Frequently Asked Questions

The Yellowstone County Detention Facility was built with a rated capacity of 434 inmates. On a typical day, the facility now houses more than 600 people. The proposed expansion would add 332 beds, update the existing building, and provide shelled space for the future.

The facility is currently rated for 434 inmates. The current daily population averages more than 600. To house this population, non-housing spaces including attorney meeting rooms have been converted into temporary inmate holding areas.

A county jail primarily holds individuals who have been arrested and are awaiting trial or sentencing. People held in a county jail are legally presumed innocent until proven guilty. A state prison holds people who have been convicted and are serving sentences.

State prisons and pre-release centers serve different functions than a county jail. Pre-release centers hold individuals who have been convicted and are transitioning back into the community after serving a sentence. A county jail holds people awaiting trial or sentencing. Under Montana law, the cost of operating and updating a county jail is the responsibility of county taxpayers.

The proposed project cost is $175 million for 332 beds, broken down as follows:

The project would be funded through two voter-approved measures on the November 3, 2026 ballot:

• A general obligation bond to pay for construction
• An operations levy to pay for staffing and ongoing operations

The Construction Bond will remain in place for 20 years. The Operations Levy will be used for all County Public Safety and is perpetual. .

The estimated annual property tax impact, based on 2025 valuations and an estimated mill rate of 78.02, is:

The exact interest rate will not be known until the bond is sold. If voters approve the measure, the rate will be set at that time and remain fixed for the full 20-year term.

Each property's share of the bond and levy is based on the property's taxable value compared with all other taxable property in Yellowstone County. As new homes and businesses are added to the tax base, each property's share can decrease over time.

If your property's assessed value rises faster than the county average, your share of the bond and levy increases proportionally. If it rises slower, your share decreases. Property values in Montana are set by the Montana Department of Revenue, not Yellowstone County.

No. The bond levy is dedicated to the detention facility expansion. The Operations Levy will be used for all county public safety needs. City services such as municipal police, fire and EMS services are funded by the city, not the county, and will not be affected in any way by these levies.

The bond pays for construction only. The operations levy is the funding source for staffing the expanded facility and current operations from a shortfall of a dedicated public safety levy. Salaries and benefits for current correctional staff are paid from the County's existing operating budget. Expanded services due to facility expansion will be covered under the operating levy.

The project combines new construction with renovation of the existing facility. It includes:

• 332 new beds added to the existing facility
• Direct-supervision housing design
• Dedicated medical housing
• Dedicated mental health housing
• Modernized booking and intake areas
• Improved transport and sally port facilities
• Program space for substance abuse, mental health, life skills, and education
• Renovations to address deferred maintenance in the existing building
• Energy-efficient mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems

Dedicated beds allow individuals with significant medical or mental health needs to be housed separately from the general population. This separation provides safer conditions for those individuals, reduces strain on general-population housing, and allows medical and behavioral health staff to deliver care in a designated space.

The proposed design is modular, meaning additional housing or support units could be added in the future without disrupting daily operations. The Master Plan projects detention needs through approximately 2049.

The proposed design includes multi-use program space for life skills, parenting classes, substance abuse and mental health counseling, job readiness training, education, and faith-based programs. The current facility does not have dedicated program space.

The proposed design includes updated control rooms, direct sightlines into housing areas, separate corridors for staff movement, and modernized transport and sally port facilities. The expansion allows for appropriate classification and separation of detainees which improves safety for correctional staff.

If approved by voters in November 2026, construction is expected to take approximately three years. The project will be phased so the existing facility continues to operate during construction.

If voters approve the measure on November 3, 2026, final design and bidding would follow.

Construction contracts will be awarded through competitive public bidding under Montana law. The County intends to provide opportunities for qualified local contractors, suppliers, and workers wherever possible.

The project will be managed through competitive public bidding, fixed-price contracts, and standard cost-control practices. The bond amount approved by voters is a legal ceiling — the County cannot spend more without a separate public vote.

The facility will remain operational throughout construction. The Sheriff's Office and the construction team will coordinate phasing to minimize disruption to housing, intake, and transport operations.

By Montana law, voter-approved bond funds can only be used for the project authorized on the ballot. Spending is subject to:

• Competitive public bidding for all construction contracts
• Open meetings of the Board of County Commissioners
• Annual independent financial audits
• Public records access to all bond-related financial information

No. The voter-approved amount is a legal ceiling. The County cannot spend more than what voters authorize without a separate public vote.

No. Under Montana law, voter-approved bond proceeds can only be used for the specific project described on the ballot — in this case, the design, construction, and renovation of the Yellowstone County Detention Facility.

