17-3-213. Allocation of forest reserve funds and other federal funds -- options provided in federal law. (1) The board of county commissioners in each county shall decide among payment options provided in subsections (2) through (4), as provided in Public Law 106-393, to determine how the forest reserve funds and Public Law 106-393 funds apportioned to each county must be distributed by the county treasurer pursuant to this section.
     (2) If a board of county commissioners chooses to receive a payment that is 25% of the revenue derived from national forest system lands, as provided in 16 U.S.C. 500, all funds received must be distributed as provided in subsection (5).
     (3) (a) Except as provided in subsection (4), if a county elects to receive the county's full payment under Public Law 106-393, a minimum of 80% up to a maximum of 85% of the county's full payment must be designated by the county for distribution as provided in subsection (5).
     (b) The balance not distributed pursuant to subsection (3)(a) may be allocated by the county in accordance with Public Law 106-393.
     (4) If a county's full payment is less than $100,000, the county may elect to distribute up to 100% of the payment as provided in subsection (5).
     (5) The total amount designated by a county in accordance with subsection (3)(a) or (4) must be distributed as follows:
     (a) to the general road fund, 66 2/3% of the amount designated;
     (b) to the following countywide school levies, 33 1/3% of the amount designated:
     (i) county equalization for elementary schools provided for in 20-9-331;
     (ii) county equalization for high schools provided for in 20-9-333;
     (iii) the county transportation fund provided for in 20-10-146; and
     (iv) the elementary and high school district retirement fund obligations provided for in 20-9-501.
     (6) The apportionment of money to the funds provided for under subsection (5)(b) must be made by the county superintendent based on the proportion that the mill levy of each fund bears to the total number of mills for all the funds. Whenever the total amount of money available for apportionment under subsection (5)(b) is greater than the total requirements of a levy, the excess money and any interest income must be retained in a separate reserve fund, to be reapportioned in the ensuing school fiscal year to the levies designated in subsection (5)(b).
     (7) In counties in which special road districts have been created according to law, the board of county commissioners shall distribute a proportionate share of the 66 2/3% distributed under subsection (5)(b) for the general road fund to the special road districts within the county based upon the percentage that the total area of the road district bears to the total area of the entire county.

     History: En. Sec. 3, Ch. 26, L. 1915; re-en. Sec. 177, R.C.M. 1921; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 66, L. 1931; re-en. Sec. 177, R.C.M. 1935; R.C.M. 1947, 79-205; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 413, L. 1983; amd. Sec. 5, Ch. 11, Sp. L. June 1989; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 711, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 334, L. 2001.