Montana Code Annotated 2023

TITLE 81. LIVESTOCK

CHAPTER 7. PREDATORY ANIMAL CONTROL

Part 6. County Predator Control for Protection of Cattle

County Commissioners Permitted To Require Per Capita License Fee On Cattle

81-7-603. County commissioners permitted to require per capita license fee on cattle. (1) To defray the expense of protection, the board of county commissioners may require all owners or persons in possession of cattle 9 months of age or older in the county on the regular assessment date of each year, as provided in 15-24-903, to pay a per capita license fee in an amount to be determined by the board. All owners or persons in possession of cattle 9 months of age or older coming into the county after the regular assessment date and subject to the per capita levy under the provisions of Title 15, chapter 24, part 9, are subject to payment of the license fee.

(2) Upon the order of the board of county commissioners, the license fee may be imposed by entering the name of the licensee on the assessment record of the county by the department of revenue. The license fee is payable to and must be collected by the county treasurer. When levied, the fee is a lien upon the property, both real and personal, of the licensee. If the person against whom the license fee is levied does not own real estate against which the license fee is or may become a lien, then the license fee is payable immediately upon its levy and the treasurer shall collect the fee in the manner provided by law for the collection of personal property taxes that are not a lien upon real estate.

(3) The fees must be placed in a predatory animal control fund separate from the fund provided for in 81-7-303. The money in the predatory animal control fund may be expended by the board of county commissioners for predatory animal control, including bounties paid pursuant to Title 81, chapter 7, part 2. Interest earned on money in the fund must be deposited in the fund.

(4) Money from any source may be deposited in the predatory animal control fund provided for in this section to carry out the provisions of this part.

History: En. Sec. 3, Ch. 76, L. 1995; amd. Sec. 25, Ch. 285, L. 1999; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 12, L. 2005; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 176, L. 2005; amd. Sec. 5, Ch. 54, L. 2015; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 78, L. 2017.