Mont. Code Ann. § 20-9-104

(1) At the end of each school fiscal year, the trustees of each district shall designate the portion of the general fund end-of-the-year fund balance that is to be earmarked as operating reserve for the purpose of paying general fund warrants issued by the district from July 1 to November 30 of the ensuing school fiscal year. Except as provided in subsections (5) (6) and (6), (7), the amount of the general fund balance that is earmarked as operating reserve may not exceed 10% of the final general fund budget for the ensuing school fiscal year.

(2) The amount held as operating reserve may not be used for property tax reduction in the manner permitted by 20-9-141(1)(b) 20-9-141 for other receipts.

(3) Excess reserves as provided in subsection (5) (6) may be appropriated to reduce the BASE budget over-BASE levy, the over-BASE budget levy, or the additional levy provided by 20-9-353. levy.

(4) Any Except as provided in subsection (9), any portion of the general fund end-of-the-year fund balance that is not reserved under subsection (2) or reappropriated under subsection (3) is fund balance, including any portion attributable to a balance reappropriated and must be used for property tax reduction as provided in 20-9-141(1)(b). increment remitted under 7-15-4286(3) or 7-15-4291, that is not reserved under subsection (2) or reappropriated under subsection (3) is fund balance reappropriated and must be used for property tax reduction as provided in 20-9-141 up to an amount not exceeding 15% of a school district's maximum general fund budget.

(5) The limitation of Except as provided subsection in (1) does not apply when the amount subsection (9), any unreserved fund balance in excess of the limitation is equal to or less than the unused balance 15% of any amount: a school district's maximum general fund budget must be remitted to the state and allocated

(a) received in settlement 70% of tax payments protested in a prior school fiscal year; the excess amount must be remitted to the state to be deposited in the guarantee account provided for in 20-9-622; and

(b) received in taxes from a prior school fiscal year as a result 30% of a tax audit by the department of revenue or its agents; or excess amount must be remitted to the school facility and technology account.

(c) received in delinquent taxes from a prior school fiscal year.

(6) The limitation of subsection (1) does not apply when the amount earmarked as operating reserve in excess of the limitation is $10,000 equal to or less. less than the unused balance of any amount:

(a) received in settlement of tax payments protested in a prior school fiscal year;

(b) received in taxes from a prior school fiscal year as a result of a tax audit by the department of revenue or its agents; or

(c) received in delinquent taxes from a prior school fiscal year.

(7) The limitation of subsection (1) does not apply when the amount earmarked as operating reserve is $10,000 or less.

(8) Any amounts remitted to the state under subsection (5) are not considered expenditures to be applied against budget authority.

(9) Any portion of a tax increment remitted under 7-15-4286(3) or 7-15-4291 and deposited in the district's general fund is not subject to the:

(a) 15% fund balance limit provided for in subsection (4); or

(b) provisions of subsection (5).

General fund operating reserve

Temporary

General fund operating reserve

Effective July 1, 2026