[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6332020,"mediaKeyId","2309045-8ed87af9e1a3c758f802be19a4b4fbc8","parentId",2309045,"title","Section A Subcommittee approves multiple internal-service rates, rejects some agency requests","audioSeconds",5916,"startMs",1832000,"endMs",7748000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2309045-8ed87af9e1a3c758f802be19a4b4fbc8&start=1832&end=7748","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2309045-8ed87af9e1a3c758f802be19a4b4fbc8/thumbnail_1832000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6332020/Montana/Section-A-Subcommittee-approves-multiple-internal-service-rates-rejects-some-agency-requests","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6332020-8cba21cff380ddf080d797a4810cfe57/orig.mp4?Expires=1774864782&Signature=HudX3yp2YX1HzwB09Dg~aZXk5fQn5RR3vxpgDQ2zKDOnifrvYs0CCnOrQl~gQu5QerTL-77XtsGaG0D1iKyKd9Fel0h2qutbRkBpMLSVF8a2bvQ9XfIh8VABd2AlR5f30QDF8XdCsbT7KZF7KPVpVHF9JOWbumeVRNkl5P9zvoLRCmnMp7YAVPiDsJEDrgJQ7iW5nxkgbvi6FLNtJa7rZTay2pH6LywmAA5eu6tY0FccZmthMPPbYdkp3mhfHg1GE-7TPCwH3MRVkMpzKuw~LKpZ1hO~BabjQ6CYvzeIy33rPyCITG1Rgsplkmz~ubQS6A~~aAX3ffGtcdq57Gx~zg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Montana Legislature","date","2025-02-12T00:00:00Z","article","The Section A Subcommittee took executive action on a package of internal service rates and related budget language during its Feb. 4 meeting, approving most agency requests with targeted reductions and rejecting or modifying others after member questions.

Chair Debra Falk led the committee through a line-by-line executive action on internal rates and proposed boilerplate language. The committee approved a number of items by voice vote, including the chief data office rate and the statewide cost allocation (SWOTCAP) authorization, print and mail services, warrant writer, SITSD working capital reserve, and several management services items. Chair Falk moved many of the items on the rate sheet; in some cases other members made the motions.

Several votes drew extended discussion. On workers’ compensation management, the committee first voted on a motion to hold the rate at $0.97 for fiscal years 2026 and 2027; that motion failed on a roll-call vote (3 ayes, 5 noes). The committee then approved an alternate motion to adopt a rate of $1.24 for FY 2026 and $1.23 for FY 2027 by voice vote.

A proposal to adopt the PERS Financial Services Technology Bureau rate as requested was closely contested. The roll call produced four ayes and four noes and failed on an even split. Committee members raised concerns about rising software licensing and maintenance costs — including projected increases to Oracle/PeopleSoft maintenance — and about whether increased technology spending would yield net efficiencies.

On training services, the committee approved separating LinkedIn Learning from enterprise learning and adopted both the LinkedIn Learning and enterprise learning-and-development rates; the committee did not ultimately approve a separate Robert’s Rules training rate after members reconsidered the previous omnibus motion and removed Robert’s Rules from the package.

Other items adopted (voice votes unless noted) included the human resources information system fee, risk management and tort-defense allocations (with temporary rate relief noted in the language), facilities management bureau rates (the committee adopted a blended facilities rate of $11.25 per square foot for both fiscal years), and project-management and access-ID card fees tied to facility services.

Why it matters: These internal service rates determine the chargeback amounts agencies include in their budgets for services such as information technology, human resources systems, printing, and facility maintenance. Changes in these rates shift costs among agencies and can affect agency budget requests and the statewide fiscal picture.

Votes at a glance (selected items, text verbatim from motions where recorded):

- Chief Data Office internal rate: \"$500,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $500,000 for fiscal year 2027.\" Motion moved by Chair Falk; voice vote; motion carries.

- Management Services, Human Resources internal rate (chair’s amendment): \"$13.05 for fiscal year 2026 and $13.05 for fiscal year 2027.\" Motion moved by Chair Falk; voice vote; motion adopted.

- Statewide Cost Allocation Plan (SWOTCAP): \"$4,500,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $4,500,000 in fiscal year 2027.\" Motion moved; voice vote; motion carries.

- Workers’ Compensation Management program (first motion): keep rate at $0.97 in FY26 and $0.97 in FY27 — roll-call result: Vice chair Mandeville: yes; Senator Tezek: yes; Representative Walsh: no; Senator Harvey: no; Representative Muscovich: no; Senator Flowers: no (by proxy); Senator Ellsworth: no (reluctant); Chair Falk: yes — tally 3 ayes, 5 noes; motion fails.

- Workers’ Compensation Management program (second motion): adopt $1.24 for FY26 and $1.23 for FY27 — voice vote; motion carries.

- PERS Financial Services Technology Bureau (requested increase): roll call produced 4 ayes and 4 noes; motion fails on a tie.

- LinkedIn Learning and Enterprise Learning & Development rates: LinkedIn Learning adopted at the requested level; Enterprise Learning & Development adopted at the requested level; Robert’s Rules training was removed from the package after reconsideration and was not approved as a separately funded rate.

