2023 Montana Code Annotated › Title 20. Education › Chapter 9. Finance › Part 2. Administration of Finances › 20-9-208. Transfers among appropriation items of fund -- transfers from fund to fund

20-9-208. Transfers among appropriation items of fund -- transfers from fund to fund.
(1) Whenever it appears to the trustees of a district that the appropriated amount of an item of a budgeted fund of the final budget or a budget amendment is in excess of the amount actually required during the school fiscal year for the appropriation item, the trustees may transfer any of the excess appropriation amount to any other appropriation item of the same budgeted fund.
(2) Unless otherwise restricted by a specific provision in this title, transfers may be made between different funds of the same district or between the final budget and a budget amendment under one of the following circumstances:
(a) (i) Except as provided in subsections (2)(a)(ii) through (2)(a)(iv), transfers may be made from one budgeted fund to another budgeted fund or between the final budget and a budget amendment for a budgeted fund whenever the trustees determine, in their discretion, that the transfer of funds is necessary to improve the efficiency of spending within the district or when an action of the trustees results in savings in one budgeted fund that can be put to more efficient use in another budgeted fund. Transfers may not be made with funds approved by the voters or with funds raised by a nonvoted levy unless:
(A) the transfer is within or directly related to the purposes for which the funds were raised and the trustees hold a properly noticed hearing to accept public comment on the transfer; or
(B) the transfer is approved by the qualified electors of the district in an election called for the purpose of approving the transfer, in which case the funds may be spent for the purpose approved on the ballot.
(ii) Unless otherwise authorized by a specific provision in this title, transfers from the general fund to any other fund and transfers to the general fund from any other fund are prohibited.
(iii) Unless otherwise authorized by a specific provision in this title, transfers from the retirement fund to any other fund are prohibited.
(iv) Unless otherwise authorized by a specific provision in this title, transfers from the debt service fund to any other fund are prohibited.
(b) Transfers may be made from one nonbudgeted fund to another nonbudgeted fund whenever the trustees determine that the transfer of funds is necessary to improve the efficiency of spending within the district. Transfers may not be made with funds restricted by federal law unless the transfer is in compliance with any restrictions or conditions imposed by federal law. Before a transfer can occur, the trustees shall hold a properly noticed hearing to accept public comment on the transfer.
(3) The trustees shall enter the authorized transfers upon the permanent records of the district.
(4) The intent of this section is to increase the flexibility and efficiency of school districts without an increase in local taxes. In furtherance of this intent, if transfers of funds are made from any school district fund supported by a nonvoted levy, the district may not increase its nonvoted levy for the purpose of restoring the amount of funds transferred.
History: En. 75-6812 by Sec. 248, Ch. 5, L. 1971; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 241, L. 1973; R.C.M. 1947, 75-6812; amd. Sec. 19, Ch. 767, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 45, Ch. 633, L. 1993; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 480, L. 2001; amd. Sec. 14, Ch. 418, L. 2011; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 329, L. 2013.