The Blaine County Journal News-Opinion - We've Got The County Covered

After discussion during an announced public hearing in the commissioners’ office at the courthouse, Blaine County Commissioners motioned and approved creation of a new public safety fund for budget year 2017-2018. Commissioners have been exploring ways to meet increased challenges to keep the county’s general fund in the black. The public safety fund would support the major activities of the sheriff’s office and those costs would be removed from the general fund.

At least one commissioner wanted the public safety fund to begin during the coming budget year. But the consensus and final vote suggested a desire to spend more time preparing for the change in how funding for the sheriff’s office might change in the future.

A county Public Safety Fund, under the Montana Code Annotated (7-6-2513), allows the board of commissioners to fix a separate property tax levy for the purpose of funding the major part of the sheriff’s function. Those funds would be separate and apart from the general funds of the county. Such a fund must be used to support county law enforcement services. In essence, creation of the fund for the 2017-2018 budget year will create a separate budget approved by the commissioners and administered by the sheriff’s office.

The practical aspects of a Public Safety Fund

Responding to a request for more information from Commission Chairman Frank DePriest, Harold Blattie, Executive Director of the Montana Associations of Counties, wrote, “A county public safety fund gives the sheriff both more responsibility and autonomy while providing insulation from the sheriff’s department from consuming more and more of the general fund…Money received from the tax (levy) must be placed in a special account to be used for the purposes of public safety” as defined by state law (MCA 7-6-2513).

Commissioner Dolores Plumage, who favored immediate creation of the fund, noted that around 36 of Montana’s 56 counties have approved and are using a public safety fund. Chairman DePriest said about 85-90% of the county’s current general fund is budgeted to support the sheriff’s office. DePriest added, “Creating a separate public safety fund would mean the commissioners and the sheriff would work out a budget and the sheriff would administer it.” Per state law, commissioners can only vote to create a public safety fund when a new budget is being created. Commissioners are building the 2016-2017 budget now so a decision had to be made about the fund at this time.

Sheriff Huestis, in May of this year, provided the commissioners with a list of some 20+ questions and issues he had regarding the possible adoption of the public safety fund. He noted, “My term ends December, 2018. I want to insure the Sheriff’s Office survives beyond that date.”

Some participants at the hearing asked Sheriff Huestis if he is opposed to the idea of a public safety fund. He responded, “I’m not opposed to such a fund. I just want to make sure the fund is based on what is needed to provide the public safety services required by law and needed in the county.” Sheriff Huestis added, “If a public safety fund is created, I would not be writing the checks. The process of spending from the budget would still go through regular county channels. I would still report to the commissioners on matters of the budget.”

Call for the vote to create a

Public Safety Fund in Blaine County

Before any motions were made or votes taken regarding the creation of a new public safety fund, Chairman DePriest said, “We will be voting whether to create a public safety fund, not what the specific amounts should be within the fund. The budget amount will be a decision involving both the sheriff’s office and the commissioners.” DePriest added, “Sheriff Huestis has shared a list of concerns he has if a public safety fund is created. Those are all items that we will have to address and work through if a public safety fund is created.”

After determining there were no more questions or comments from the participants at the hearing, Commissioner Plumage motioned to create a public safety fund beginning with fiscal year 2016-2017. Commissioner Kulbeck seconded the motion. On the vote, commissioners voted as follows: Plumage, ‘aye;’ Kulbeck, ‘no;’ and DePriest, ‘no.’ The motion failed.

Commissioner Plumage then motioned to create a public safety fund beginning with fiscal year 2017-2018. After Commissioner Kulbeck seconded the motion, the vote was: Plumage, ‘aye;’ Kulbeck, ‘no;’ and DePriest, ‘yes.’ The motion to create a special fund, separate from the general fund, will begin with the budget year beginning in July, 2017.

The delay to begin the fund until a year from now gives everyone involved time to learn more about how the fund will work and to prepare for a new way of budgeting a major part of the sheriff’s function. It was perhaps the perfect political solution, no one was totally happy with the outcome and timing, but a decision was made and everyone is preparing to move forward toward a common goal. .