VIDEO: Billings city staff outlined their wish list for a likely public safety levy during a Monday night City Council work session at the Senior Center.
Billings police and fire chiefs, and a representative from the Yellowstone County 911 dispatch center, met to take in 47 PowerPoint slides prepared by city staff. The slides contained a wealth of information about first responder data, prosecutor case loads and comparisons to cities of a similar size to Billings.
The city is staring down a $5.4 million dollar shortfall in its public safety and general funds in 2020.
The meeting was held to determine the scope of what public safety should look like in Billings in the future.
“What are our immediate needs today? What do we anticipate over the next five years," Billings City Administrator Chris Kukulski said. "And what do you anticipate our needs to be over the next 10 years?”