2023 Montana Code Annotated › Title 7. Local Government › Chapter 4. Officers and Employees › Part 25. Compensation and Official Fees › 7-4-2502. Payment of salaries of county officials and assistants -- state share for county attorney -- statutory appropriation

7-4-2502. Payment of salaries of county officials and assistants -- state share for county attorney -- statutory appropriation.
(1) The salaries of the county officers and their assistants may be paid monthly, twice monthly, or every 2 weeks out of the general fund of the county and upon the order of the board of county commissioners.
(2) The funding for the salary and health insurance benefits for the county attorney is a shared responsibility of the state and the county. The state's share is payable as provided in subsection (3).
(3) (a) For each fiscal year, the department of justice shall pay to each county and consolidated government the amount calculated under subsection (3)(b). Payments must be made quarterly.
(b) (i) For each county and consolidated government with a full-time county attorney, the amount paid each fiscal year must be equal to 50% of 85% of a district court judge's salary most recently set under 3-5-211 plus an amount equal to 50% of the employer contribution for group benefits under 2-18-703(2) for an employee as defined in 2-18-701.
(ii) For each county and consolidated government with a part-time county attorney, the total amount paid each fiscal year must be equal to the amount calculated under subsection (3)(b)(i) prorated according to the position's regular work hours.
(c) For the purpose of this subsection (3), the following definitions apply:
(i) "Full-time county attorney" means that as of July 1 immediately preceding the regular legislative session, the county attorney position has been established as a full-time position pursuant to 7-4-2706.
(ii) "Part-time county attorney" means that as of July 1 immediately preceding the regular legislative session, the county attorney position has been established as a part-time position pursuant to 7-4-2706.
(iii) "Salary" means wage plus the employer contributions required for retirement, workers' compensation insurance, and the Federal Insurance Contributions Act as determined for a district court judge.
(4) The amount to be paid to each county pursuant to subsection (3) is statutorily appropriated, as provided in 17-7-502, from the general fund to the department of justice.
(5) The board may, under limitations and restrictions prescribed by law, fix the compensation of all county officers not otherwise fixed by law and provide for the payment of the compensation and may, for all or the remainder of each fiscal year, in conjunction with setting salaries for other officers as provided in 7-4-2504, set their salaries at the prior fiscal year level.
History: (1)(a), (2)En. Sec. 4595, Pol. C. 1895; re-en. Sec. 3117, Rev. C. 1907; re-en. Sec. 4868, R.C.M. 1921; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 141, L. 1925; re-en. Sec. 4868, R.C.M. 1935; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 7, L. 1945; Sec. 25-601, R.C.M. 1947; (1)(b)En. Sec. 4603, Pol. C. 1895; re-en. Sec. 3136, Rev. C. 1907; re-en. Sec. 4872, R.C.M. 1921; re-en. Sec. 4872, R.C.M. 1935; Sec. 25-602, R.C.M. 1947; (3)En. Subd. 18, Sec. 1, Ch. 100, L. 1931; re-en. Sec. 4465.17, R.C.M. 1935; Sec. 16-1020, R.C.M. 1947; R.C.M. 1947, 16-1020, 25-601, 25-602(part); amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 109, L. 1979; amd. Sec. 9, Ch. 443, L. 1979; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 719, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 12, Sp. L. June 1986; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 17, Sp. L. June 1986; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 667, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 332, L. 1993; amd. Sec. 5, Ch. 325, L. 1995; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 75, L. 1999; amd. Sec. 11, Ch. 114, L. 2003; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 230, L. 2007; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 3, Sp. L. November 2017; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 51, L. 2021.