In November Montana Governor Steve Bullock called a special session of the state legislature to resolve a $227 million budget shortfall. Part of the decision to deal with the budget crisis included closing offices and combining some functions into regional locations and implementing more computer-based reporting, especially for personal property (business equipment).

The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) took a $49 million reduction in funding. Prior to the special session that amount was $100 million. The final amount was reduced when Governor Bullock and the Legislature came to an agreement to balance the budget using a "combination of cuts, transfers and other legislation."

Office of Public Assistance (OPA) closed in early December in Chinook

One result was to close 19 Public Assistance Offices around the state just a few days after the governor signed several pieces of legislation that came out of the special session. The closures affected half the Public Assistance Offices in the state.

In Blaine County the Office of Public Assistance, formerly located at 500 Illinois Street, was closed effective December 6. Chuck Council, a Communications Specialist for Montana DPHHS in Helena, wrote that the average monthly walk-ins for the office was 56 and individuals receiving assistance included: 1220 for SNAP (Food Stamps); 14 for TANF (Welfare) Cash and 2488 receiving Medicaid. These clients will now have to go to Havre for face-to-face service, use a computer to deal with issues or call to Helena on the help line.

Assistance offices in Liberty, Chouteau and Blaine County are now combined and located with Hill County. The Havre office is located in the Ryan Building at 48 Second Avenue, Suite 200. According to Council with DPHHS, "The office (Chinook) is staffed with two employees. ...all employees have been offered the chance to transfer to another OPA (Office of Public Assistance). We are still working through the process at this time." Callers to the Havre office now receive a message that phone calls are no longer being taken in Havre and that inquiries should be made through the Public Assistance Helpline.

DPHHS is offering several ways for individuals to apply for benefits including going online to apply.mt.gov (with a tutorial website at https://www.youtube.com/user/MontanaDPHHS). Or, individuals can call the Public Assistance Helpline at 1-888-706-1535.

A current client who was served by the Chinook OPA said, "When I get papers from the Office of Public Assistance that I don't understand, I go to the Chinook office for help. The people here in Chinook have a lot of experience with DPHHS policy and were very helpful. Now to get face-to-face assistance I'll have to get to Havre." The client said the Public Assistance Helpline was also helpful but added, "I don't own a computer, have access to one or know how to use a computer. I wish they could have left the office alone."

The Property Assessment Division office in Blaine County will close April 30, 2018

Montana's Department of Revenue closed six Property Assessment Offices before the end of December. The offices, several on or near the Hi-Line, were housed in their respective counties. In an earlier news story Mike Kadas, Director of the Department of Revenue, said the six initial closures and others already announced, were necessary to meet the budget reductions that came out of the recent special legislative session.

He noted, "We must make better use of telephonic and digital communication systems and more closely align our workforce with where the work is."

Blaine County's Property Assessment office is slated to close April 30, 2018. Currently located in the courthouse, plans call for the staff to join the Hill County assessment office. Jami Boettcher, Property Valuation Specialist in the Chinook office, said taxpayers needing information can call the Department of Revenue office in Hill County once the move is made.

Ed Caplis, Director of Tax Policy and Research with the MT Department of Revenue, said by phone, "The electronic upgrades will be coming out in January. The intent is to have personal property records on line for each taxpayer. Taxpayer's will be able to go to the department's website, open their account and indicate which personal property is still in use. It will be simpler than the prior method of completing a report and mailing it to Helena."

Boettcher, in the Blaine County office, shared an example letter that will soon be going to taxpayers to help them report their personal property using the new electronic system. There is a number to call (406-444-6900) or a website (DORCustomerAssistance@mt.gov) for help with the new reporting system. The reporting deadline for personal property using the new system is March 1, 2018.

Asked about additional assessment offices in counties that might be closing, Caplis said, "We'll have to look at our budget after the end of this year and see where we are, then determine if more county office closures will be necessary." Division managers will be meeting with employees in January to discuss options regarding the closures.

The effects of the state budget shortfalls were already felt by county governments as they prepared budgets earlier this year. Whether or not this round of closures of state offices will be sufficient to deal with the shortfalls in the state budget remains to be seen.