Montana Cities Applying Brakes to Travel Budgets and Make Increased Use of Technology

City administrators around the state say they plan to hold the line on travel budgets and make increased use of technology as local governments look to trim costs in a tight economy. In Bozeman, the city budgeted $316,068 but spent only $171,880.90 in Fiscal Year 2009, the most recently completed fiscal year. Similarly, Missoula spent less than half of their budgeted travel money in FY 2009, according to figures provided by the two cities.

In Billings around $118,000 of the $464,000 spent on travel and training in FY09 came from specific grants for those activities.

“The city portion should hold constant or go down slightly," for the current fiscal year, said Billings City Administrator Tina Volek.

By Michael Noyes

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