Public Safety

Levy Facts

It’s been more than 50 years since Great Falls voters have passed public safety funding – resulting in a bond that constructed our current four fire stations. Since then (1969), the footprint of our city has grown by 44% and the strain on our public safety system continues to increase. In an effort to preserve tax increases, a public safety levy to increase funding for additional personnel, fundamental resources and equipment, and training has never been passed. But after 50 years, our public safety departments (police, fire, legal, and court) are beginning to see the effects. And so is our community.

Great Falls in 1969: 18 square miles
Great Falls in 2023: 26 square miles

The Great Falls Public Safety Levy will provide funding to keep the city’s public safety resources running adequately to service our growth.

Fire & Emergency Medical calls have increased by 700% since 1969

Due to the strain on our emergency response system, responders can only adequately address one major incident at a time which leads to longer response times for fire and medical emergencies.

Funding from the Public Safety Levy will address the lack of coverage and allow for quicker response times for the safety of our citizens and community.

Assaults on GFPD police officers have increased 133% since 2018.

Police officers are currently seeing an increase in violent crime and persons resisting arrest.

The Great Falls Public Safety Levy will allow for additional officers and the purchase of necessary equipment for community and officer safety.

Single-family structure fires require a total effective response force of 16 members. Great Falls Fire Rescue currently staffs a response force of 13 members.

50% of the time, more than one fire and medical emergency occurs simultaneously which is impacting the ability of our firefighters to address incidents safely and adequately.

Funding from the Public Safety Levy will allow for additional staff and resources to respond to emergencies.

9 hours a day – reactive
1 hour a day – proactive.

Currently 90% of a police officer’s time is spent responding to active calls and only 10% proactively patrolling.

The Public Safety Levy will allow additional officers and more active patrolling.

41% of the City of Great Falls is outside of GFFR’s 4 minute fire response coverage. The national standard requires a 4 minute travel time to 90% of all incidents for effective, efficient and safe protective services

Funding from the Great Falls Public Safety Levy will address the lack of coverage and allow for quicker response times.

4 School Resource Officers for over 11,000 students and staff

There are currently only 4 school resource officers for over 11,000 students and staff at 21 Great Falls Public Schools. SROs play an important role in mentoring youth and proactively deterring crime and conflict at our schools.

The Great Falls Public Safety Levy will allow hiring of two additional SROs to help protect our schools, students, and teachers.

Why do we need a Public Safety Levy?

Due to the growth of our city, the natural increase in inflation, and limits on tax revenue funding that are accessible by law, a public safety levy is the only option to provide funding. The Great Falls Public Safety Levy will cost approximately $280.11 a year for a home with an assessed market value for tax purposes of $200,000 if milled to the maximum. The mills will provide important funding to allow fire, police, court, and legal services to adequately address the current and growing public safety needs in Great Falls.

How will the Levy impact our Public Safety?

What resources will the levy fund?

24 sworn police officers, including 2 SROs, along with equipment and training, to address rising crime

2 additional 911 dispatchers to enhance resources for emergencies

32 firefighters, safety equipment, and training to increase coverage and response times

8 new court and legal positions and software to improve the efficiencies of our overloaded court and legal system

New equipment and resources to keep our first responders efficient, effective, and safe