Overview
- Governor Kelly Armstrong, who issued the guidelines Wednesday, set hold-even budgets for agencies under $10 million, 3% cuts for $10–$20 million, and 10% cuts for those above $20 million.
- Agencies under $20 million must also draft a 3% contingency package, while new full-time jobs and building projects are on hold unless granted an exception.
- OMB Director Joe Morrissette said the state faces an ongoing general fund gap near $800 million, with a roughly $318 million oil-price bump largely limited to one-time use.
- The largest departments, including Health and Human Services, Corrections, and the Highway Patrol, now face 10% targets, and the plan trims higher education funding by 3% while keeping K–12 funding unchanged.
- Agencies will submit requests by July 15 under state law, then Armstrong will deliver a 2027–29 budget to lawmakers in December with any oil-driven surplus aimed at one-time costs.