Proposed state budget cuts available online

The proposed state government spending cuts recommended by the governor’s budget director are available online.

Here’s the link for Budget Director David Ewer’s proposed $40.5 million in general-fund spending reductions: http://budget.mt.gov/default.mcpx.

Ewer’s proposed cuts are only recommendations at this point. They have been slightly modified from the reductions submitted by most state agencies in response to Schweitzer’s order that they submit proposed budget cuts of 5 percent because of declining state revenues.

Gov. Brian Schweitzer will make the final decision on the reductions after a legislative hearing and comments in early March.