The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1961-01-06

Mr.. President, Mr.. Speaker anC
Members of the Thirty-Seventh Leg
islative Assembly:
We are assembled here to perform
the duties imposed upon us by the
people of this great state within the
limits of the Constitution of Mon.
tana. During the remainder of this
legislative session you will be re-
quired to evaluate all services reason
obly expected of government and
each of US, according to the dictates
of his conscience, will be called upon
to provide the necessary services at
a minimum of cost.
You and |. as elected officers of
the State of Montana, are obligated
to carry out a mandate of the people
to hold the line on taxes and to live
within our income while providing
those services we sincerely believe
the government is obligated to per-
form.
That your task as senators and rep
resentatives is difficult is evidenced
by the fact that we have carried
on program of deficit spending
since June 80, 1919. On that date
we had surplus of $14,736, 025.14
in the general fund. AS of June 80,
1860 we were in the red by approx
mately $4,981, 100000. By June 80,
1861, the end of this fiscal biennium,
it is estimated we will have general
fund deficit of $6,634, 459.00.
In twelve years we have over
spent our income by more than
twenty-one million dollars, not to
mention levies imposed upon the tax
payers for repayment of special bond
issues. You and l must, and will put
an end to deficit spending.
AS provided in the Constitution
of the State of Montana, the Gov
ernor shall inform the legislature OF
the condition of the state and shall
recommend a program for the flu
ture conduct of state government.
FIRST GOVERNORS BUDGET
The seth legislative assembly pro-
vided for the creation of the office
of budget director. This was good
legislation and for the first time the
NONCIIlOI 10 q OduSCC IOl
state government operation.
The figures which I use in this
message, except those on university |
population growth and appropriation
increase, and student-faculty ratios,
are those of the director of budget
and were arrived at after consider
able research and investigation.
| could tell you of the amount of
income during this biennium and the
amount of expenditures, the sources
of income and where the money went
but such information is available to
you and given here would be repeti-
tious.
Our financial condition is simply
this: The State of Montana will be
in the red $6,634, 459.OO at the end
of this biennium. In addition to- this
deficit, supplemental appropriation
requests, in the aggregate amount
of 350,574.47, have been received
by the State Board of Examiners.
Your task, and mine, in providing
finances alone, is monumental. We
must pick up the tax on supplemental
requests; provide funds to operate
the state government for the next
biennium; and make provision for
of our deficit.
You will appreciate the magnitude I
of the problem when you realize that t
former legislatures have overspent 9
state income but you and l are ex-
pected to do these three things with |
in the limits of funds available. 1t
can be done.
We have an obligation to provide t
funds for certain necessary services
and because of our financial condi- {
ton we must place these services on !
a priority basis.
We must provide adequate funds
for education through the foundation =
program and you will note in the :
budget an increase in the state con- !.
tribution. We must see that our Gus :
todial institutions have funds to !.
carry out their required functions. q
/ will not take the time at this
point to outline the needs of every
department.. We have submitted a =
11dpat which T hpliave will kaan ON. A.