Yellowstone County voters in Billings will go to the polls Tuesday to approve two linked measures that would fund a major expansion of the county detention facility. The ballot includes a $175 million bond to add 332 beds and modernize the jail, and an operational mill levy that could raise up to $20 million each year to cover staffing and day‑to‑day costs.
Why officials say the expansion is needed
Former Billings City Council member Jennifer Owen, who leads the citizen group Safe and Secure Yellowstone County, argues that the county’s jail has been operating well above its rated capacity of 434 inmates. She notes that years of studying alternatives to incarceration have not eliminated the need for additional space.
“We spent two and a half years studying every way possible to reduce the jail population without asking for more taxpayer resources,” Owen said. “We implemented reforms, and there’s work still to do.”
According to local analysis backed by national experts, the expansion would allow the facility to better classify and separate inmates, provide dedicated mental‑health and medical beds, and improve safety for correctional officers. Owen describes the bond as “the next critical step in making a comprehensive strategy work,” not a silver bullet.
Financial impact on homeowners
The combined cost of the bond and levy would translate to roughly $164 per year for a home with a taxable value of $300,000. Owen acknowledges the expense but argues it is a prudent investment in public safety, especially given rising domestic‑violence cases and other violent crimes that demand secure detention capacity.
Opposition and alternative proposals
Critics question whether expanding incarceration is the best use of taxpayer dollars. Retired public‑policy analyst Jack Hanson, speaking to MTN, suggests that treating mental‑health and substance‑use disorders in therapeutic settings could be more cost‑effective than housing those individuals in jail.
“We all know that it’s cheaper to address mental health issues or substance use issues in a therapeutic setting rather than an incarceration setting,” Hanson said.
Opponents also warn that the county should have pursued more thorough alternatives before committing to a $175 million construction project.
Potential legal and fiscal consequences
Owen cautions that rejecting the measures could expose the county to lawsuits over overcrowding, which could cost millions and potentially force the release of inmates to meet legal limits.
“The people who are in there need to be in there. There are people who are not in there that need to be in there. So the alternative to expanding the actual physical infrastructure, there simply isn’t one,” she said.
What voters need to know
Both the bond and the levy must pass for the expansion plan to move forward. The measures will appear on the ballot as separate items, and voters can choose to approve one, both, or neither.
Polling locations will be open until 8 p.m. on Tuesday. Residents are encouraged to review the details of each measure and consider the impact on public safety, local budgets and community well‑being.
Original reporting: KTVQ Q2 Billings (local) — read the source article.
