Gianforte sets budget priorities ahead of next Legislative Session
HELENA, Mont. - With just over a month and a half until the next Montana legislative session, Governor Greg Gianforte, R-Montana, is laying out his budget priorities. “The budget I'm presenting this morning is about one thing: realizing the Montana comeback,” said Gianforte. On Thursday, Gianforte praised the state's fiscal performance under his tenure and laid out his priorities for the state budget in the next two years. Highlights include moving to a flat 4.7% income tax and putting $300 million into budget stabilization. His office also proposes significant investments in education, $44 million for state employee benefits, $25 million for behavioral health systems, and $125 million for roadway investments to avoid increasing the gas tax. Montana lawmakers will evaluate and discuss the Governor’s Office’s proposal. The Legislature allocates state funds through legislation, namely House Bill 2. However, the governor does have significant say in the process with veto power, and the conversation usually takes months before it's finally worked out. The current proposal is estimated to be similar to last session's $16 billion budget, though inflation is affecting it. “It’s going to be slightly more due to the fact that there is inflation involved. We will be less than
