How much impact will Montana feel from federal funding cutbacks?

A series of economic forums starting Thursday in Kalispell aim to address that question.

The forums, titled, “Montana’s Federal Economic Footprint: The Local Impact of Changes in Washington,” kick off in Kalispell from noon to 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the Red Lion Hotel Kalispell.

During the eighth annual Midyear Economic Update seminar series, University of Montana economists Patrick Barkey and Paul Polzin will examine the key role the federal government plays in the Montana economy and how changes in that role can be expected to play out across the state.

Montana historically has gotten $1.50 back for every dollar it sends to Washington, D.C., so questions arise about what the future holds for Montana and whether the state’s pain will be more or less than other regions.

According to a University of Montana news release about the forum, after four straight years of trillion-dollar annual budget deficits, the news is dawning on all political parties that the federal budget is long due for serious repair and that less spending is part of the process.

The forums are co-sponsored by the Montana Chamber of Commerce and UM’s Bureau of Business and Economic Research. For more information, visit http://www.bber.umt.edu or call the bureau at 406-243-5113.

The Kalispell event includes lunch.

After Kalispell, the forum will be presented in six other Montana cities:

v Billings: 7-8:30 a.m., Tuesday, Aug. 6, Crowne Plaza. Includes breakfast.

v Bozeman: Noon-1:30 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 6, Best Western GranTree. Includes lunch.

v Helena: 7-8:30 a.m., Wednesday, Aug. 7, Jorgenson’s. Includes breakfast.

v Butte: Noon-1:30 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 7, Comfort Inn. Includes lunch.

v Great Falls: 7-8:30 a.m., Thursday, Aug. 8, Hilton Garden Inn. Includes breakfast.

v Missoula:  Noon-1:30 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 8, Holiday Inn Downtown. Includes lunch.