Montana
Public finance
The Montana state budget is prepared biennially by the Office of Budget and Program Planning and submitted by the governor to the legislature for amendment and approval. The fiscal year runs from 1 July to 30 June. Effective fiscal year 1995, certain public school revenues were to be deposited in general fund, increasing general fund revenues and public school appropriations.
Revenues for fiscal year 2003/04 in the general fund were forecast at $1.228 billion. General appropriations included $261.75 million for human services, $104.22 million for corrections, $442.35 million for public schools, $136.69 million for higher education, and $139.81 million for other agencies.
The following table from the US Census Bureau contains information on revenues, expenditures, indebtedness, and cash/securities for 2001.
| ($000) | PERCENT | PER CAPITA | |
| Population (thousands, 2001) | 905 | (X) | (X) |
| Total Revenue | 4,224,359 | 100.00 | 4,667.80 |
| General revenue | 3,602,354 | 85.28 | 3,980.50 |
| Utility revenue | – | – | – |
| Liquor store revenue | 40,878 | 0.97 | 45.17 |
| Insurance trust revenue | 581,127 | 13.76 | 642.13 |
| Exhibit: Salaries and wages | 644,896 | 15.93 | 712.59 |
| Total expenditure | 4,048,049 | 100.00 | 4,472.98 |
| General expenditure | 3,619,417 | 89.41 | 3,999.36 |
| Education | 1,205,168 | 29.77 | 1,331.68 |
| Public welfare | 602,847 | 14.89 | 666.13 |
| Hospitals | 47,272 | 1.17 | 52.23 |
| Health | 233,868 | 5.78 | 258.42 |
| Highways | 427,498 | 10.56 | 472.37 |
| Police protection | 40,971 | 1.01 | 45.27 |
| Correction | 106,955 | 2.64 | 118.18 |
| Natural resources | 218,327 | 5.39 | 241.25 |
| Parks and recreation | 11,199 | 0.28 | 12.37 |
| Government administration | 220,802 | 5.45 | 243.98 |
| Interest on general debt | 146,389 | 3.62 | 161.76 |
| Other and unallocable | 358,121 | 8.85 | 395.71 |
| Utility expenditure | – | – | – |
| Liquor store expenditure | 35,196 | 0.87 | 38.89 |
| Insurance trust expenditure | 393,436 | 9.72 | 434.74 |
| Debt at end of fiscal year | 2,739,648 | 100.00 | 3,027.24 |
| Cash and security holdings | 9,756,638 | 100.00 | 10,780.82 |