Sheriff's Department Mill Levy Renewal Coming Into View
Author: mt43news staff reporter
Sheriff's Department Mill Levy Renewal Coming into View
MT43 News Staff Reporter
Broadwater County Sheriff Nick Rauser has set public meetings to review the department’s budget as financed by a county mill levy to come up for a vote in May 2025.
Rauser said in an interview he feels his department has accomplished a great deal with the 39.3 mill levy that county voters passed in June of 2020. Because his department is now operating smoothly, he feels he probably can lower the proposal amount for the mill levy. The thought behind lowering the mill levy amount slightly is to “Show good faith to voters that we have done a good job using the funds they gave us,” he explained.
Rauser said he will give a rundown on his promises to the community regarding safety and service from his team. In turn, he would like to hear from residents if they have felt the effects of the department’s changes, and what they would like to see added or changed in the next five years for the department.
In the three meetings to be held in Winston, Townsend and near Three Forks beginning at the end of January, he will outline the accomplishments of the goals he set in 2020, including hiring more deputies to cover South Broadwater, Winston and the East Side of the Lake. His department has been able to raise wages to attract and retain deputies. “Rather than hire and train people at lower wages, then have them leave to a higher paying job, these new wage levels have helped us retain good people much better,” he said.
Rauser has hired two new reserve deputies who are presently in training positions. He did so by receiving a Community Oriented Policing Services grant from the US Department of Justice so the positions are fully funded. He has a position open since Undersheriff Brandon Harris retired and now has several applications to fill that position, four of whom live in Broadwater County.
The department has replaced two vehicles with newer models well equipped with police packages. “Our equipment is now in good shape, safe for our officers. I can cut back a bit on the amount of the levy and still be able to keep up the level of service we now offer. We have made such strides in our service. I don’t want to see that go away,” he said.
Rauser is especially proud of hiring a School Resource Officer for Townsend Schools. That permanent position, currently held by Tony Cordova, has reached out to students who need support and connection to an available and constantly present adult they can talk to.
Rauser encouraged citizens to attend one of the meetings beginning Jan. 22 at the Winston Fire Hall, January 28 at the School and Community Room in Townsend, and January 30 at Headwaters Livestock Auction building near Three Forks. All meetings will begin at 6:00 pm. See Sheriff Rauser’s announcement in this paper (page 3). For more information, please contact him at the Sheriff’s Department or check out the department’s website.
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PhotoCredit: Nancy Marks, MT43 News Photographer
Image 1 Caption: Sheriff Nick Rauser at his desk, January 8.
Nancy Marks, MT43 News Photographer