The Board of County Commissioners has final approval authority for major contracts. Construction is overseen by the project's design and construction management team in coordination with the Sheriff's Office. Independent auditors review bond-related spending annually. All Commission meetings and contract approvals are open to the public.

Yes. All bond-funded contracts are awarded in open public meetings. Annual independent audits are required. All bond-related financial information is public record. Any change to the project's scope or budget beyond what voters approved would require a separate public vote.

No. The bond levy is dedicated to the detention facility expansion. The Operations Levy will be used for all county public safety needs. Other county services are funded from separate sources and would not be affected.

The Master Plan evaluated renovation-only options. It concluded that the existing facility cannot be safely or efficiently expanded within its current footprint and infrastructure to meet projected demand through 2049. The current facility has approximately $9.5 million in identified deferred maintenance. The proposed project combines renovation of the existing building with new construction.

Construction costs typically rise with inflation in materials and labor. The current facility also requires ongoing maintenance and repair spending each year. Whether delay would result in net savings or net costs depends on future construction-cost trends and future maintenance needs.

Once the bond is sold, the interest rate is fixed for the full 20-year term. It does not change year to year.

The County's facilities team performs ongoing maintenance and repairs. A Facility Condition Assessment completed as part of the 2025 Master Plan identified approximately $9.5 million in deferred maintenance needs. The age of the building (nearly 40 years) and the population it now holds (well above its rated capacity) place ongoing operational stress on its mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems.

Housing inmates is an operating expense for Yellowstone County, not a source of revenue that increases with the number of people housed. The majority of individuals at the Detention Facility are the County’s responsibility, and the County pays the associated costs through its budget. The facility also houses a smaller number of federal and state inmates under contract, with payments set to cover the cost of detention rather than generate a profit.

The Detention Facility’s operating budget covers expenses such as staff salaries, inmate meals, medical and mental-health care, utilities, and maintenance. The facility is rated for 434 beds and has regularly housed more than 650 people. Operating above rated capacity can affect staffing needs, services, and other day-to-day operating expenses.

Information about the facility’s operations, current conditions, and proposed renovation and expansion project is available at ycjailexpansion.com.

The public safety levy referenced in this question is a City of Billings levy, not a Yellowstone County levy. The City and County are separate governments, each with its own budget, taxing authority, and funding responsibilities.

The Yellowstone County Detention Facility is a County facility, and its operation is a County responsibility. Revenue from the City’s public safety levy is designated for the City services funded by that levy and is not generally available for County projects.

The proposed detention facility renovation and expansion is a County project. Information about the proposed project, its funding structure, and the respective roles of the bond and operations levy is available throughout this website.

The City of Billings and Yellowstone County are separate governments, each with its own budget, taxing authority, and elected officials. They work together within the criminal justice system, but their financial responsibilities are distinct.

The Yellowstone County Detention Facility is a County facility. The County is responsible for its operation and for funding the proposed renovation and expansion project.

The City does pay the County for certain individuals held at the Detention Facility. Under Montana Code Annotated § 7-32-2242, an arresting agency that does not operate the jail generally pays the actual cost of confinement when an individual is held for a violation of that agency’s ordinance, unless another agreement applies. The statute also addresses circumstances in which the County is responsible for those costs.

These payments relate to the cost of detaining specific individuals; they are separate from funding for the facility itself or the proposed renovation and expansion.

Yellowstone County houses some inmates on behalf of the federal government and the State of Montana, and both pay the County for their confinement.

Federal inmates: The reimbursement rate is established through a contract with the federal agency. Under Montana law, the costs of holding federal inmates are generally paid by the federal agency unless the parties agree otherwise. The rate is negotiated through the contract.

State inmates: Montana law establishes the reimbursement rate for state inmates. The statute referenced by the County defines the “actual costs” of holding a person in a detention center as $85.30 per day. The State is responsible for these costs once an inmate has been sentenced. Because the rate is established by state law, counties do not individually negotiate a higher rate.

These reimbursement payments help cover the costs associated with housing eligible inmates. The amount received and the actual cost of confinement may differ depending on the applicable rate and the costs incurred.

Yellowstone County has longstanding agreements with Stillwater and Carbon counties to house a limited number of their inmates at the Yellowstone County Detention Facility. Under these agreements, the two counties pay the full daily rate for the beds they use, up to a combined maximum of 10 beds.

These agreements support regional cooperation among counties and provide reimbursement for the cost of housing those inmates. The number of beds available under the agreements is capped at 10.

Most individuals housed at the Yellowstone County Detention Facility are held in connection with cases originating in Yellowstone County. However, individuals housed under agreements with Stillwater and Carbon counties may have cases originating in those counties.