Montana Code Annotated 2023

TITLE 7. LOCAL GOVERNMENT

CHAPTER 7. DEBT MANAGEMENT

Part 23. County Refunding General Obligation Bonds

Authority To Issue Refunding General Obligation Bonds

7-7-2301. Authority to issue refunding general obligation bonds. (1) The board of county commissioners of a county may issue, negotiate, and sell coupon bonds on the credit of the county, as provided in part 22 and this part, for the purpose of refunding, paying, and redeeming optional, redeemable, or maturing bonds when:

(a) there are not sufficient funds available to pay the bonds or there is a reduction in debt service as a result of issuing refunding bonds pursuant to 7-7-2304; and

(b) it is considered in the best interests of the county to refund the bonds.

(2) (a) The board has the authority to negotiate with the holders of the bonds of the county for an agreement or agreements whereby the bondholders agree to accept less than the full amount of the bonds and the accrued unpaid interest on the bonds as full payment and satisfaction of the bonds, to enter into the agreement or agreements, and to issue refunding bonds for the amount agreed upon whenever:

(i) the total indebtedness of a county exceeds 0.3% of the total assessed value of taxable property, determined as provided in 15-8-111, within the county, as ascertained by the last assessment for state and county taxes; and

(ii) the board of county commissioners of the county determines that the county is unable to pay and discharge the indebtedness in full.

(b) These bonds may be issued in more than one series if the circumstances require, and each series may be either amortization bonds or serial bonds. The plan agreed upon between the board and the bondholders must be embodied in full in the resolution providing for the issue of the bonds.

History: En. Sec. 1, Ch. 188, L. 1931; re-en. Sec. 4630.1, R.C.M. 1935; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 135, L. 1937; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 136, L. 1963; amd. Sec. 12-102, Ch. 197, L. 1965; amd. Sec. 5, Ch. 100, L. 1973; R.C.M. 1947, 16-2008(part); amd. Sec. 15, Ch. 423, L. 1995; amd. Sec. 9, Ch. 29, L. 2001.