Governor Schweitzer Says Budget Numbers Back His Prediction

Gov. Brian Schweitzer says the latest revenue figures show his budget projections were right all along and that Republican lawmakers deflated the figure to justify steeper cuts.

Last week, legislative fiscal analysts reported state tax collections for the year are about $70 million higher than predicted.

Schweitzer sparred with GOP leaders and legislative staffers throughout the last session over a revenue figure he argued would come in higher than they were projecting — as it did.

Schweitzer says cuts from the Republican-led Legislature will mean increased college tuition and higher local property taxes to cover less state support for schools.

Helena Republican state Sen. Dave Lewis says Republicans had no appetite to spend more money even had they adopted the higher revenue projection sought by Schweitzer all along.
Associated Press