Missoula County Fiscal Year 2025 Budget

Let us know your thoughts on a domestic violence treatment court budget increase.

This request would fund an increase to the base budget for the domestic violence treatment court, which Justice of the Peace Alex Beal administers in Justice Court. Currently, staffing for this program only includes the judge and DV treatment court coordinator, but the team will be organized and expanded into 2024. The team's goals are to monitor the success and challenges of the Domestic Violence Court, identify and implement any needed changes, training need and policies and procedures. DV Treatment Court is funded by two grants: the Montana Board of Crime Control Violence Against Women Act grant and the Office on Violence against Women grant. They fund the DV treatment coordinator through 80% of VAWA and 20% of OVW, but those grants do not fund any operations. Justice Court is requesting $5,900 toward computers, office supplies, phones and County tech fees.

Department: Justice Court

Cost: $5,900

Type: Ongoing

Funding source(s): Property taxes

Commissioners are scheduled to discuss this item at their administrative public meeting at 10 a.m. on Thursday, July 11, though this date is subject to change. Join the meeting in Room 206 of the County Administration Building, 199 W. Pine Street. You can also join the meeting virtually via Microsoft Teams. Visit http://missoula.co/bccmeetings to find the agenda and link to join.

Let us know your thoughts on request for a DUI treatment court budget increase.

Justice Court turned one vacant position into a hard-funded position for the DUI ROAD Court coordinator position. This will no longer be funded by grants in FY25. ROAD Court was founded in 2018 and funded every year by grants. By applying for and receiving grant funds, ROAD Court takes an evidence-based holistic approach to impaired driving. The numbers speak to the ability Missoula County has to reallocate resources from incarceration and to reduce recidivism, essentially saving lives. The goal is for ROAD Court to be hard-funded, as the program has grown to a wait list and has a reputation for changing lives and holding people accountable. They continue to apply for and receive grants every year. Justice Court is requesting $5,200 for case management software, DIMS, a DUI RANT Assessment tool, cell and house phones and general operating supplies. General operating supplies cover copiers, paper and basic office supplies necessary for daily operations of the program. Day planners are an example of this: they are a way for the participants to learn how to stay organized and accountable. This is necessary for the success of the ROAD Court participants. Studies have shown that people with a structured daily routine have less stress, sleep better, eat better and use their time more effectively. ROAD Court is both a DUI treatment court and an accountability court, holding participants responsible for making and keeping appointments, something they may have never done before. By providing day planners for participants, ROAD Court is helping them create routine and stay motivated in their recovery.

Department: Justice Court

Cost: $5,200

Type: Ongoing

Funding source(s): Property taxes

Commissioners are scheduled to discuss this item at their administrative public meeting at 10 a.m. on Thursday, July 11, though this is subject to change. Join the meeting in Room 206 of the County Administration Building, 199 W. Pine Street. You can also join the meeting virtually via Microsoft Teams. Visit http://missoula.co/bccmeetings to find the agenda and link to join.

Let us know your thoughts on a book budget increase for the Missoula Public Library.

This request would fund an increase to the budget for books, eBooks and audiobooks at the Missoula Public Library. Investing in eBooks presents numerous benefits for libraries, including cost-effectiveness, accessibility, flexibility, space-saving, environmental sustainability, diverse content and data-driven decision making. By increasing the eBook budget, the Missoula Public Library can better meet the evolving needs and preferences of our patrons while maximizing the impact of our resources. The Capital Library Book Budget has not increased since at least 2019, so MPL is currently not meeting the demand of our library cardholders. The current ratio of print holds is 5:1, which means for every five Missoula holds that exist, we will purchase one circulating print copy. If we were to apply the 5:1 holds ratio to the top 10 eAudio and top 10 eBooks, it would cost approximately $20,000. If we increased our eBook and eAudio budget to meet the demand and apply the 5:1 holds ratio to all holds requests, that would cost closer to $90,000. Price between eBook and eAudio vary greatly depending upon which lending model is available from a publisher. MPL recommends increasing the Capital Library Book budget by $25,000 to improve access to the top 20 most popular eBooks and eAudio books.

Department: Missoula Public Library

Cost: $25,000

Type: Ongoing

Funding source(s): Property taxes

Commissioners will discuss this item at their administrative public meeting at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, July 9. Join the meeting in Room 206 of the County Administration Building, 199 W. Pine Street. You can also join the meeting virtually via Microsoft Teams. Visit http://missoula.co/bccmeetings(External link) to find the agenda and link to join.

Let us know your thoughts on a contract increase for mental health services.

This request would fund a $25,000 increase to the contract with United Minds LLC. United Minds provides the County Attorney’s Office with qualified mental health professionals who are available in court to both provide evaluations, written reports and testimony during commitment proceedings. United Minds LLC has held a contract with Missoula County since 2021 and has successfully provided stable and consistent medical expertise.

