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Many government agencies across Montana are cutting back on expenses by keeping employees closer to home.

Here in Great Falls, city manager Greg Doyon says the travel budget for Great Falls has decreased by almost $200,000 in two years.

Other Montana towns are turning to online training and webinars, but Doyon cautions that those can be costly and less effective.

He says Great Falls is cutting back by limiting out-of-state travel and requiring approval for business trips.

Doyon noted, "I think overall the department heads have been conscientious about where they're sending their employees for training. So I know that I have some requests in my inbox that I'll be taking a look at in the next week and trying to make a determination on whether or not it's appropriate for them to go to that training."

Doyon says there has to be a balance between cutting costs and keeping employees properly trained, especially when it comes to the police and fire departments.