Blair Fjeseth is the new spokesperson for the Montana University System’s Board of Regents and her first interview with KGVO News details the board’s achievements in 2017.
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.
Last week, Montana Governor Steve Bullock directed all state agencies to begin sketching out ways to reduce their budgets by another ten percent, including the Montana University System.
At noon on Tuesday, Governor Steve Bullock's office released the anticipated revenue numbers for the next biennium and the total fell $75 million short of what was needed to fund state government. Among the cuts was $19 million from Montana's Public Schools budget.
Deputy Commissioner of Higher Education Kevin McRae said several weeks ago that the legislature restored $11 million in funding to the university system, but that did not mean tuition would remain frozen.
A dramatic, late Friday afternoon $11 million addition to the Montana University System budget has cut almost in half the $23 million deficit it was anticipating for the next two years.
There is danger brewing in Helena in the halls of the Montana Legislature over how many millions of dollars may have to be cut from the University system budget.