Final answer:
Based on the information that education accounts for about one-third of state and local government spending, the expenses most likely to have accounted for 30.77% of Montana's budget would be 'education and transportation' (Option D).
Step-by-step explanation:
When reviewing the state budget of Montana, we can draw upon the general patterns of spending by state and local governments as referenced in the provided information. Notably, education is highlighted as the single largest expenditure, typically accounting for about one-third of total spending. Considering this significant emphasis on education within state and local expenditures, and the lack of specific figures for Montana, we can infer that the category most likely to account for 30.77% of the budget would be associated with education.
However, without the exact figures for Montana's budget, we cannot definitively choose an answer. But based on information that outlines state and local government spending priorities, education and transportation together are substantial parts of the budget. Thus, this information would point towards the correct answer being most likely related to these areas, specifically Option D: education and transportation.