Montana House Endorses $10.3B Budget for Next 2 Years

The Montana House has voted 54-46 to endorse a $10.3 billion budget to fund state services over the next two years.

The House rejected several attempts by Democrats to add more funding. Four Republicans joined the 42 Democrats in voting against the bill on Tuesday afternoon. It faces a final vote in the House before moving to the Senate.

Democrats complained the bill did not include funding for preschool and cut funding for job openings in the Department of Public Health and Human Services.

House Appropriations Committee co-chair Nancy Ballance noted lawmakers are not raising taxes and the budget is tight with a few spending issues left to be discussed.