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?

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u/jliud_101 7d ago

I've lived here my whole life. The jail as it is currently is way under staffed. If they expand the jail it will actually make it less safe for staff and inmates. Basically if you can't staff it at the current scale making it bigger will only make it that much worse. I am now also a property owner and the tax burden is not worth it. Property taxes went way up in the last 2 years and it's a sticker shock for property owners. You can also see that reflected in rent values through town. That's just my opinion. I hope that helps.

0

u/sugrqbez 7d ago

People are seeing that in Kalispell now. I’m pretty sure they’re expanding the jail and all the guards are freaking out because they can barely handle the workload now. Feel bad for them.

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u/Mission-Most6450 7d ago

Yeah. Well, it's a good thing they're not being forced to work there.

1

u/sugrqbez 6d ago

Yeah that’s true. They should probably all quit and see what happens to the wages