Montana Code Annotated 2023

TITLE 7. LOCAL GOVERNMENT

CHAPTER 13. UTILITY SERVICES

Part 22. County Water and/or Sewer Districts

Powers Related To District Finances -- Audits

7-13-2221. Powers related to district finances -- audits. (1) Any district incorporated as provided in this part may:

(a) accept funds and property or other assistance, financial or otherwise, from federal, state, and other public or private sources for the purposes of aiding the construction or maintenance of water or sewer development projects;

(b) cooperate and contract with the state or federal government or any department or agency of the state or federal government in furnishing assurances for and meeting local cooperation requirements of any project involving control, conservation, and use of water;

(c) borrow money and incur indebtedness and issue bonds or other evidence of indebtedness and refund or retire any indebtedness or lien that may exist against the district or property of the district;

(d) cause taxes to be levied in the manner provided for in part 23 and this part for the purpose of paying any obligation of the district and to accomplish the purposes of part 23 and this part in the manner provided in part 23 and this part;

(e) levy special assessments against property located in the district and benefited by any of its improvements, as provided in 7-13-2280 through 7-13-2289, and pledge the collections of the special assessments in whole or in part, with any other revenue of the district, to the payment of bonds issued pursuant to part 23; and

(f) enter into covenants and agreements as to the establishment and maintenance of reasonable rates and charges for the use of its systems or improvements or any part of the systems or improvements as required, in the judgment of the board of directors, for the favorable sale of bonds issued pursuant to part 23, including, without limitation, a covenant to establish and maintain rates and charges sufficient, with the collection of any special assessments, to pay debt service and operating, maintenance, and replacement costs of the system or improvement and fund necessary reserves or a covenant to establish and maintain rates and charges sufficient, with the collection of any special assessments, to pay operating and maintenance costs of the system or improvement, fund necessary reserves for the system or improvement, and pay debt service on bonds and to provide additional funds necessary for the purposes of the system or improvement or to provide assurance to the holders of bonds as to the sufficiency of the revenue.

(2) The board of directors shall cause an audit of the financial records of the district to be made in compliance with the requirements of Title 2, chapter 7, part 5, at the expense of the district.

History: En. Sec. 14, Ch. 242, L. 1957; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 263, L. 1967; R.C.M. 1947, 16-1514(8) thru (10); amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 351, L. 1999; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 13, L. 2011.