Montana Title 76. Land Resources and Use § 76-16-414. Equalization of state district assets

(1) Whenever a state district possesses reserves, the values of which are greater than its liabilities, and the state district determines that a part of the reserves is in excess of its reasonable needs to operate the state district, the state district may refund to the permittee members their proportionate share of the reserves as determined at the last annual accounting.

(2) Whenever a state district possesses reserves and physical assets, the values of which are greater than its liabilities, and a permittee member loses a grazing preference or any portion of a grazing preference, the permittee member is entitled to receive a proportionate share of the value of the excess from the state district, as determined by the annual accounting of the state district. Valuation must be as prescribed by the bylaws of the state district. The state district may set off the amount of any claim it may have against a former member.

(3) Whenever a new member receives a grazing preference, the new member shall, as a condition of receiving the grazing preference, pay to the state district the value of the equitable interest in the physical assets and reserve fund that accrues to the new member by virtue of membership. The value must be determined at the time of receiving a grazing preference, as prescribed by the bylaws of the state district, and upon the basis of the determination of value of physical assets and reserves made at the last annual accounting.