Montana Title 20. Education § 20-9-163. Resolution for budget amendment--petition to superintendent of public instruction

(1) Whenever the trustees of a district decide that a budget amendment is necessary because of an enrollment increase, they may petition the superintendent of public instruction to adopt a resolution for the budget amendment. The petition must be signed by a majority of the trustees.

(2) The petition must state the facts constituting the need for the budget amendment, the estimated amount of money required to fund the budget amendment, the funds affected by the budget amendment, the anticipated source of financing for the budget amendment, and the current year enrollment.

(3) The superintendent of public instruction shall promptly approve or disapprove the petition requesting approval to adopt a resolution for a budget amendment because of increased enrollment. The superintendent of public instruction shall adjust the district's maximum general fund budget based on the approved enrollment increase. Upon approval, a district may not adopt a budget amendment if the amount will cause the district to exceed the district's adjusted maximum general fund budget. If the petition is approved, the trustees may adopt a resolution for a budget amendment and take all other steps required for the adoption of a budget amendment. Approval of a petition by the superintendent of public instruction authorizes the board of trustees to initiate a budget amendment by resolution and does not relieve the trustees of the necessity of complying with the requirements of the school budgeting laws. Approval of the petition may not be construed as approval of any subsequent application for increased state aid on account of the budget amendment.