7-2-4703. Purpose. It is the purpose of this part to develop a just and equitable system of adding to and increasing city boundaries for the state of Montana, which will develop the following firm policies:

(1) Sound urban development is essential to the continued economic development of this state, and any annexation prepared must be well planned in advance.

(2) Municipalities are created to provide the governmental services essential for sound urban development and for the protection of health, safety, and welfare in areas being intensively used for residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, and governmental purposes or in areas undergoing such development, and future annexations must consider these principles.

(3) Municipal boundaries should be extended in accordance with legislative standards applicable throughout the state to include such areas and to provide the high quality of governmental services needed for the public health, safety, and welfare.

(4) Areas annexed to municipalities in accordance with such uniform legislative standards should receive the services provided by the annexing municipality as soon as possible following annexation.