How the committee decided: Most items were decided by voice vote after brief staff or agency explanations; several items drew extended member questions about pay-plan impacts, fixed-cost drivers and projected licensing increases. Agency staff (including Kristen Reynolds, chief financial officer, Department of Administration; Amy Sassano, deputy budget director; and Cheryl Grama, administrator, State Financial Services Division) answered technical questions about how pay-plan assumptions, software licensing and maintenance, and past vacancies affect small programs’ rates.

What the transcript shows: The committee repeatedly noted that many rates are maximums and agencies may charge less than the approved maximum. Members also asked staff to produce calculations showing the dollar impact of specific rate changes across state agencies; staff agreed to provide that analysis where feasible.

Next steps: The committee will continue executive action on remaining service rates at subsequent meetings; staff will provide requested analyses and members indicated they may hold items for additional caucusing if needed.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Joint Subcommittee on General Government - Feb 12, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The subcommittee voted on a slate of internal service rates and related boilerplate language for the coming biennium: several rates were approved by voice vote, one initial workers' compensation proposal failed on roll call and an alternative was approved, and at least one IT rate proposal failed on a tie vote.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature MT, Montana","taxId",77694,"location","Montana","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6332025,"Subcommittee watches New Mexico video on performance-based budgeting; chair urges Montana study",571,170000,741000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2309045-8ed87af9e1a3c758f802be19a4b4fbc8&start=170&end=741","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2309045-8ed87af9e1a3c758f802be19a4b4fbc8/thumbnail_170000.jpg","/articles/6332025/Montana/Subcommittee-watches-New-Mexico-video-on-performance-based-budgeting-chair-urges-Montana-study","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6332025-dfbdfba6b414baf803fc728a5b0d2bf2/orig.mp4?Expires=1774864782&Signature=F71oPSW-qS6lwumMFXycw~atINV09-mYzxrmcWFOX1hZ6KC7i9xyoYWEHhbHQNxIing5HB9CXUx9vxMtfAeVkztL-7XEmfQKPJ561Uzot-VOp9Q2Iq54xK-hK0aW2lY--UsB2uq3d1N4EvhilxkFow1~LbOaDTKKVz8Lv817dIUzC0zcaSlDFWI6cvhgScevVj~TD06etU8~JDeX5kj~Emgu0LLt-B6~pESlz6m5-bFZhFx5aZ8EU539hUU~z7brg5-fQ8WNHNvVFzAZSl52ug6~qlmP~W9sGF9FbgodEebjkAB8W7DwRzZkfXGrJ8LEtW8LO5MrB2MPc1HjHzWBLg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Members of the Section A Subcommittee of the 2025 Montana Legislature opened the meeting with a brief video and discussion about performance-based budgeting drawn from New Mexico’s Legislative Finance Committee.

Chair Debra Falk said she asked that the video be shown because it ‘‘was super informative’’ and that she had selected a roughly 16-minute excerpt for the committee. The recording, she said, originally aired in a Legislative Finance Committee meeting and included a presentation and an extended question-and-answer session.

The video presenter, identified in the transcript only as the Presenter (New Mexico legislative staff, video), described how New Mexico organized program evaluation inside its legislative fiscal office and tied performance data to budget decisions. The presenter said the state created a legislative program-evaluation unit in the late 1980s, and later developed quarterly reporting and scorecards to compare agency results against targets.

‘‘We appropriated money, for kids to get additional learning time, when they were 4 year old in a pre k program. Did that help better prepare them for kindergarten?’’ the Presenter asked, summarizing how lawmakers used outcome monitoring to judge spending. The presenter also recounted a corrections program that ‘‘was implementing an evidence based service’’ but was not delivering results because it was being run inconsistently — ‘‘Flat out failure,’’ the Presenter said — and was later replaced after evaluation.

The Presenter described a 2019 law requiring agencies to inventory programs and budgets to identify spending on evidence-based services. That inventory, the presenter said, is used to prioritize budget requests and to shift funds from programs with little evidence of effectiveness toward programs with research support.

Chair Falk framed the video as part of a longer-term effort to improve the committee’s oversight tools. She told members she hoped the committee could use similar scorecards and program-evaluation products to inform Montana’s budget process and invited members to request the full recording and handouts.

No formal action was taken on the topic during the meeting. Chair Falk said the video was being shown as informational and that staff could provide the full presentation to members who wanted it.

The discussion preceded the committee’s detailed executive actions on internal service rates for state agencies.

Why it matters: The talk highlighted an approach that links performance measurement and program evaluation to appropriation decisions. Committee members expressed interest in using data and evaluations for longer-term oversight, though they did not adopt any new rules or statutory changes in this session.

What’s next: Chair Falk said the video and handout could inform future committee work; she encouraged members to review the material and consider whether Montana should expand internal evaluation capacity or require similar program inventories in budget requests.","The Section A Subcommittee viewed a video from New Mexico showing how that state uses program evaluation and performance reporting to shape budgets. Chair Falk said the presentation offers a model for deeper budget oversight and highlighted examples where evaluation changed spending decisions.","actionData","errors"]

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Section A Subcommittee approves multiple internal-service rates, rejects some agency requests

Subcommittee watches New Mexico video on performance-based budgeting; chair urges Montana study