Montana Code Annotated 2023

TITLE 7. LOCAL GOVERNMENT

CHAPTER 7. DEBT MANAGEMENT

Part 42. Municipal General Obligation Bonds

Procedure In Case Of Insufficient Tax Levy -- Individual Liability Of Council Members

7-7-4266. Procedure in case of insufficient tax levy -- individual liability of council members. (1) If the council of any city or town shall fail, neglect, or refuse in any year to make a levy sufficient to pay the interest on and principal of any issue or series of bonds as required by the provisions of 7-7-4265, the holder of any bond of such issue or series or any taxpayer paying taxes on property situated in such city or town may apply to the district court of the county in which the city or town issuing such bonds is situated for a writ of mandate to compel the city or town council to make a proper and sufficient levy for such purposes.

(2) If, upon the hearing of such application, it shall appear to the satisfaction of the court that the city or town council has failed, neglected, or refused to make any levy whatever for such purposes or has made a levy but that the same is insufficient to raise the amount required to be raised for such purposes under the provisions of 7-7-4265, the court shall determine the amount of the deficiency and shall issue a writ of mandate directed to and requiring such city or town council, at the next meeting thereof for the purpose of making and fixing city or town levies, to make and fix a tax levy against all taxable property in such city or town sufficient to raise the amount of such deficiency. This levy shall be in addition to the levy required to be made for the then-current fiscal year.

(3) Any costs which may be allowed or awarded the petition in any such proceeding shall be paid by the members of the city or town council and shall not be a charge against the city or town.

History: En. Sec. 23, Ch. 160, L. 1931; re-en. Sec. 5278.23, R.C.M. 1935; R.C.M. 1947, 11-2323.