Montana Title 7. Local Government § 7-8-2513. Appraisal of land required--exception--challenge--restrictions

(1) The county commissioners shall, before they sell, exchange, or lease lands with an estimated value of more than $20,000 under the provisions of this part, have the lands appraised by a disinterested certified general real estate appraiser to determine the value of the lands for the purpose of the sale, exchange, or lease.

(2) For the purposes of this section, a renewal of the lease is considered an initial lease if the renewal is for a term exceeding 5 years.

(3) The board of county commissioners may lease mineral interests in land, whether the interests are severed or not, without an appraisal as required by subsection (1).

(4) A taxpayer who believes that the appraised value under this section is less than the actual value of the property may challenge the appraised value. The procedure provided in 7-8-2215 must be followed when a challenge of the appraised value of real property under this part is filed.

(5) Except as otherwise provided by law, the board of county commissioners may not under the provisions of this part sell, exchange, or lease lands appraised pursuant to subsection (1) for less than the appraised value.

(6) This section does not apply to land acquired by tax deed that failed to sell for appraised value as provided in 7-8-2301(5)(b).