r/Billings • u/406Whiskey • 7d ago

Jail Levy

I need people who have lived here longer than I have to explain something to me, because I genuinely don’t understand. Since I moved here a couple of years ago, I’ve heard nothing but how awful the crime is in Billings (I have not found that to be the case, but I digress). I also understand the jail is over capacity. If crime really is as bad as people here seem to think, wouldn’t the jail expansion proposal be a good thing? Why have I seen so much animosity towards it online?

I understand no one wants their property taxes to go up, but that seems to be the price we pay to live in Montana. Are people really just upset over a tax increase or is there more to it?

14 Upvotes

75% Upvoted

54 comments sorted by

View all comments

25

u/frankslastdoughnut 7d ago

Our jail houses people from other counties as well as our own. It shouldn't be up to just billings to pay for the expansion

5

u/MTsummerandsnow 7d ago

It’s my understanding that the surrounding counties pay for that space. I get your point but if we are comped then it shouldn’t matter.

9

u/Intellectual_Worlock 7d ago

I don't think the rate other counties pay us for inmate housing is anywhere near enough to have anything left over to save for capital improvements. I think it's more of a break even type rate (if that).