Companies only get reimbursed after they create the jobs, and Rush said companies rarely fail to come through with the jobs unless something unexpected happens with the company.

James Grunke said the Big Sky Economic Development Trust Fund is only a “minuscule” part state’s overall budget. He said several economic development programs are set to expire in 2019.

“The Department of Commerce is looking at a strategy to get those reauthorized,” he said. “It may be they all go away. They’re in real jeopardy to be going away in the next legislative session, which would severely limit our ability to reward companies.

According to Emilie Saunders, a spokesperson for the Montana Department of Commerce, the state awarded nearly $3.3 million to Montana businesses through the BSTF in fiscal year 2017. That program is not expiring in 2019 she said. Some programs such as the Montana Technology Innovation Partnerships, Montana Manufacturing Extension Center, Export Trade, Certified Regional Development Corporations and Small Business Development Centers do sunset in 2019, but the BSTF is not one of them.

"Montana has very few incentives to begin with,'' Grunke said. "One of the areas that is always under attack would be (Tax Increment Financing) or (Urban Renewal Districts). But they are under real threat.”