The Cascade County City-County Health Department (CCHD) in Great Falls is entering Fiscal Year 2026 teetering on the edge. A combination of financial shortfalls, staffing cuts, and political gridlock now threatens the health and safety of Cascade County residents.
Financial Crisis and Vanishing Funds
The CCHD is drowning in red ink. Temporary COVID-19 relief money has dried up, leaving behind a structural budget deficit. Expenses now exceed revenues, and the department is relying heavily on dwindling county reserves and one-time grants. Inflation continues to drive up the cost of supplies and utilities, while federal cuts—such as a $62,000 reduction to the Montana Cancer Control Program—further tightens the noose.
Read the complete article here: Cascade County Health Department in Crisis
