KRTV

Posted: Mar 12, 2010 5:50 PM
Updated: Mar 12, 2010 5:55 PM

According to the Montana Department of Commerce, 50 cities and counties across the state will not be getting money that was promised them.

During the last legislative session, Congress approved spending $20-million dollars on rural projects.

The state has spent $16.5-million of that, but is holding the remaining 10% due to the budget situation.

State budget director David Ewer says the decision to freeze the money indefinitely was necessary to make sure the state has enough money to make ends meet.

The move is forcing local governments to cough up $3.5-million dollars to complete their projects.

MT State Senator Kelly Gebhardt of Roundup said, "There is nothing saying that it's ever going to be taken off hold. However if it does come off hold it would be nice if the date were extended so the local jurisdictions could actually complete the projects."

Locally, Chouteau County will have to come up with $192,000 to finish county road repair, and Townsend will need to drum up about $41,000 to replace sidewalks.