Good morning, it’s JoVonne here with your dose of Helena This Week.
I’m back in the Queen City! In this issue, we report on a new city director, a snapshot of horses in downtown and a takeaway from the city’s latest meeting regarding a Homeland Security grant that some in the community oppose.
In our top coverage, the city has officially approved ballot language for a levy that would fund more firefighters and police. You can read more below to learn how much they are asking voters to approve.
But first, a weather preview ☀️
This week, we are warming back up, starting with a Monday high of 77 degrees, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Julianna Glinskas. Tuesday and Wednesday’s highs will be 78 degrees. Overnight lows will hover in the high 40s.
Public safety levy coming your way in March
After about four months of consideration, the Helena City Commission has approved a special election next spring, putting another public safety levy vote to residents.
At last week’s city meeting, the commission settled on $5.387 million as the levy amount that will appear on the March 9 ballot, asking voters to fund additional firefighters and police.
Of that amount, about $3.6 million would be allocated to the hiring of 21 firefighters. About $1.7 million would go to hiring nine additional police personnel, according to city documents.
This is the second attempt in recent years that the city has asked voters to pay for additional emergency staff. In 2024, voters rejected a levy while approving a bond to construct a third fire station on the north end of town.
But city officials say the need to keep up with service demands is growing and that Helena’s population and service calls are outpacing the capacity of both the fire and police departments.
Fire officials have said that without the needed staff, the fire department won’t have enough firefighters to open the new station. Although fire management is crucial, the HFD also responds to other calls for service, primarily emergency medical calls.
While the police department doesn’t have as big a staffing gap as HFD, Police Chief Brett Petty said in earlier city meetings that the department needs additional criminal and crash investigators.
If voters approve this levy next March, property taxes for a home valued at $300,000 would increase by about $127 a year, according to the proposed ballot language. Homes valued at $600,000 would have their property taxes increase by $272 a year.
Photo Op 📸
MTFP’s own Kristin Cordingley sent this photo of the Budweiser Clydesdales parading through downtown last week. The picture also features Cordingley’s son, Oscar, who enjoyed watching the massive horses trot by.
Want to share a Helena photo? Please send it to [email protected] 🙂
Public Notice 🧐
City welcomes new finance director
ℹ️ The city announced the hiring of its new financial director, Kim Aiken, last week after former director Sheila Danielson left the position this summer. Aiken was the deputy director of the Montana Department of Health and Human Services and formerly the agency’s chief financial director and operations manager.
“This role lets me apply everything I’ve learned about fiscal stewardship to the city I call home,” Aiken said in a city press release.
Aiken’s official start date with the city is Oct. 13.
Community artist survey
ℹ️ The Montana Business Assistance Connection, along with other local partners, is surveying community artists with the goal of better understanding workspace needs.
🗓️ Survey closes Sept. 25
🔗 Access survey here
Say What? 🤔
A Department of Homeland Security grant was at the center of controversy last week after city staff, local attorneys and other members of the public were confused about the agreement’s parameters.
The city applied for a $53,000 grant from the DHS last year for security improvements to the City-County Building and the Law & Justice Center. Before the city could access the funds, it would need to formally accept the terms and conditions, prompting the city commission to pause and table the motion to accept the money.
Basically, the agreement stated that the city would need to comply with DHS, information sharing and with investigations, something that some members of the community urged the city not to do earlier this year when commissioners passed and then rescinded an anti-ICE agreement.
But the language in the grant was vague, prompting the public to show up in large numbers at the meeting Tuesday to oppose its acceptance. The commissioners voted 3-2 to table the grant until they can get clarity on exactly what the agreement meant for the city.
For more details surrounding the issue, read KTVH’s full report here.
Helena Happenings 🗓️
Lectures & Learning: The Montana Historical Society will host speaker Nate Schweber to discuss the 1943 book “Montana: High, Wide and Handsome” as part of the Lewis & Clark Library Foundation’s 2026 Stephen Ambrose Memorial Lecture. The talk will be held Tuesday, Sept. 29, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Montana Heritage Center.
Pints & Brews: Want an adult alternative to the pumpkin spice latte? The Lewis & Clark Taproom’s pumpkin ale is back in time for spooky season. The brew is flavored with cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and allspice, everything you need for a good pumpkin pie!
Holiday Specials: Come celebrate National Public Lands Day on the walking mall Saturday, Sept. 26, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Ten Mile Creek Brewery will host the free event with live music from Matt Strahan and The Hoot Owls & Copper Queen. There will also be food trucks, games and other activities.
