"Food Stamp Cutbacks," Beartooth NBC, August 12, 2013.
Starting November 1st, individuals on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program will see their benefits decrease by about $10 a month. That adds up to a cut of $13 million statewide. Jackie Semmens with the Montana Budget and Policy Center says it will leave a mark on Montana's economy.
“For every dollar that is spend through SNAP, it generates a $1.70 in economic spending across the state. It's also dollars that's not being spent at Main Street and in small businesses.”
The funding was added in 2009 as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to help the economy.
Jon Ebelt with the Department of Health & Human Services says, “Any decrease is going to be impactful, people will feel that.”
Semmens: “This reduction in benefits means that families who are still struggling after the Great Recession will only have a $1.40 per meal left to spend.”
Semmens says the funding is being reduced earlier than originally planned.
MBPC is a nonprofit organization focused on providing credible and timely research and analysis on budget, tax, and economic issues that impact low- and moderate-income Montana families.