Montana Title 7. Local Government § 7-2-2225. Officers of new county

(1) Except as provided in subsections (2) through (4), at the election provided for in 7-2-2215, there must be chosen a board of county commissioners and other county and district officers as are provided by law.

(2) All elected, qualified, and acting officers of the county or counties who reside within the proposed new county are considered to be officers of the new county if they file, within 5 days after the final hearing and determination of the petition for the proposed new county, with the board of county commissioners whose duty it is to call the election. Filing with the board is the officers' declaration of intent to become officers of the proposed new county. The board issuing the proclamation of the election may not provide for the election of any officers who have filed their declaration to continue in office.

(3) All elected, qualified, and acting justices of the peace residing within the proposed new county shall hold office as justices of the peace in the new county for the remainder of the term for which they were elected.

(4) All elected, qualified, and acting school trustees residing within the proposed new county at the time of the division of the county into school districts, as provided in Title 20, chapter 6, shall hold office as school trustees in the new county for the remainder of the term for which they were elected on qualifying as school trustees for the respective districts in which they reside, as these districts are organized.

(5) The officers elected or appointed under the provisions of this part shall perform the duties and receive the compensation provided by general law for the office to which they have been appointed or elected in the counties of the class to which the new county belongs.