Montana Title 85. Water Use § 85-2-280. Water adjudication account

(1) There is a water adjudication account within the state special revenue fund created in 17-2-102.

(2) By August 15 of each fiscal year, the state treasurer shall transfer the amount necessary when combined with available and unencumbered fund balance, to fund the amount appropriated by the legislature in the general appropriation act from the state general fund to the water adjudication account for the sole purpose of funding the water adjudication program within the department and the water court.

(3) Interest and income earnings on the water adjudication account must be deposited in the account and may not be transferred to any other account prior to June 30, 2028.

(4) Money remaining in the water adjudication account on June 30, 2028, must be transferred to the water right appropriation account provided for in 85-2-318.

(5) If the accountability benchmarks contained in 85-2-271 are not met, expenditures from the account in the previous biennium may not be included in the department's base budget, as defined in 17-7-102, for the current biennium.