Proposed CCSO Contract | Town of Cascade, MT

Update on the Proposed CCSO Contract

On August 26, the Town of Cascade met with Cascade County Sheriff Jesse Slaughter and Cascade County Attorney Josh Racki. Mayor Wes Seabolt, Council President Kristin Riley, Town Clerk Sue Violette, and Attorney Antonia Marra.

The first question asked at our meeting was from the Town’s attorney (Toni Marra): “What is the Town getting above and beyond what the rest of the county gets for the FFY 2025-2026 for the $93k?” There was no answer from the Sheriff or County Attorney.
Sheriff Slaughter asked Mayor Seabolt if he was expecting 20 hours of actual patrol for the Town a week. He stated yes, we want 20 hours of patrol per week in the Town of Cascade. * Sheriff Slaughter stated that we would have to pay for 60 hours to get 20 hours of patrol time. That is 40 hours above what we are currently paying. That would equate to $279,000.
Sheriff Slaughter stated they are willing to do a few local ordinances (ones that align with the county ordinances). Mayor Seabolt asked if that was safety ordinances. Sheriff Slaughter stated no; safety ordinances are civil not criminal.
Sheriff Slaughter stated he would take out of the contract the Town’s fiscal responsibility for law enforcement at the County Rodeo (Cascade Rodeo) and for the Street Dance, since they are private events.
Clerk Violette asked about the 911 quarters that you are asking for an additional appx $7500. The Town residents pay that directly out of their phone bills to the phone carrier, and the state of Montana receives it and sends it directly to the Great Falls Dispatch Center. Sheriff Slaughter stated he thought it may be a pass-through. We informed him it was not. It was an additional charge. Sheriff Slaughter did respond with an email stating they collect additional funds to help pay for the large county dispatch bill, putting some in reserves.
It was also mentioned on Attachment A (CCSO financial budget) that we are being charged for a share of the county’s animal cases.
Sheriff Slaughter did state that if we chose to have our own Police Department, there would still be a SRO provided by the county at the school.
It was discovered that the CCSO had a new contract that we had never seen prior to the meeting. It did delete the CCAO $3,000.

Sheriff Slaughter stated that he would back a Cascade Police Department 110%, and it would actually save the county money if Cascade does start their own Police Department.

SHERIFF’S COST

Cost for FFY 25 – 26 $93,000
Cascade County Attorney’s Office $ 3,000 taken out of new contract
Justice of The Peace $62,000
Town Ordinance Officer $85,000 required by MCA
Law Enforcement at Cascade Rodeo and Street Dance $ 4,000
Cost of FFY 26-27 Has not been determined yet – changes yearly until 2030.

Yearly Cost (2025-2026) $244,000

CASCADE POLICE DEPARTMENT COST YEARLY

Police Chief – fully benefited $130,000
Dispatch/CAD/RMS/ radios/ body cams $ 20,000
Vehicle/Gas $ 5,000
Insurance/WC $ 5,000
Supplies $ 2,500
Office Supplies $ 1,000
Training $ 5,000
Capital Fund – vehicle replacement $ 5,000

Yearly Cost $ 173,500