HELENA — A Republican-led Senate panel considering Montana’s main budget bill was adding millions of dollars to it through a deal negotiated with the Democratic governor’s office.
The Senate Finance and Claims Committee passed a slew of amendments to House Bill 2 Wednesday that adds raises for corrections workers, money for crime victim services and funding meant to keep the state’s Office of the Public Defender staffed at current levels.
The committee is also expected to add about $25 million from a supplemental appropriations bill tabled in a House committee last week.
Among other items, House Bill 3 included $9 million in extra funding for public schools, $7 million for the Department of Corrections and $1.7 million for the Department of Justice.
The bill was requested by the governor to make up for low-budget estimates made last session.