Agencies under Gov. Brian Schweitzer:
Public Health and Human Services: The department wants $113 million in additional general fund spending, plus more than 40 new employees. The largest new general fund funding requests are $24 million for the caseload for Medicaid, the federal-state health program for the poor, and $6.4 million for the Medicaid caseload for children's mental health.
Public Defender: It seeks about $9 million in new general fund money, plus 25 new employees, with 23 of them related to an increased caseload.
Commerce: It is asking for $5.8 million in additional general funds, including three new employees. A total of $3.7 million is for the agency's research and commercialization program, which is due to be eliminated in mid-2010 and $1.1 million for its economic development business research division, also slated to sunset in mid-2011. If the governor and Legislature want to continue the programs, they have to be put back in the budget.
Natural Resources and Conservation: It seeks $1.3 million in new funding and more than 13 new employees, including seven for engine crew extension, nearly seven for aviation crew coverage extension and five for implementation of reserved water rights.
Agriculture: It wants $1.2 million in increased general funds and one additional employee. The largest request is $1.3 million for continuing the Growth through Agriculture program.
Revenue: The tax-collection department wants $921,280 in new general fund money and six new employees. Four of the employees are for a new program dubbed “keeping taxes fair and low for Montanans” and two for a new program for citizen and small business education and service.
Administration: It wants $230,868 in new general fund money and four new employees.
Military Affairs: It seeks $185,996 in new general funds and six new employees, most of whom are paid for by other sources.
Governor's office: It wants $115,000, including $80,000 in aircraft maintenance. No new employees.
Labor and Industry: It is asking for $77,930 in additional general fund money and five and one-half new employees, including two cashiers, a judicial clerk and a prosecuting attorney.
Livestock: It seeks $13,784 in new general fund spending and two new employees paid by sources other than the general fund.
Fish, Wildlife and Parks: With most of its money coming from fishing and hunting licenses and federal money, the department is seeking no increase in state general funds. It requesting authorization for slightly more than five new full-time employees.
Environmental Quality: It is seeking no new general fund money, but is asking for three new employees, all funded by sources of money other than the general fund.
Transportation: It wants no additional general fund money, with nearly all of its budget coming from federal gas tax revenue. The department wants nine more employees, with eight of them for a “maximization weigh station” on the Interstate 90 corridor.
These agencies, most headed by other executive branch elected officials or which represent another branch of government, can submit their own budget requests:
Office of Public Instruction: State School Superintendent Linda McCulloch is requesting $172 million in new general fund spending and 11.5 new employees. Of that, $44.8 million is for a new proposal for base aid, $21.3 million is for a proposed special education funding increase, $69.3 million is for the current K-12 base aid, and $2.4 million is to maintain the current special education spending effort. Of the new employees, the office is seeking eight and one half for its federal grant award program adjustment, which would be paid for by federal funds.
Commissioner of Higher Education: This is more of a “place holder” request at this time, with more detail to be added later by the state Board of Regents, who are appointed by the governor. It now is seeking $36.5 million in new general funds and two new employees in the area of information resources, planning and communication.
Department of Justice: Attorney General Mike McGrath is seeking $11.5 million in new general fund spending and 38 new employees. Big-ticket items include $2 million for a statewide county attorney case management system, $2 million to the Montana Meth Project for its anti-meth advertising campaign and $1.2 million for the production costs of new drivers' licenses. Among the 38 new employees sought are 11 new Motor Vehicle Division employees, five new radio technicians, two new crime lab employees, and two additional Highway Patrol officers for executive protection.
Auditor's Office: Auditor John Morrison is seeking $9 million in additional state general fund spending sought over the two years and nine new employees. All of the general fund increase would go to expand the Insure Montana program, which helps small business provide health insurance to their employees.
Judicial branch: $6.8 million in additional general fund spending sought over the next two years, including 37.5 new full-time employees, A major request is to create five new district judgeships in fiscal 2010 in Districts 1 (Lewis and Clark and Broadwater counties), 8 (Cascade), 11 (Flathead), 13 (Yellowstone) and 18 (Gallatin) and one new district judgeship in 2011 (Yellowstone) and the accompanying staff for 21 new employees.
Public Service Commission: It seeks no additional general fund money but two new employees, whose role is not defined, with costs covered by a tax on regulated utilities.
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