School funding should be top priority in Montana but stimulus money should not be used.

In the waning days of the Legislature, elected officials are tackling some of the most important — and contentious — tasks they face all session: setting the budget for the next two years, and determining how to spend that $800 million in stimulus money.

This year in particular is more difficult because of the significant decreases in revenue Montana is experiencing, now and projected in the future.

It’s a tough situation in which legislators find themselves — not unlike that of most citizens in Helena, Montana and across the country, where we’re all having to tighten our belts, pull up our sleeves and make it through this beleaguered economy any way we can.

Full Story: http://helenair.com/articles/2009/04/19/opinions/top/irview_090419.txt