Helena city officials to ponder next move with fire station bond issue passage, mill levy defeat

So what do you do when you get permission from voters to build a new fire station but you may not have the staff to fill it?

The Helena City Commission may have to ponder that question after Tuesday’s election as early unofficial results had a bond issue for a new $7 million station slightly ahead while a mill levy to hire 15 firefighters and nine police officers failed.

According to unofficial results, the bond issue was ahead by 98 votes, 4,985-4,887 at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday. The race was listed as 50%-50%.

The mill levy was behind by 1,037 votes, 4,616-3,784 or 55%-45%.

The ballot measures had been sold as a one-two punch: Build the station and have the fire department staff to fill it.

The 20-year bond will put a station on the north side of the tracks, something the city does not have at this time. Such a station was noted in 2007 and 2022 planning efforts. It, along with a training center, would be located on city-owned property on Washington Street near the city’s water treatment plant.

City commissioners said they would discuss the next step at upcoming meetings. Fire Chief Jon Campbell declined comment Wednesday, saying he wanted to wait until the election results were official before saying anything.

He was asked why he thought the mill levy was defeated.

“It’s a real challenge to provide a voice to the psyche of the electorate when they are only able to give a yes or no response,” he said, adding the city presented the voting public with what was thought to have been a reasonable request.

Mayor Wilmot Collins on Wednesday thanked the community for realizing there is a need for a third fire station and said the commission will likely have discussions about returning to the voting public to get more fire and police staffing.

“We will go back to the voters and let them know where we are,” he said.

Collins said throughout the campaign he heard from voters that the state hike in property taxes would make it difficult for them to support the levy.

“The one constant reason they were giving was the property tax,” Collins said.

Commissioner Andy Shirtliff said some people got their property tax increases the same day they got their ballot.

“They voted with their pocketbook,” he said. “It was a pocketbook decision in a year when property tax increases were significant.”

Shirtliff noted the property tax increases not only affected the city Tuesday, but also the school election in June when three ballot measures failed.

The city had made efforts to educate the public about the proposal. Officials said on social media in late May that Police Chief Brett Petty and Campbell had given their 11th civic group presentation on the ballot issues, wrapping up an incredibly busy couple of months for the leaders of our police and fire departments. It also marked the 25th education activity since late March.

The two chiefs had also made themselves available to the public at various coffee shops around the city.

Shirtliff said a new station will take a year or so to fill.

“Those discussions will happen over the next weeks and days,” he said.

City Commissioner Emily Dean said she was grateful the community recognized the need for a third fire station north of the railroad tracks. She said she was appreciative of those who learned about the demands on Helena's public safety system.

"I’m not giving up on providing quality emergency services to Helena and ready for future conversations about how to meet the community demands on our 911 emergency services," she said in an email.  

"We are all feeling the increased tax burden on residences, she said. "The city will consider our options moving forward as we look forward to the Legislature rectifying the property tax issues being experienced by our community."

Collins said city officials were happy to have cleared one hurdle.

“We will go back to the drawing board and see what is best,” he said. “We are between a rock and hard place.”

He said officials will meet with all stakeholders. He also noted city staff, such as public information officer Jacob Garcin, consultant Jeff Mangan and the police and fire chiefs, “worked exceptionally hard.”

Collins said he believes the mill levy vote was somewhat narrower than what the tally showed.

“I still think it was a close call,” he said. “I always tell people I live in a well-informed community. We need to let the community know there is still a need to fund the police and firefighters.”

Elsewhere in Montana, Missoula voters approved the fire levy on Tuesday's primary ballot by a strong margin, giving the green light to the city to hire more firefighters, purchase new equipment and build a new station. In final counts, 63% voted in favor of the levy, with 37% against, according to the Montana secretary of state website.

The measure will let the city levy an additional $7 million annually for the fire department budget to support increased firefighting needs, including up to 20 new staff and a sixth station, and permanent funding for the Mobile Support Team (MST). Raises for fire staff and a new engine will also be covered by levy funds, according to the Missoulian.