Montana Law Enforcement Academy asks legislature for $700,000 spending authority to address failing campus infrastructure

The Montana Law Enforcement Academy asked the Legislature’s Section D subcommittee on Wednesday for authority to spend $700,000 from its existing state special revenue account to address persistent infrastructure problems at its Helena-area campus.

The request, presented by MLEA Executive Director Joel Wendland and supported by Montana Attorney General Austin Knudson, would provide spending authority — not new revenue — to repair failing sewer lines, crumbling concrete and recurring basement flooding that administrators said are disrupting training and increasing operating costs.

MLEA leaders told the committee the campus includes buildings more than 100 years old and a low water table that has caused repeated utility failures and expensive, emergency repairs. Knudson described the site as “a beautiful campus… but it’s old,” and said training capacity and public safety depend on stabilizing the property.

Wendland said the $700,000 request is not for new programs but for maintenance of facilities paid from fees the academy already collects. He told lawmakers the academy now houses up to 130 students at a time and runs three 16‑week basic law‑enforcement academies a year plus corrections and communications training; capacity and frequent, hands‑on instruction have increased operating demands.

The presentation listed additional capital items that would require future funding: a proposed on‑site indoor shooting range with supporting work (administrators cited a planning figure of $10 million), an estimated $150,000 annual cost to maintain a range, and a driving pad to consolidate vehicle operations training now leased offsite. Wendland said on‑site range and driving facilities would reduce travel time for students and add training hours.

Administrators also described steps already taken to improve fiscal health, including incremental increases to student fees (the historic per‑cadet charge was cited as $125), cost‑savings from moving course materials online, and internal reassignments that recovered personnel funding. Wendland said the academy plans to raise housing/meal fees gradually toward about $200 per week through 2025 so additional operational costs will be covered by fee revenue rather than new general‑fund spending.

Lawmakers asked about creating a recurring maintenance mechanism. MLEA and Department of Justice staff told the committee the $700,000 would be ongoing spending authority requested in House Bill 2 as baseline funding; the subcommittee was also told some one‑time projects may be submitted in House Bill 5 and long‑range planning would determine future capital requests. Knudson and department staff said statutory or budget language would be needed to create an enterprise‑style maintenance fund.

The committee did not take a vote on the request during the hearing. MLEA officials invited committee members to visit the campus to view deferred maintenance and training operations firsthand.