The proposed changes include relocating a 12-bed facility for people with developmental disabilities, ramping up renovations at the Montana State Hospital in Warm Springs and establishing a psychiatric unit in Helena.
Supporters of the plan argue these projects will fill service gaps, offering better support to individuals as they transition out of secure, state-run settings and back into their communities.
The Montana Legislature allocated $300 million to improve state services in 2023, and Mr. Gianforte’s proposed budget for the next two years includes about $100 million in funding for 10 recommendations from a commission tasked with providing feedback on how to spend the money.
Of that amount, up to $32.5 million could be earmarked for building new infrastructure or renovating existing facilities as part of efforts to modernize the system. This could include a proposed 16-bed facility for patients no longer in need of intensive care at the Montana State Hospital and a $19.2 million investment to upgrade the infrastructure of the hospital — aiming to regain federal certification that was lost in 2022 due to staffing issues and decertification.