Budget Resource
Center

...providing state budgets, reports, and current news to help the court community make informed budgetary decisions.

Montana

Actions Underway

• Montana’s general jurisdiction courts are primarily state-funded. The counties pay for courtroom and office space for judges and staff and for the salary of the clerks of district court and their operations. The state’s limited jurisdiction courts are primarily funded by the cities and counties; however, the state provides information technology support for these courts and training for judges.
• Montana’s court budget was not reduced in FY09. However, the FY10 and FY11 budget was cut by 4 percent. Despite the reduction, the Legislature funded several new Judicial Branch proposals, including three additional district court judges and staff and four additional support positions for rural district court judges.  Additionally, the branch received funding through the federal stimulus bill to continue operation of the self-help law program for the next two years.
• The branch is implementing a menu of measures to reduce expenditures to stay within budget for the next biennium. This will be accomplished without imposing mandatory furloughs or layoffs or shutting down courts.
• Montana anticipates implementing electronic records, electronic filing, an integrated case management system and a document management system; it also anticipates video conferencing and arraignment.

Reports and Articles

Gavel to Gavel

• Database. Search the Gavel to Gavel legislation database based on state, year, legislation category, or any combination.

State Links

• Court Budget Web Sites
• Strategic Planning
• State Budgets for 2009
• State Budget Offices