Budget Cuts

Nearly all departments at the University of Montana are facing cutbacks to help bring the school’s budget in-line with the current student population.

Governor Steve Bullock on Wednesday said that $45 million cut from the Department of Public Health and Human Services would be restored now that accurate budget numbers have been released.

For over two hours on Wednesday, Missoula County Commissioners listened to their department heads detail the impact of state and federal budget cuts to the services they offer.

The Montana Board of Regents met in Helena on Thursday, but due to inclement weather and bad roads throughout the state, some regents were not able to attend.

Now that the special session of the Montana Legislature has adjourned, KGVO news has learned that the state university system was spared the deep cuts that other agencies endured.

The efforts by University of Montana administrators to bring the budget in line with enrollment continue with more meetings to set priorities moving forward in all programs and departments.

Missoula County Health Department Director Ellen Leahy is in back-to-back meetings discussing the impacts of immediate and possible budget cuts from the State of Montana.

The effort to reduce personnel costs on the University of Montana continues by extending the voluntary severance offer to eligible employees.

On Wednesday, top Republican state leaders gathered in a conference call with the media to discuss their views of the current budget crisis in Montana.

Governor Steve Bullock has told his state budget director to ask all state agencies to submit plans for another 10 percent budget cut.