Butte-Silver Bow committee approves $2.85 million expenditures amid questions over sheriff ammunition and equipment payback

The Butte-Silver Bow Finance and Budget Committee approved an expenditure list totaling $2,851,365.89 at its Jan. 7, 2026, meeting after brief questioning about sheriff's office purchases and county payroll practices.

Commissioner Walker raised concerns about a line item for ammunition, saying, "we're buying shells for the sheriff's department again. We just did that, like, 3 months ago." Director Hausler responded that the sheriff's office conducts frequent training and estimated "upwards of 40 officers" require training at the county shooting range, framing the purchase as for training needs rather than routine patrol use.

Commissioners also asked about a listed rifle purchase. Director Hausler said officers may procure additional equipment through terms in their collective bargaining agreement and that the county pays upfront and recoups the cost through payroll deductions. "It's almost kinda like a loan," he said, adding that if an officer leaves before fully repaying, "the amount that they owed would be withheld from their final paycheck." Commissioners pressed whether personally purchased weapons bought under that program may be used on duty; several asked staff to confirm the policy, and Hausler said he would check and follow up.

A motion to approve the expenditure list was offered and seconded; the committee approved the list on a voice vote with all commissioners present voting in favor.

The vote came before staff presented a series of budget transfers across departments that the committee also acknowledged during the meeting. The meeting adjourned after the items were presented and approved.

The committee said staff would return with clarifications on whether personally purchased weapons acquired through the payroll-deduction program may be authorized for on-duty use. No changes to the expenditure list were made at the meeting.