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Police and fire chiefs outline staffing, equipment requests as personnel costs dominate FY2027 proposals
Summary
Police Chief Jeff Newton and Fire Chief Jeremy Virts described personnel-driven budgets, called for three additional officers and body-worn cameras for police, and sought funding for PPE, SCBA planning and an added training FTE for fire, while noting unresolved collective bargaining impacts.
Police and fire leaders told the City Commission on April 20 that personnel costs dominate their FY2027 requests and urged the Commission to consider investments that officials said would improve service and accountability.
Police Chief Jeff Newton said the department is primarily personnel-funded, with 136 full-time employees and a staffing shortfall in dispatch (six vacancies). He reported FY2025 call volumes across county and city services and said the department is requesting three additional sworn officers to augment patrol, investigations and the DET. Chief Newton also said he plans to request body-worn cameras in a future budget cycle and that "Great Falls is the only Class 1 City in the state that does not have them," citing community and staff interest in the technology.
Commissioners discussed cost and procurement options. The City Manager said hiring and training a new officer costs roughly $110,000–$120,000 per year, and staff outlined a $1.5 million lease option to acquire cameras, in part to avoid future replacement budget spikes. No formal vote or commitment was taken during the session.
Fire Chief Jeremy Virts described a $12.3 million annual GFFR budget heavily weighted toward personal services and said the department averages about 18 calls per day. Chief Virts requested planning for PPE replacement, an equipment replacement schedule for SCBAs (29 SCBAs and 50 bottles at about $1,700 apiece for replacement bottles), and one additional training FTE to reduce workload strains on the training division. He also noted rising apparatus repair costs and that refurbishment is extending vehicle life only modestly.
Both chiefs warned that unresolved collective bargaining agreements and arbitration outcomes could require retroactive compensation and materially affect final budget totals. The session was informational; the Commission did not enact any formal actions during the meeting.
