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Sheriff's Office seeks $10,000 clothing-line increase, $6,000 pilot for mandatory deputy wellness sessions
Summary
The Sheriff's Office requested a $10,000 ongoing increase to its clothing allowance and a $6,000 one-time pilot to provide mandatory annual 30-minute wellness sessions for all deputies, intended to normalize mental-health care and reduce long-term costs.
The Missoula County Sheriff's Office asked commissioners for two budget items: a $10,000 increase to its clothing line for FY26 and a $6,000 one-time expense to pilot mandatory annual wellness sessions for deputies.
Sheriff's Office presenters said the existing clothing allowances (an annual $1,200 general allowance plus up to $600 per deputy for special teams) have been exceeded under current staffing and uniform rules. Staff said the clothing line would increase from $82,582 to $92,582 to cover current needs and anticipated hires.
Separately, the sheriff's office proposed a $6,000 one-time pilot to fund mandatory 30-minute sessions with a culturally competent counselor for every deputy once per year. Presenters said the pilot would remove stigma by making the sessions standard, help catch mental-health needs early and could reduce more costly long-term outcomes. The presenter described the program as a trial year, funded from cash reserves, that would give the office data to consider longer-term budgeting for the service.
Discussion versus formal action: the presentation was informational; commissioners did not take a formal vote. Staff said the clothing increase aligns with commitment in collective-bargaining-type allowances, and they described the wellness pilot as a trial intended to evaluate effectiveness before committing ongoing funds.
Ending: The sheriff's presenters emphasized mental-health supports for deputies as preventive and cost-saving; no appropriation was recorded at the meeting.
