Montana Code Annotated 2023

TITLE 7. LOCAL GOVERNMENT

CHAPTER 11. GENERAL PROVISIONS RELATED TO SERVICES

Part 10. Special Districts -- Creation and Governance

Notice Of Resolution For Assessment -- Assessment

7-11-1025. Notice of resolution for assessment -- assessment. (1) The governing body shall estimate, as near as practicable, the cost of each established special district annually by the later of the first Thursday after the first Tuesday in September or within 30 calendar days after receiving certified taxable values from the department of revenue.

(2) (a) The governing body shall pass and finally adopt a resolution specifying the special district assessment option and levying and assessing all the property within the special district with an amount equal to the annual cost of the program and improvements as provided in 7-6-4012 and 7-6-4013.

(b) If the entity chosen to administer the special district is the governing body, the governing body may not charge more than 15% of the annual fees or assessments collected to administer the special district.

(3) The resolution levying the assessment to defray the cost of the special district must contain or refer to a list that describes the lot or parcel of land assessed with the name of the owner of the lot or parcel, if known, and the amount assessed.

(4) The resolution must be kept on file in the office of the clerk of the governing body.

(5) A notice, signed by the clerk of the governing body, stating that the resolution levying a special assessment or changing the method of assessment to defray the cost of the special district is on file in the clerk's office and subject to inspection must be published as provided in 7-1-2121 or 7-1-4127. The notice must state the time and place at which objections to the final adoption of the resolution will be heard by the governing body and must contain a statement setting out the method of assessment being proposed for adoption or the change in assessment being proposed for adoption. The time for the hearing must be at least 5 days after the final publication of the notice.

(6) The notice and hearing process may be included in the local government's general budgeting process as provided in Title 7, chapter 6, part 40.

(7) At the time set, the governing body shall meet and hear all objections that may be made to the assessment or any part of the assessment, may adjourn from time to time for that purpose, and may by resolution modify the assessment.

(8) A copy of the resolution, certified by the clerk of the governing body, must be delivered to the department of revenue by the later of the first Thursday after the first Tuesday in September or within 30 calendar days after receiving certified taxable values from the department of revenue.

History: En. Sec. 16, Ch. 286, L. 2009; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 62, L. 2013; amd. Sec. 9, Ch. 171, L. 2013.