Calls on legislators to pass his proposal to double state’s rainy day fund Governor's Office

HELENA, Mont. – With the second half of the legislative session underway, Governor Greg Gianforte today urged the legislature to pass his fiscally responsible, pro-jobs Budget for Montana Families, including his proposals to repair state facilities and boost the state’s rainy day fund to protect against economic uncertainty.

“From delivering historic tax cuts to paying off the state’s general obligation debt, we’ve made history this week in Montana,” Gov. Gianforte said. “There’s more work to do, and with the Budget for Montana Families as our guide, we’ll deliver on more of Montanans’ priorities. Let’s get it done.”

On Monday, the governor signed a suite of bills into law that provides Montana taxpayers with more than $1 billion in tax relief with the largest tax cut in state history and makes Montana debt-free in ’23.

In addition to historic tax cuts and making Montana debt-free in ’23, the governor’s budget invests the state’s surplus to protect against emergencies and fix state facilities in disrepair after more than a decade of neglect.

Gov. Gianforte today urged legislators to boost the state’s rainy day fund to guard against risks and emergencies. Doubling the rainy day fund is an element of the governor’s Budget for Montana Families.

“There are risks out of our control – risks that could jeopardize what we’re getting done,” Gov. Gianforte said. “We’ve seen what those risks look like – economic uncertainty, once-in-a-generation inflation, and what some economists describe as a looming recession. Just in the last week, two of the nation’s three largest bank failures happened.”

“These risks threaten the economic and financial security of hardworking Montanans, and we must guard against these risks. That’s why our budget doubles the state’s rainy-day fund. It’s critical we get this done,” the governor continued.

“Failing to do so would expose hardworking Montana families to extreme, unnecessary risk,” the governor concluded.

To emphasize the need to repair state-run facilities, Gov. Gianforte yesterday met with correctional officers at the Montana State Prison (MSP) in Deer Lodge. Among the topics they discussed was one of his proposed investments, nearly $200 million to repair and ultimately expand capacity at the facility.

“The time for kicking the can down the road at the state prison is over,” the governor said. “The hardworking folks at MSP know that, and it’s boosting morale. Now, we’ve got to get the job done.”

The governor urged legislators to send to his desk HB 5, the long-range building appropriations bill which includes the $200 million investment to repair and expand capacity at MSP.

While in Deer Lodge, the governor signed HB 3, boosting pay for correctional officers by $2 per hour at MSP and $3 per hour at the Montana Women’s Prison and Pine Hills Correctional Facility. He urged legislators to send to his desk two other bills, HB 13 and HB 2, which will help increase the starting wage for correctional officers by over 45% from the beginning of 2022.

The governor’s press conference may be viewed here.