

Passed and adopted this 296 dav ofJuly, 2022

BOARI) OF UNT\' COMMISSIONERS

CASCA .M

Joe

Commiss

Dtrn Ryan. mlslloncr

Anest
On this M*,
Countt Comm
22, I hercby 8ttest tlle ibovc-*rincn sig,|stures of the Board of Casdc

KI C
hrco'rL
. APPROVED AS I-O FORM
Josh R Attomev

A I'IORNEY

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