20-15-241. Community college service regions -- creation. - Montana Statutes

     20-15-241. Community college service regions -- creation. (1) The governing body of an elementary school district, high school district, county, or municipality not within a community college district may designate itself a community college service region, as provided in this section.
     (2) A service region may be designated only if, within 12 months preceding any designation, the following conditions are met:
     (a) the service plan required by subsection (3) is available;
     (b) the board of trustees of the community college district that will offer services within the region has approved the designation;
     (c) the electors within the region have approved the designation by a majority of votes cast on the question in an election held on a general election day; and
     (d) the board of regents has approved the designation.
     (3) (a) At least 90 days prior to the granting of any of the approvals listed in subsections (2)(b) through (2)(d), a written plan must be made available that:
     (i) details the services the community college district will offer within the region;
     (ii) details who will be eligible to use the services and the charges that will be made to users;
     (iii) indicates the facilities that will be used to house the services;
     (iv) lists the direct and indirect costs of the services and the apportionment of those costs between the community college district and the governing body designating the service region;
     (v) estimates the number of persons expected to use the services within the region; and
     (vi) estimates the mill levy necessary to fund the service region and estimates the impact of the election on a home valued at $100,000 and a home valued at $200,000 in the district in terms of actual dollars in additional property taxes that would be imposed on residences with those values. The plan may also include a statement of the impact of the election on homes of any other value in the district, if appropriate.
     (b) The plan may be revised jointly by the region governing body, board of regents, and the board of trustees of the community college district as a revision may be necessary.
     (4) A designation is effective for 5 years and after 5 years is effective unless rescinded by a majority of electors casting votes on the question in an election held on any general election day following expiration of the 5-year period. The question on rescission must be put on the ballot when requested at least 90 days prior to the election by the governing body designating the service region, by the community college board, or by a petition signed by 20% of the registered electors within the service region. The rescission is effective at the end of the first full academic year following the election rescinding the district designation.

     History: En. Sec. 1, Ch. 575, L. 1983; amd. Sec. 29, Ch. 495, L. 2001.