2023 Montana Code Annotated › Title 20. Education › Chapter 6. School Districts › Part 4. School District Reorganization › 20-6-422. District annexation

20-6-422. District annexation.
(1) As used in this section, the following definitions apply:
(a) "Annexing district" means the district to which another district is being attached through an annexation procedure.
(b) "District to be annexed" means the district that is being attached to another district through an annexation procedure.
(2) A district may be annexed to a contiguous district when one of the conditions of 20-6-421 is met in accordance with the following procedure:
(a) An annexation proposition may be introduced in the district to be annexed by either of the two following methods:
(i) the trustees may pass a resolution requesting the county superintendent of the county where the district is located to order an election to consider an annexation proposition for their district; or
(ii) not less than 20% of the electors of the district who are qualified to vote under the provisions of 20-20-301 may petition the county superintendent of the county where the district is located requesting an election to consider an annexation proposition for their district.
(b) The resolution or petition must state whether the annexation is to be made with or without the joint assumption of bonded indebtedness of the annexing district by the district to be annexed and the annexing district.
(3) Before ordering an election on the proposition, the county superintendent of the county where the district to be annexed is located must first receive from the trustees of the annexing district a resolution giving the county superintendent the authority to annex the district. The resolution must state whether the annexation is to be made with or without the joint assumption of bonded indebtedness of the annexing district by the district to be annexed and the annexing district. The resolution from the annexing district and the resolution or petition from the district to be annexed must agree on whether or not there will be joint assumption of bonded indebtedness. Without agreement, the annexation proposition may not be considered further.
(4) When the county superintendent of the county where the district to be annexed is located has received the resolution authorizing the annexation from the annexing district and the resolution or valid petition from the district to be annexed, the county superintendent shall, within 10 days and as provided by 20-20-201, order the trustees of the district to be annexed to call an annexation election.
(5) The district to be annexed shall call and conduct an election in the manner prescribed in this title for school elections and subject to subsections (6) and (7). Any elector qualified to vote under the provisions of 20-20-301 may vote.
(6) (a) If the district to be annexed is to jointly assume the bonded indebtedness of the annexing district, the ballots must read, after stating the annexation proposition, "FOR annexation with assumption of bonded indebtedness" and "AGAINST annexation with assumption of bonded indebtedness".
(b) When the trustees in the district conducting the election canvass the vote under the provisions of 20-20-415, they shall determine the number of votes "FOR" and "AGAINST" the proposition.
(c) The proposition is approved in the district if a majority of those voting approve the proposition.
(7) If the district to be annexed is not to jointly assume the bonded indebtedness of the annexing district, the ballots must read, after stating the annexation proposition, "FOR annexation without assumption of bonded indebtedness" and "AGAINST annexation without assumption of bonded indebtedness". The annexation proposition is approved by a district if a majority of those voting in a district approve the proposition.
(8) After the county superintendent of the county where the district to be annexed is located has received the election certification provided for in 20-20-416 from the trustees of the district conducting the annexation election and if the annexation proposition has been approved by the election, the county superintendent shall order the annexation of the territory of the district voting on the proposition to the district that has authorized the annexation to its territory effective July 1. The order must be issued within 10 days after the receipt of the election certificate. For annexation with joint assumption of bonded indebtedness, the order must specify that there will be joint assumption of the bonded indebtedness of the annexing district by the owners of all taxable real and personal property in the territory of the district to be annexed. The county superintendent of the county where the district to be annexed is located shall send a copy of the order to the board of county commissioners of each county involved in the annexation order and to the trustees of the districts involved in the annexation order.
(9) If the annexation proposition is disapproved in the district to be annexed, the annexation proposition fails and the county superintendent of the county where the district to be annexed is located shall notify each district of the disapproval of the annexation proposition.
History: En. Sec. 2, Ch. 510, L. 2005; amd. Sec. 14, Ch. 510, L. 2005; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 60, L. 2009.