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Montana House Committee Begins Work on State Budget

Committee beginning with discussions about funding for the Department of Public Health and Human Services

By Associated Press

HELENA – The Montana House Appropriations Committee took up the next two-year budget Thursday, beginning with discussions about funding for the agency with the largest budget: the Department of Public Health and Human Services.

A subcommittee has proposed $4.3 billion budget as well as cutting about 100 of the agency’s 400 vacant positions and using that money to increase the rates paid to workers who provide Medicaid-covered services including health care, long-term care, assistance for people with disabilities and treatment for addiction or mental health issues. The rate increases were approved by the 2017 Legislature, but the funding was eliminated when revenues came in lower than expected.

Gov. Steve Bullock’s office and agency Director Sheila Hogan opposed the position cuts. Hogan argued losing that estimated $9 million would hurt the state’s ability to restore services lost due to budget cuts made in 2017 and cause continued delays in service.

Hogan said the agency had been asking employees to do more with less for years and that it was unsustainable.

“Montanans deserve better,” Hogan said “These cuts will cause undo, direct harm to the people this division is meant to serve.”

Republicans argued the agency didn’t come to the subcommittee with alternatives to the position cuts. Republican Rep. Eric Moore noted the agency was reverting $14 million to the state, so it had money to hire employees, but hadn’t done so.

Republican Rep. Llew Jones said with the estimated $27 million in funding for the other 300 open positions, the department should be able to be adequately staffed.

“If I had my way we would have all the positions filled,” Hogan said. “We regularly recruit and do the best we can,” adding that hiring and training employees takes time.

Jones noted some positions have gone unfilled for several years. The 100 that were proposed to be eliminated had been held open for at least a year, Moore said.

Several people testified against further cuts in social services for the disabled or mentally ill, arguing they just lead to people needing more costly services such as a nursing home, admission to the state mental hospital or prison.

The committee later heard an update on the education budget. The hearing continues Friday.

Chair Nancy Ballance said she expected the committee to vote on the budget next week, after which it would go to the full House.