Billings firefighters advocate for public safety amendments during legislative meeting

The Billings City Council held a work session on May 5, 2025, where key discussions focused on public safety and budgetary constraints affecting local emergency services.

The meeting began with a presentation from a firefighter who highlighted the challenges faced during legislative discussions regarding public safety funding. He emphasized the importance of amendments made to a bill that would impact the city’s firefighters, noting that the city of Billings was not initially included in the legislative discussions. The firefighter expressed concern for the potential jeopardy to public safety, advocating for the need to secure adequate resources for the city’s fire department. He mentioned that after 45 days of effort, they were able to secure amendments that would provide the city with options to maintain safety standards.

Following this, Jeff Chartier, president of the Billings Police Officers Labor, addressed the council. With nearly 31 years of experience in law enforcement, he spoke on behalf of younger officers who are now filling roles left by retiring veterans. Chartier pointed out the critical decisions the council faces regarding budget allocations, stressing that the available funds are limited and must be carefully managed to ensure adequate staffing and resources for the police department.

The discussions underscored the ongoing challenges in balancing public safety needs with financial limitations, as both the fire and police departments seek to maintain effective operations in the face of budget cuts. The council is expected to deliberate on these issues further, with the implications of their decisions likely to affect community safety and service levels in Billings.