Montana Title 7. Local Government § 7-33-2120. Consolidation of fire districts and fire service areas--mill levy limitations

(2)(a) At the time they vote to consolidate, the governing boards shall also adopt a consolidation plan. The plan must contain:

(b) The consolidation plan must state if the consolidation is to be made with or without the mutual assumption of the warrant or bonded indebtedness of each district or fire service area. Without agreement among the governing boards on the assumption of warrant or bonded indebtedness, the consolidation may not occur.

(3)(a) Within 14 days of the date that the governing boards vote to consolidate, notice of the consolidation must be:

(b) A public hearing on the consolidation must be held within 14 days of the first publication and mailing of notice. The hearing must be held before the joint governing boards at a time and place set forth in the notice.

(6)(a) Subject to the provisions of subsections (6)(b) and (6)(c), when the consolidation of two or more rural fire districts or rural fire districts and fire service areas pursuant to this section results in the creation of a rural fire district, it must be considered to be a new rural fire district for the purposes of determining mill levy limitations.

(b) The mill levy authority under 15-10-420 for each former rural fire district that is consolidated under this section must be aggregated to establish the base mill levy authority for the new district in the year following consolidation.

(c) If the electors of a former rural fire district have approved mill levy authority for the district in excess of the limit established in 15-10-420 pursuant to an election held under 15-10-425, the authority applies to the new district under the limitations established by the electors.