Montana Board of Crime Control asks legislature to make $4 million in victim-services funding ongoing; request tied to pending revenue bill

The Montana Board of Crime Control asked the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Section D on Jan. 17 to fund victim‑services support on an ongoing basis, saying a one‑time $4 million infusion from the 2023 Legislature made an immediate difference but that federal funding has declined.

"The mission of the board of crime control is to proactively contribute to public safety, crime prevention, and victim assistance through planning, policy development, and coordination of justice system in partnership with citizens, government, and communities," said Natalia Bowser, director of the Montana Board of Crime Control. Bowser told the committee the agency uses federal grants and state allocations to distribute services across the state and to run the state's statistical analysis center.

Bowser and legislative budget staff described the board's 2027 biennium request as an increase of about $3.9 million, roughly 11.5% above the 2025 base. The budget presentation shows a $4 million request in state special revenue to continue victim services that were funded one time from the general fund in 2023, plus smaller adjustments in personal‑service authority.

Why it matters: the board distributes federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funds and other grants to local victim‑service programs and county offices across Montana. Programs told the committee that reduced federal VOCA awards and continued demand for services put local providers at risk if state support lapses.

Bowser said the $4 million awarded from the 2023 session was immediately allocated to…