MT Revenue Rebound Could Restore Cuts

Q2 reports that a rebound in Montana’s tax revenue could lead to reversing $46 million in state budget cuts later this year, according to a legislative report. However, lawmakers said on Monday that the final budget picture won’t be clear until next month. Republican State Rep. Nancy Balance of Hamilton, who chairs the Legislative Finance Committee said Monday that if the revenue forecasts come through, the offsets to earlier budget cuts would be significant, saying [quote] “The money would go back in the same proportions that it was taken out during the (November) special session,” [end quote] The Bullock Administration and Republican-controlled Legislature made nearly $80 million in cuts. But they also passed Senate Bill 9, which says if tax revenues rebound, programs that saw cuts will get some money back in fiscal 2019, which starts next month.