Town Hall · Helena

Helena, MT town hall & government

Helena spent $70.6 million in the year to June 30, 2024, about $2,085 per resident.

Where the money goes, where it comes from, property taxes, and how to reach Helena's government.

Local leadership

Who runs Helena

Wilmot CollinsMayorSince 2018 Wikidata ↗ Out of date? Sign in to tell us

From public records (Open States and Wikidata), which can lag behind an election. If a name is out of date, tell us: when two neighbors agree, it's hidden until the records catch up.

Town budget

Where Helena's money goes

Spent
$70.6 million
fiscal year to June 30, 2024
Per resident
$2,085
typical Montana cities: $2,059
Long-term debt
$20.6 million
$608 per resident
Roads & transportation
$12.6 million18%
Sewer & trash
$10.9 million15%
Police
$10.8 million15%
Water & other utilities
$10.1 million14%
Fire
$6.8 million10%
Parks & libraries
$6.6 million9%
Administration & buildings
$6.2 million9%
Courts, inspections & corrections
$2 million3%
Interest on debt
$507,0001%
Health & welfare
$155,000<1%
Housing & development
$134,000<1%
Other
$3.8 million5%

Where the money comes from

  • Fees & charges 32%
  • Property taxes 22%
  • Interest, fines & other 18%
  • Utility sales 13%
  • From the state 12%
  • From the federal government 2%
  • Other taxes & licenses 1%
  • From other local governments <1%
Town workforce

Who works for Helena

Full-time staff
346
no part-time staff
Average full-time pay
$78,900
a year, before benefits
Sworn police officers
53
and 38 full-time firefighters
Police
76 full-time
Sewer & trash
54 full-time
Fire
41 full-time
Roads & transportation
41 full-time
Parks & libraries
28 full-time
Water & other utilities
25 full-time
Administration & buildings
22 full-time
Housing & development
17 full-time
Courts, inspections & corrections
15 full-time
Health & welfare
2 full-time
Other
25 full-time

Staff on the town's payroll in March 2025. Pay is March payroll times twelve, so it's approximate.

Schools · school year 2023–24

Helena High School District

Helena's high school district. It is its own government, with a budget separate from the town's.

Spending per pupil
$13,476
Montana: $13,570
Students
2,454
in the whole district
Long-term debt
None
at year end

Where the district's money comes from Montana districts overall: 44% local, 39% state, 17% federal

  • Local 51%
  • State 44%
  • Federal 5%

Of the $13,476 per pupil, $8,993 goes to classroom instruction (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to support services such as buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren't in the per-pupil figure.

Also serving Helena: Helena Elementary School District ($13,260 per pupil) · East Helena K-12 ($10,159 per pupil).

Property tax

What homeowners in Helena pay

Typical tax bill
$3,552
a year · Montana typical $2,693
Effective rate
0.92%
of home value · Montana 0.72%
Typical home value
$387,300
owner-occupied

The median yearly bill homeowners report, covering every local property tax on the home (town, schools, county). The effective rate is that bill divided by the median home value, so it's a rough guide, not the official tax rate.

Local

Contact Helena's government

🏛️ Official websitehelenamt.gov ↗

Town hall & decisions in Helena →

Beyond town hall

Who represents Helena

Helena is represented in Congress by Senators Steve Daines and Tim Sheehy and Representative Troy Downing. Greg Gianforte is governor.

All of Helena's representatives, with contacts →

Budget: U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments: Finance (every city and town government's revenue, spending and debt, grouped into plain categories). Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 5-year estimates.

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Helena

Montana · MT
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