Stop Over Spending Montana v. State

¶1 A committee called Stop Overspending Montana (Proponents) petitioned for the adoption of Constitutional Initiative No. 97. The basic effect of the initiative is to amend Article VIII, Section 9 of the Montana Constitution to include an additional limit on appropriations by the Legislature to an amount that is determined by applying a formula based on the growth rate of the population and inflation unless the increase is approved by the electorate.

¶2 The material facts in this litigation are not disputed. Proponents’ petition to place CI-97 on the ballot was approved by the Secretary of…