Key takeaways
- Montana state government spent $10.0 billion in fiscal 2024, the 46th most of any state.
- Statewide purchasing runs through the State Procurement Services Division, and vendors register and find bids in eMACS.
- The fiscal year starts July 1; the governor's FY2028-29 budget proposal usually comes Nov. 15.
- The 2027 legislative session convenes Jan. 4 and is scheduled to adjourn April 30.
Montana government at a glance
| Fact | Montana |
|---|---|
| State spending, FY 2024 | $10.0 billion (46th of 50) |
| Fiscal year starts | July 1 |
| Next budget | FY2028-29 · proposal usually Nov. 15 |
| 2027 legislative session | Jan. 4 to April 30 (117 days) |
| Central procurement office | State Procurement Services Division |
| Bid and vendor portal | eMACS |
| State CIO | Kevin Gilbertson, Chief Information Officer |
| Local governments | 1,228 total, including 736 special districts and 310 school districts |
| Public power and co-op utilities | 1 public power utilities and 29 electric co-ops |
| State prison population | 4,985 (end of 2023) |
How Montana buys
- Central purchasing. The State Procurement Services Division handles statewide contracts and purchasing rules for state agencies.
- Where bids are posted. eMACS is where vendors register and find state solicitations.
- Registering as a vendor. Our Montana vendor registration guide walks through the steps, fees and documents.
- Agencies and local buyers. Many agencies, universities, cities, counties and school districts buy on their own or through cooperative contracts; see our cooperative purchasing guide.
Budget and legislative calendar
- Fiscal year. Montana's fiscal year starts July 1. The next budget covers FY2028-29.
- Governor's proposal. Usually released Nov. 15. Status as of Nov. 8, 2026: not yet released. Track it in our governor budget proposals tracker.
- 2027 session. Convenes Jan. 4 and is scheduled to adjourn April 30. Meets in odd-numbered years only. See the 2027 legislative session calendar.
Technology and AI
- State CIO. Kevin Gilbertson, Chief Information Officer, leads the State Information Technology Services Division. See the full state CIO directory.
- AI policy. Our tracker counts no executive orders, 1 law and no agency policies on government AI use. See the state AI policy tracker.
- How IT buying works. See how state agencies buy technology.
Largest public buyers in Montana
The biggest Montana entities on our national rankings. Each one runs its own budget and, in most cases, its own purchasing.
| Buyer | Type | Size | National rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bozeman Yellowstone International | Airport | 1,406,833 passengers boarded (2025) | 91 of 100 busiest |
Sources: KSG rankings of the largest cities, counties, school districts, public universities, transit agencies, airports, water utilities, public power utilities, police departments and other lists. Figures are from each list's source year.
Local government and utilities
- 1,228 local governments. That includes 736 special districts and 310 school districts. See special districts by state.
- Utilities. 1 public power utilities and 29 electric cooperatives serve 228,527 customers, 33% of the state. See Montana utilities.
- Budget cycles. Cities, counties and school districts set their own fiscal years; see city and county budget calendars.
How KSG helps
Kensington Sales Group's SDRs book meetings with public agencies across Federal, SLED, K-12 & Higher Ed, Healthcare, Tribal, Special Districts and Utilities. We research Montana buyers, time outreach to state and local budget cycles and get you in front of the people who own the problem you solve. See how our state and local sales development works.
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