Hiring freeze could impact road plowing

Seasonal jobs may go unfilled at the Montana departments of Transportation and Fish, Wildlife and Parks under a hiring freeze brought on by the state's budget woes.

With a projected budget shortfall of nearly $250 million next year, more seasonal jobs in other agencies also are in jeopardy, state budget director Chuck Swysgood said last week.

Michael Johnson, Great Falls district administrator for MDT, said state road service in winter will likely be affected.

"If the (hiring) freeze lasts through the snow, we'll have a lot of overtime," Johnson said. "Soon we'll see service reduction."

The...