Montana Gets $2.5 Million in State Funds

On December 27, Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer ordered $2.5 million in state funds to supplement LIHEAP. The money, a one-time allocation, will be used to increase the average LIHEAP benefit from $298 to $388, and the state’s Indian tribes will get $437,000. The state LIHEAP office estimates a record number of applications this year – around 23,000.

The Governor’s executive order said that none of the $2.5 million could be used for administrative costs. The order also said if federal LIHEAP funds come in at more than the $14.351 million that Montana anticipates, the general funds will be returned to the state treasury on a one-to-one ratio.

Page Last Updated: December 28, 2005