Hosts roundtable at Montana State Prison as legislators consider his $200 million proposal to repair facility
Governor's Office

DEER LODGE, Mont. – As legislators consider Governor Greg Gianforte’s proposed $200 million investment to repair the Montana State Prison (MSP), the governor today visited MSP and signed HB 3 into law, raising correctional officer pay.

The governor also held a roundtable discussion with Department of Corrections (DOC) leadership, MSP wardens, and MSP correctional officers to discuss what they need, including the state investing to repair the facility.

“I’ve heard loud and clear that repairing the state prison and increasing correctional officer wages are priorities,” Gov. Gianforte said. “Our budget invests nearly $200 million to repair the state prison, expand capacity, and make the prison, and our communities, safer. We’re also investing in the hardworking employees who serve in our correctional facilities."

Joined by DOC Director Brian Gootkin, MSP Warden Jim Salmonsen, and correctional officers, Gov. Gianforte led a roundtable discussion on challenges facing MSP employees and the prison, the condition of which has been neglected for more than a decade.

“After decades of previous administrations applying Band-Aids, at best, and kicking the can down the road, at worst, the state prison has been left in disrepair – a disrepair that threatens the safety of correctional officers and inmates alike,” the governor said. “Friends, the time for kicking the can down the road is over.”

In his Budget for Montana Families, Gov. Gianforte proposes investing nearly $200 million to repair the State Prison, expand its capacity, and improve safety.

Improving MSP staff recruitment and retention has also been a priority for the Gianforte administration, with MSP wardens and correctional officers at the roundtable noting a positive change in culture at the state prison over the last six months.

To bolster recruitment and retention across state-run corrections facilities, Gov. Gianforte has proposed significant pay increases for correctional officers in his budget.

The bill the governor signed today, HB 3, boosts correctional officer wages by $2 per hour at MSP and $3 per hour at the Montana Women’s Prison and Pine Hills Correctional Facility.

Taken together with the governor’s other proposals included in HB 2 and HB 13, the state is poised to increase starting pay for correctional officers by over 45% since the start of 2022, pending the legislature passing the two bills.

“We appreciate the support of Governor Gianforte and Montana legislators to boost compensation for hardworking correctional officers,” Dir. Gootkin said. “These increases to correctional officer pay acknowledge the difficult work correctional officers do and bring their wages to a level that is competitive, improving opportunities for recruitment and retention.”

The pay raise provided in HB 3 will take effect this month and appear on correctional officers’ next paycheck.

Warden Salmonsen praised the pay boost, saying, “I’ve been here 34 years, and the pay raise that happened in March, and what happened now, is unprecedented. It’s boosting morale inside the compound.”

After signing HB 3, Gov. Gianforte called on legislators to pass three other budget bills that will boost correctional officer pay and repair MSP, including HB 13, HB 2, and HB 5.

HB 13, sponsored by Representative John Fitzpatrick, R-Anaconda, funds the state employee pay plan that the governor negotiated. The House passed the measure, and the Senate is considering it.

The House is considering HB 2, the state budget bill sponsored by Representative Llew Jones, R-Conrad.

The House is also considering HB 5, sponsored by Representative Mike Hopkins, R-Missoula. HB 5 appropriates funds for long-range building, including the governor’s proposed $200 million investment to repair the state prison.

“I encourage you to reach out to legislators and ask them to get the job done – for the good and safety of correctional officers and our communities,” the governor concluded.