Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Montana Highway Patrol asks Legislature for pay increases and retirement funding to stop trooper attrition
Summary
Montana Highway Patrol leaders told the Section D subcommittee they need new funding to arrest a wave of trooper departures and retirements, requesting $7.2 million for a salary increase, $4 million for employer retirement contributions and authority for radio and equipment spending.
Montana Highway Patrol leaders told a Section D subcommittee hearing the agency is struggling with trooper vacancies and retirements and asked the Legislature for additional funding targeted at pay, retirement contributions and equipment to improve recruitment, retention and operational safety.
The request includes roughly $7.2 million to implement a pay increase for troopers (described by agency and DOJ officials as roughly a 14% base increase), about $4 million in general fund to cover employer retirement contributions that were affected by last sessionstatutory changes, payoff authority for a statewide radio loan and funding for body and in-car cameras, vehicle replacements and other operational needs.
The funding request matters because the patrol is a statewide traffic- and safety-focused law-enforcement agency that responds to crashes, interdicts drugs and supports other agencies; agency officials said staffing shortages affect coverage on major corridors and in both tourist and high-growth population areas.
Attorney General Austin Knudson and Colonel Kurt Seger (Colonel Seager in testimony; listed in…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat