Montana Title 85. Water Use § 85-7-1844. Decree fixing amount of irrigable acreage

Upon the hearing of said petition, the court shall, by its decree, fix and determine the irrigable acreage contained in the lots, tracts, or parcels of land complained of. The acreage so fixed by such decree shall be the acreage upon which all assessments of said lands in said irrigation district shall thereafter be based. Upon said hearing the court shall determine the amount of taxes, if any, which have theretofore been levied and assessed upon any excess or nonexistent acreage and shall enter judgment in favor of the owner or holder thereof and against said district for the excess of taxes theretofore collected by said district or shall cancel such excess if the same shall not have been collected for the benefit of said district. However, no judgment for the recovery of excess taxes paid shall be entered against any district until there shall have been deducted therefrom any unpaid valid taxes and assessments levied and assessed for the benefit of said district against the lands described in said petition, and all sums so recovered shall bear interest at the rate of 8% per annum from the date of payment by the landholder. Said judgment shall bear legal interest from the date of entry, and the judgment so rendered may be paid by warrants or funds of said future taxation upon said lands. Costs shall be allowed to the plaintiff in the same manner as other civil actions.