Montana Legislative Outlook, 2007
Montana has a $1 billion state surplus, but is also in the midst of a school funding lawsuit. Governor Brian Schweitzer has proposed a $40 million inflationary increase in state aid, $25 million for all-day kindergarten, and a $20 million increase in “per educator” payments to help stave off the loss of Montana teachers to neighboring states that have higher salaries. In late January the Montana Quality Education Coalition (MQEC) released a study saying that $100 million more for the next seven years is needed for education in the state, primarily for programs to help at-risk students meet standards. MQEC won a funding lawsuit against the state three years ago, and the state must present a funding plan to the court by July of this year.