Reflections On A No Vote- Sheriff Nick Rauser
 | Author:
Broadwater County Sheriff Nick Rauser
Nancy Marks: MT43 News Secretary and News Editor |
Reflections on a No Vote
Nick Rauser
Broadwater County Sheriff
As I sit here reflecting on the outcome of the recent mill levy vote, I feel it's important to share with the public what this decision truly means.
First, to those who supported the levy—thank you. Your vote was a vote for continued public safety services, and your support is deeply appreciated.
To those who voted against the levy—or chose not to participate—I want to be transparent about the real and immediate impacts of that decision. With the expiration of the previous levy, our office has lost over one-third of its funding. That is not a small reduction; it is a fundamental shift in what we are able to provide.
We are now facing a loss of more than one-third of our total budget—amounting to $1.2 million. This is not just a number. It represents people, programs, and services that will no longer be available to our community.
Effective immediately, we are losing key positions:
• The School Resource Officer is transitioning out of the school. For those who know me, you understand how difficult this loss is personally and professionally. The SRO played a critical role in protecting our students and building trust with our youth. Unfortunately, this decision reflects a broader reality: by voting down this levy, the Townsend area has directly impacted the safety and well-being of its own children. Losing the SRO is not just a staffing issue—it's a step back in school safety and prevention.
• The South End Deputy Position has been cut entirely. This is especially concerning given that the South End of Broadwater County has consistently voted against public safety funding. While every voter has the right to make their own decision, I must point out that opposing these levies directly impacts the very services intended to protect your homes, families, and property. Voting against funding while expecting full service is simply not realistic.
• A Deputy is retiring soon, and that position will be unfulfilled.
• Our full-time Detective will now be required to work patrol shifts, taking valuable time away from ongoing investigations and victim support.
• Due to current staffing demands at the jail, some deputies will be reassigned to assist with facility coverage. To offset a portion of the resulting revenue loss, we will need to increase the number of inmates we house. However, this rise in the inmate population presents several operational challenges. To maintain safety and security within the facility, additional staff will be required. Deputies who are Detention Certified will be assigned to cover jail shifts. This shift in personnel, combined with a higher inmate population, will lead to increased operating costs, including medical care, insurance, and other essential services.
We are making these difficult decisions in an effort to retain the deputies we currently have for as long as possible. We’ve made significant investments in their training and equipment and losing them would be a major setback. If we lose these deputies, we may never be able to get them back, and replacing their experience and expertise would take years, if it’s even possible. Our goal is to preserve our current workforce and maintain essential services until the proposed levy vote in June 2026, which, if passed, could provide the financial relief we urgently need to get the services we had to cut back.
Unfortunately, these adjustments come at a time when our resources are already under severe strain. As a result, we will be making substantial cuts to our operations budget. Some services will be scaled back, and in certain cases, members of the public may only be able to speak with a deputy by phone rather than in person.
Yes, with the expiration of the previous mill levy, property taxes will decrease. However, that reduced funding means fewer services. It’s a simple equation: less funding equals less public safety coverage. And make no mistake, this is not a long-term sustainable solution. We cannot continue to stretch dwindling resources without compromising public safety.
I’ve heard from some who were confused by the ballot language or concerned about the permanent nature of the levy. To that, I say: please get informed. Attend meetings. Call and ask questions. We cannot build and maintain a professional, consistent public safety team on temporary funding.
I’ll be honest, I’m frustrated. This vote was, in effect, a vote to defund law enforcement in Broadwater County. Experience shows how that story usually ends, and it doesn’t end well.
I remain committed to doing everything within my power to protect this community with the resources we now have. But let’s be clear: these are the services the public has chosen. For those who didn’t vote, your absence was felt.
Now is the time for our community to come together—not pull further apart. I’m asking every resident of Broadwater County to start getting informed. Attend public meetings. Ask questions. Have conversations with your neighbors. Understand what’s truly at stake—not just for you, but for those around you.
We must begin caring more deeply for one another—not just in words, but in action. Public safety is not a luxury; it’s a shared responsibility. Our children deserve better. They deserve safe schools, a trusted presence in their lives, and a community that puts their well-being first.
Please don’t wait until tragedy strikes or services disappear entirely. Get involved now. Speak up now. Vote with your community and your conscience in mind. We will run this Levy one more time in June of 2026; the future of Broadwater County depends on all of us—together.
Let me leave you with this quote by Edmund Burke:
“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”
Thank you,
Sheriff Nick Rauser
