Cascade County Board of Health asks Great Falls to increase annual funding for City-County Health Department

The Cascade County Board of Health voted unanimously on Feb. 4 to send a letter to the Great Falls City Commission requesting an increase in the annual budget allocation to the City-County Health Department.

Dr. Rachel Amthor presented the draft letter and Trista Besich provided background information on the department’s funding situation and the reason for seeking an adjustment. After discussion about the proposed language, Board member Heather Hoyer moved that the Board forward the letter as proposed to request that the City of Great Falls increase its annual allocation to the City-County Health Department. Vice-Chair Laurie Glover and Dr. Matt Martin seconded the motion. Chairman Joe Briggs called for a vote; the motion carried unanimously.

The written meeting record notes the Board’s action but does not specify a dollar amount or an explicit timeline for the City’s response. The motion instructs staff to forward the letter to the City Commission; no formal appropriation or budget amendment by the Board itself was recorded in the minutes. The Board’s action is advisory to the City Commission, which controls the city budget.

The Board’s request follows regular review of department finances and an administrative briefing during the meeting. The minutes record that staff presented monthly financial reports earlier in the session but do not show any immediate change to departmental operating authority or county budget allocations.

Next steps recorded in the minutes: staff will transmit the approved letter to the City Commission; the Board did not set a follow-up date in the written summary. Any reply or formal change to the City of Great Falls’ contribution would be subject to that body’s budget process.