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Police chief: state law change left Belgrade roughly $350,000 short; staff urges levy planning for 2027
Summary
Chief Dustin Lindsay told the council recent state changes to the public-safety levy have produced an estimated $350,000 annual revenue shortfall; staff outlined options including a public-safety levy and recommended at least two years of campaign preparation with a realistic earliest ballot of November 2027.
Chief Dustin Lindsay told the Belgrade City Council the department’s total budget is a little over $5 million and that recent state legislation converting mill-based growth into fixed-dollar levies has produced a roughly $350,000 revenue shortfall this year.
“The beauty of the mill system ... was that as the population grows the levy grows,” Lindsay said, summarizing the prior structure. He said the department already eliminated two vacant officer positions to fund pay increases and that deferred fleet and equipment replacements, reduced operational flexibility and the risk of staff turnover are present consequences of the gap.
Lindsay and staff presented immediate options: (1) prepare a public-safety levy that would fund current services (and allow inflation adjustments), (2) accept reductions in nonessential functions such as code enforcement and shift duties to patrol, (3) move some reporting to online/phone intake, or (4) budget for gradual service reductions. City staff cautioned that a successful ballot campaign requires significant outreach and clear messaging.
City Manager Carnivale recommended the earliest realistic ballot pulse would be November 2027, after research, communications materials and community engagement work. “I think the earliest that I would recommend is November ’27,” Carnivale said, arguing the city needs time to frame what voters would buy for the dollars requested.
Councilors expressed support for beginning planning and community education, while noting past local levies have failed when messaging was unclear. The workshop produced no formal decision to place a levy on a ballot; staff were directed to continue analysis and prepare outreach planning and financial scenarios.
Next steps: staff will model levy amounts and impacts, scope a campaign timeline and community engagement plan, and return options for council consideration.
