2023 Montana Code Annotated › Title 85. Water Use › Chapter 7. Irrigation Districts › Part 21. Taxes and Assessments › 85-7-2104. Annual tax levy -- apportionment when tracts divided

85-7-2104. Annual tax levy -- apportionment when tracts divided.
(1) (a) On or before the first Monday in August each year, the board of commissioners of each irrigation district organized under parts 1 and 15 shall ascertain:
(i) the total amount required to be raised in that year for the general administrative expenses of the district, including the cost of maintenance and repairs; and
(ii) the total amount to be raised that year for interest on and principal of the outstanding bonded or other indebtedness of the district for which bonds of the district have not been deposited with the United States as provided in 85-7-1906.
(b) The board shall levy against each 40-acre tract or fractional lot, as designated by United States government survey, or platted lot if land is subdivided in lots and blocks (or where land is owned in less than 40-acre tracts or in less than the platted lot, against each tract) in the district, that portion of the respective total amounts to be raised that the total irrigable area of any tract or lot bears to the total irrigable area of the lands in the district, so that each acre of irrigable land in the district is assessed and required to pay the same amount as every other acre of irrigable land in the district, unless otherwise specifically provided by the board. The board may also charge the administrative charge authorized in 85-7-2103(1).
(c) Indebtedness under subsection (1) includes debt incurred under any contract between the district and the United States but excludes any indebtedness incurred by the district on behalf of a subdistrict.
(2) (a) On or before the first Monday in August each year, the board of commissioners of each irrigation district organized under parts 1 and 15 for which a subdistrict has been created pursuant to 85-7-404 shall determine the total amount to be raised that year for interest and principal payments on the outstanding bonded or other indebtedness of the district incurred on behalf of the subdistrict.
(b) The board shall levy against each 40-acre tract or fractional lot, as designated by United States government survey, or platted lot if land is subdivided in lots and blocks (or where land is owned in less than 40-acre tracts or in less than the platted lot, against each tract) in the subdistrict, the portion of the total amount to be raised apportioned according to the ratio of the total irrigable area of the tract or lot to the total irrigable area of the lands in the subdistrict, so that each acre of irrigable land in the subdistrict is assessed and required to pay the same amount as every other acre of irrigable land in the subdistrict, unless otherwise specifically provided by the board. The board may also charge the administrative charge authorized in 85-7-2103(1).
(3) If the ownership of any 40-acre tract or other subdivision of land in the district or subdistrict is divided after a special tax or assessment against the land has been levied, each of the owners of a tract or subdivision is entitled to have the special tax or assessment equitably apportioned to and against the divisions of the tract or subdivision, so that each owner is enabled to pay a special tax or assessment against the owner's portion of the tract or subdivision and have the land discharged from the lien. The charge against any separately owned tract of land may not be less than $5.
(4) The board of commissioners of an irrigation district or the board of county commissioners on behalf of a district may not levy property taxes as provided in Title 15, chapter 6, for district administration, operations, debt service, or any other district purpose.
History: En. Sec. 49, Ch. 146, L. 1909; amd. Sec. 16, Ch. 145, L. 1915; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 148, L. 1921; re-en. Sec. 7235, R.C.M. 1921; amd. Sec. 19, Ch. 157, L. 1923; re-en. Sec. 7235, R.C.M. 1935; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 135, L. 1961; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 51, L. 1973; R.C.M. 1947, 89-1804(1), (2); amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 586, L. 1979; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 330, L. 1983; amd. Sec. 24, Ch. 439, L. 1989; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 257, L. 1993; amd. Sec. 156, Ch. 584, L. 1999; amd. Sec. 6, Ch. 34, L. 2003; amd. Sec. 11, Ch. 93, L. 2007.