Montana Code Annotated 2023

TITLE 7. LOCAL GOVERNMENT

CHAPTER 3. ALTERNATIVE FORMS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Part 43. Municipal Commission-Manager Government

Effect Of Organization Of Communities Into Single Municipal District

7-3-4312. Effect of organization of communities into single municipal district. (1) Whenever any group of communities becomes a single municipal district under the provisions of this part, the commissioners elected at the first election have the same functions and authority and municipal procedure must be the same as is provided in this part when single communities, cities, or towns adopt the commission-manager form of government. The terms of all municipal officers in any prior city or town that is included in the new municipal district cease and terminate as soon as the commissioners adopt a resolution terminating the terms, and the corporate functions and existence of any prior municipal corporation may be terminated by the commissioners when the need for the further existence of the prior corporation has ended.

(2) Whenever any group of communities, including one or more incorporated cities or towns, becomes a single municipal district under this part, the municipal district has the same name as the principal incorporated city or town in the district.

(3) Whenever any group of communities, including one or more incorporated cities or towns, becomes a single municipal district under this part, the corporate property of each city or town becomes the property of the new municipality, but improvements paid for in whole or in part by special assessments upon abutting property within special improvement districts may not be considered municipal property within the meaning of this part to the extent of the special assessment payments. If a prior city or town has an unpaid indebtedness, the commissioners of the new municipality elected at the first municipal election shall inventory and appraise or cause to be inventoried and appraised all of the property, and if the amount of the indebtedness of the prior city or town exceeds the inventory value of the property surrendered to the new municipality by the prior city or town, then the excess of the indebtedness over the inventory value of the property is a charge only against the taxable property within the limits of the prior city or town and, subject to 15-10-420, must be paid by levy upon the property located within the prior city or town.

History: (1)En. Sec. 121, Ch. 152, L. 1917 added by Sec. 6, Ch. 44, L. 1919; re-en. Sec. 5517, R.C.M. 1921; re-en. Sec. 5517, R.C.M. 1935; Sec. 11-3333, R.C.M. 1947; (2)En. Sec. 122, Ch. 152, L. 1917 added by Sec. 6, Ch. 44, L. 1919; re-en. Sec. 5518, R.C.M. 1921; re-en. Sec. 5518, R.C.M. 1935; Sec. 11-3334, R.C.M. 1947; (3)En. Sec. 123, Ch. 152, L. 1917 added by Sec. 6, Ch. 44, L. 1919; re-en. Sec. 5519, R.C.M. 1921; re-en. Sec. 5519, R.C.M. 1935; Sec. 11-3335, R.C.M. 1947; R.C.M. 1947, 11-3333, 11-3334, 11-3335; amd. Sec. 15, Ch. 574, L. 2001.