Sign up for the free Helena This Week newsletter and stay in the loop on Helena city government, public school meetings, business news and upcoming entertainment and events.
06/15/2026
Officials say additional firefighters and police officers are needed to keep up with the city’s growth
The Helena City Commission will soon consider asking voters to fund additional firefighters and police officers through a mill levy.
During a city meeting last Wednesday, city staff, along with Police Chief Brett Petty and Fire Chief Jon Campbell, told commissioners that the current staffing levels for firefighters and police officers are struggling to meet and sustain services in Helena.
They also proposed raising property taxes, potentially putting the issue on the November ballot.
“ All in all, I think we need to provide you the facts, the community the facts, and the opportunity to get behind something like this if you so choose, because this really goes back to the safety and the security and the future of our community,” City Manager Alana Lake told the commission during Wednesday’s meeting.
The commission now faces a tight deadline to decide whether to move forward with a levy and determine how much it will cost.
The city tried to pass a public safety levy in 2024, coupled with a bond for a new third fire station on the north side of town. Residents rejected the levy but passed the $7 million fire station bond. The station is set to open next spring.
But Helena’s service levels have not slowed. The annual fire call volume has steadily increased by about 4.2% each year, and Campbell said the number of service calls last year was already higher than city officials anticipated in 2031.
“ We’re already outpacing what the projections were for when they were established in 2022,” Campbell said.
The department’s master plan recommends that the city have 13 fire personnel on duty during each 24-hour shift. Currently, the fire department only schedules seven per shift and has a total of 33 firefighters. With the growth and population of Helena, the National Fire Protection Association recommends that the city have about 55 firefighters.
Without additional staff, Campbell said the department does not have enough firefighters to open the third fire station.
Campbell presented three staffing options of either 18, 21 or 24 additional personnel for the commission to consider. For 18 additional personnel, the city would need about $3.2 million a year. For 21 additional staff, the city would need about $3.6 million, and for 24 additional staff, about $4.1 million.
Police Chief Petty indicated that, while law enforcement doesn’t have quite as large a staffing gap as the fire department, they still don’t have enough officers to meet Helena’s growth and service needs.
Petty added that the police department receives about 28,000 calls a year.
The police department currently has 28 officers who respond to calls for service. A staffing study recommended the department have about 31 such officers on duty this year and about 32 on staff by 2028.
But that staffing study does not include other law enforcement needs such as crash investigators and its criminal investigations division, which focuses on violence against women, drug-related crimes and internet crimes against children, the chief said.
Petty proposed three options to the commission: adding seven personnel at a cost of about $1.3 million, adding nine personnel at a cost of about $1.6 million, or adding 11 personnel at a cost of about $2 million.
If the commission chooses to fund the highest staffing levels for both fire and police departments, it would result in a $6,257,992 mill levy request.
Taxpayers with homes valued at $300,000 would see their taxes rise about $156 each year. Properties valued at $600,000 would see an annual tax increase of about $360.
The commission will need to decide by July 6 to move forward with a mill levy and submit the details to the county elections office by Aug. 20 to add it to the Nov. 3 ballot.
“ This conversation, I hope we think about it in terms of not just meeting the demands of today, but, truly an investment of what kind of future and community do we want,” Helena Mayor Emily Dean said. “And in order to have a thriving community, we have to have a safe community and one in which people know that when they call 911, when the unthinkable happens, someone will be there to support them.”
Public Notice
Lewis and Clark Public Health is urging residents to subscribe to air quality updates as the state enters fire season, county public health officials announced last week. LCPH partners with the Department of Environmental Quality to provide hour-by-hour air quality readings and warnings through the county website.
The city will repave Colonial Drive from Mendocino Street to the Helena Points Apartments this week, beginning Tuesday, June 16 and continuing through Thursday, June 18. Construction work will last from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. with delays expected.
5 Things to Know in Helena
During a city meeting last week, the commission received an update on the city manager’s evaluation process. In April, the city approved hiring consulting firm CMS to help facilitate the evaluation. Last week’s update included a preliminary timeline that began in May and concludes in November with one-on-one discussions between the commission and the manager. CMS consultant Drew Geiger said the evaluation timeline is intended as a working document and may change at the commission’s direction. Currently, the evaluation is set to conclude at the beginning of 2027.
The city commission will consider approving a $5,000 public arts grant to artist Charlie Carson for a Rodney Street mural that is a part of the city’s Public Art Community Collaboration Grant project. The total cost of the mural is $12,000, with several area organizations and businesses pitching in.
The Helena School Board of Trustees approved a 2.5% salary increase for its independent and administrative staff during a meeting last week. The district currently employs 54 independent staff members. The pay raise is estimated to cost the general fund $34,726 for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The district also employs 30 administrative staff members. Their pay raise is estimated to cost $74,550.
The Farmers State Bank awarded $17,148 to Helena Public Schools’ Project for Alternative Learning last week. “This $17,148 donation allows us to elevate our curriculum programming, helping to provide our staff and students the support they need to thrive both inside and outside the classroom,” PAL Principal Matthew Carey said in a press release.
Registration is open for Helena Public Schools’ free summer meal program. Parents and guardians can sign their child up on the district’s website. The program is available to students aged 1 to 18.
Might Be Fun
Helena’s free weekly summer concert series, Alive at Five, is back with its first show scheduled for Wednesday, June 17, at the Lewis & Clark Taproom. The event will feature live music from The Talbott Brothers and highlight the area non-profit Amy’s Mess.
The Last Chance Splash Waterpark & Pool will open for the summer Monday, June 15, with weather permitting. The pool will have daily open swimming, lap swim and adult water activities at 9:30 a.m. on weekdays. The full waterpark will open at 12:30 p.m. Residents can also sign up for swim lessons on the city’s website.
