# Billings City Council Work Session - October 19, 2026


**Body:** Community 7 Television
**Date:** October 18, 2026
**Jurisdiction:** SLED

**Tags:** Information Technology, Transportation, Digital Infrastructure


The Billings City Council work session on October 19, 2026, reviewed two FY2028 replacement plans. The technology replacement plan requested $1,104,480 total—$854,880 for the city and $249,600 for the airport—with $474,000 in capital spending and $630,480 in operations and maintenance. Planned purchases include airport radio equipment, a $70,000 security video-storage server and a $20,000 flight-information display upgrade; city items include public works servers and a gas chromatograph, and 40 police Toughbooks. Staff cited hardware price increases and deferred more than $400,000 in server replacements while assessing the effects of a potential cloud-based Tyler public-safety system. Council provided no formal approval at the work session; staff said departments would use feedback in preparing FY2028 budgets and return for final approval. Members also asked for more detail on O&M and options for extending device life or using tablets instead of rugged police laptops.

The equipment replacement plan presentation said 142 items were initially eligible, with 70 deferred and 72 recommended for replacement. The city described a long-term funding approach that keeps roughly 80–90% of anticipated replacement costs set aside and allows cash-funded purchases. Surplus equipment is now sold through Public Surplus, which staff said reaches a wider market and does not charge the seller, unlike local auction fees of about 10–11%. Public comment raised questions about airport spending and suggested system development fees for police and fire equipment; no procurement award or spending vote was taken. Separately, council voted to postpone consideration of a proposed meeting-time-limit initiative until the first available January work session.

**Source:** Community 7 Television