Montana lawmakers spar over condition of state budget
HELENA — The status of Montana’s budget and economy takes center stage in dueling letters between state GOP and Democratic lawmakers who offer drastically different pictures on whether the Treasure State is fiscally fit.
In a Sept. 9 letter to Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock, 11 Republican lawmakers warn “We have a crisis looming on the horizon for our state budget, and now is the time to begin to prepare for it.”
In their letter, the GOP states the 2016 ending fund balance is $99 million less than anticipated and the fiscal year 2017 ending fund balance is expected to be $109 million, down from earlier projections of $300 million.
The lawmakers were all members of the House appropriations committee in 2015, Ballance. “During the interim we are all heavily involved in the budget.”
Read more: http://www.greatfallstribune.com/story/news/local/2016/09/27/lawmakers-spar-condition-state-budget/91189168/
