Cascade County hears FY26 alcohol-tax provider reports; commissioners discuss FY27 allocations

Cascade County commissioners on May 15 convened a special meeting to hear reports from local organizations that received FY26 alcohol-tax funding and to discuss requests for FY27.

Christie Conte Stroup, executive director of Alliance for Youth, told commissioners the nonprofit runs prevention education in schools, a youth resource drop-in center for ages 13–20, a peer-led SilverLife recovery program and family-wellness services. "We serve nearly 4,000 people a year," Conte Stroup said, and she requested that Alliance for Youth retain the 30% share of the county's alcohol-tax allocation it received in FY26.

Trista Bessinger, identified on the agenda as the commission's CFO, reviewed the legal distribution process under MCA 53-24-206, explaining that the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services distributes alcohol-tax proceeds to counties and counties then allocate funds to state-approved chemical-dependency providers. Bessinger and presenters said the county has averaged about $200,000 in receipts in recent years.

Megan Farmer, founder of Dynamic Recovery, described adult-focused services including intensive outpatient and outpatient counseling, psychiatric prescribers and a peer-operated behavioral-health drop-in center. Farmer said Dynamic Recovery served 344 clients in 2025 (up from 207 in 2024), reported client outcomes in housing and employment, and asked the commissioners to maintain the organization's 30% allocation.

Jennifer Whitfield, who identified herself as CCBHC director for what was alternately referenced in the record as "Many Rivers" and "Medi River School of Health," said her agency served 263 unduplicated Cascade County clients during the May–April reporting period, expanded sober-living capacity at Blue Thunder Lodge from eight to 10 beds, and reported 2,883 bed days with 13 program graduates. Whitfield noted a 46% graduation rate in their sober-living program versus roughly a 10% national benchmark.

Julia, who identified herself as the owner of Misfits, summarized 23 years of service in assessment, jail outreach and crisis response and said Misfits served about 124 individuals in the last year; she described a conflict-resolution program that supports victims of domestic violence with substance-use challenges.

Illumination Recovery co-owner Theo Hansen described a wraparound model (IOP, outpatient care, multiple crisis lines and case management) and proposed a pilot client-stabilization fund to address short-term barriers — transportation, application fees and housing deposits — that prevent clients from engaging in treatment. Two clients gave brief testimonials about homelessness and how the organization helped them obtain IDs, bus passes and access to appointments.

Presenters repeatedly emphasized that prevention and many addiction-services activities are difficult to bill to Medicaid and thus rely on county and grant funding. Several organizations asked the commission to maintain FY26 percentage allocations (Alliance for Youth 30%, Dynamic Recovery 30%, Many Rivers 20%, Misfits 20%) or consider increases when possible.

Commissioners thanked presenters and discussed next steps. Commissioner remarks noted possible program overlap and suggested staff review whether some services might be better administered through the health department or consolidated for efficiency. No formal votes or allocations were made at the meeting; staff confirmed the county must submit the state designation form for alcohol-tax funds by June 14 and indicated the commission will consider final allocation decisions at a future meeting.

The meeting concluded with no public-comment items beyond the presenters and adjourned without action.