Department: County Attorney’s Office

Cost: $25,000

Type: Ongoing

Funding source(s): Property taxes

Commissioners are scheduled to discuss this item at their administrative public meeting at 10 a.m. on Thursday, July 11, though this is subject to change. Join the meeting in Room 206 of the County Administration Building, 199 W. Pine Street. You can also join the meeting virtually via Microsoft Teams. Visit http://missoula.co/bccmeetings to find the agenda and link to join.

Let us know your thoughts on purchasing new discovery processing software for the County Attorney's Office.

This request would fund the purchase of a new discovery processing software for the County Attorney’s Office. The volume and complexity of items that can be entered into discovery has grown in recent years due to advances in media technology and geolocation data. Storing large files on hard drives is not a secure practice and can lead to data loss.

Department: County Attorney’s Office

Cost: $90,000

Type: Ongoing

Funding source(s): Property taxes

Commissioners are scheduled to discuss this item at their administrative public meeting at 10 a.m. on Thursday, July 11, though this is subject to change. Join the meeting in Room 206 of the County Administration Building, 199 W. Pine Street. You can also join the meeting virtually via Microsoft Teams. Visit http://missoula.co/bccmeetings to find the agenda and link to join.

Let us know your thoughts on funding 1.5 Crime Victim Advocate positions.

This request would fund 1.5 Crime Victim Advocate positions in the Community Justice Department. The Crime Victim Advocate Division of the Community Justice Department has primarily been funded with grants since the program was established in 1985. Initially, the decision was made to determine if advocates were needed and effective. Nearly 40 years later, multiple studies show how advocates uphold victims’ rights in the justice system, reduce the trauma victims of crime experience and connect crime victims to critical resources – including housing, counseling, childcare, job services and more. However, three positions will lose funding for salaries by FY25 if grant funding is not secured. This request would ensure these vital positions can continue to be funded.

Department: Community Justice Department

Cost: $231,162

Type: Ongoing

Funding source(s): Property taxes

Commissioners are scheduled to discuss this item at their administrative public meeting at 10 a.m. on Thursday, July 11, though this is subject to change. Join the meeting in Room 206 of the County Administration Building, 199 W. Pine Street. You can also join the meeting virtually via Microsoft Teams. Visit http://missoula.co/bccmeetings to find the agenda and link to join.

Let us know your thoughts about this request for new printers.

This request would fund either a new lease or purchase of printers for the Central Services print shop. The printers in the Central Services Print Shop are due to be replaced in 2024 as the current lease is nearly up, and they are nearing the end of their useful life. As printers age, the quality of printed materials (including elections, property tax bills and more) degrades. The cost to replace the printers outright through a one-time purchase would be $12,000 to $14,000 each. The cost to lease new machines (likely on a five-year lease) is estimated to be up to $500 per month total for two printers. Additional research is necessary to determine the best route to pursue; all the necessary information was not available ahead of the budget request deadline.

Department: Central Services

Cost: $6,000

Type: Ongoing

Funding source(s): Property taxes

Commissioners are scheduled to discuss this item at their administrative public meeting at 10 a.m. on Thursday, July 18, though this is subject to change. Join the meeting in Room 206 of the County Administration Building, 199 W. Pine Street. You can also join the meeting virtually via Microsoft Teams. Visit http://missoula.co/bccmeetings to find the agenda and link to join.

Let us know your thoughts on an increase to the Grants and Community Programs budget.

This request is for the necessary office equipment (computer, phone, desk, chair) and services (tech fee, phone fees) associated with the creation of the grants technician and grants liaison positions. The positions are critical in the Grants and Community Programs transition from a division that focuses primarily on project and grant management to a department that, in conjunction with Finance and the Auditor’s Office, would provide a system of coordinated grant support to all county departments.

Department: Grants and Community Programs

Cost: $7,370

Type: Ongoing

Funding source(s): Property taxes

This request is for the personnel enhancements necessary for the establishment of a new Grants and Community Programs Department that will, with Finance, the Auditor’s Office and the grants module of the new enterprise system, provide support to all County departments across the lifecycle of a grant. This request includes promotions for two IV grant positions to the senior level and a promotion of the current grants manager to the director level. This request also includes two new full-time positions: grants technician and grants liaison.

The County's approach to grant writing and management has evolved without a common or standardized approach. This homegrown system has sometimes resulted in challenges with tracking grant submissions and awards countywide, issues with compliance and reporting and an inability to ensure grant acquisition efforts are in line with County priorities. The 2023 Grants and Community Programs assessment process yielded a clear strategic direction for future work and priorities, including an expanded role within the County consistent with County leadership's needs and expectations that will address these issues. The FY25 budget requests will add the capacity necessary to begin to operationalize the department’s new function.

Department: Grants and Community Programs

Cost: $111,598

Type: Ongoing

Funding source(s): Property taxes

Commissioners are scheduled to discuss these items at their administrative public meeting at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, July 23, though this is subject to change. Join the meeting in Room 206 of the County Administration Building, 199 W. Pine Street. You can also join the meeting virtually via Microsoft Teams. Visit http://missoula.co/bccmeetings to find the agenda and link to join.