Projected Montana budget surplus in danger

MATT GOURAS Associated Press Writer HELENA

The Montana budget situation is getting worse, not better, according to a report released Thursday that says the projected budget surplus is just about gone. Legislative Fiscal Analyst Terry Johnson said in his analysis that revenue collections for the last five months, through November, are 24 percent below the same period last year. He said that trend, combined with current economic forecasts, showed the projected surplus of nearly $300 million could only be $44 million by June 2011. Montana is one of a few states so far spared from the budget mayhe...