Montana § 60-3-309 - Allocation Of Funds

§ 60-3-309. Allocation Of Funds

Allocation of funds. (1) Of the total funds in the account established in 61-3-321 (21)(a): (a) in fiscal year 2018 only, an amount not to exceed $50,000 must be transferred to the department of justice to reprogram the software and equipment of the department and the department's vendor to accommodate the optional fee provided for in 61-3-321 (21); and (b) of the remainder in fiscal year 2018 and for succeeding fiscal years: (i) 20% of the total must be allocated to the department of transportation to be used for bicycle and pedestrian education throughout the state as provided in 60-3-308 (2); and (ii) 80% of the total must be allocated as provided in subsection (2) by the department of transportation to each of the five districts established in 2-15-2502 . (2) The amount of funds to be allocated to a district is equal to the total amount of optional registration fees provided for in 61-3-321 (21)(a) collected in the district divided by the total amount of the optional registration fees provided for in 61-3-321 (21)(a) collected for the entire state. (3) Except as provided in subsection (4), the total funds allocated to a district under subsection (1)(b)(ii) must be used within the district for the maintenance and repair of shared-use paths described in this part. At least 10% of the funds allocated to a district under subsection (1)(b)(ii) must be used to maintain or repair shared-use paths that are not part of the state-maintained federal-aid highway system. (4) (a) Subject to the provisions of subsection (4)(b), if all of the shared-use paths in the district are maintained and repaired at a level that meets or exceeds the standards established pursuant to 60-3-304 (3)(b) or if there are no shared-use paths in the district that are not part of the state-maintained federal-aid highway system, any funds remaining in a fiscal year may be used to construct new shared-use paths within the district. (b) Prior to the construction or extension of a shared-use path, the department shall enter into a maintenance agreement with the county or municipality, or both, in which the path is proposed to be constructed or extended. The maintenance agreement may provide that maintenance be conducted by the county or the municipality, by both the county and the municipality, by the department, or by a combination of those entities. Based on the maintenance agreement and available funding, the department shall transfer funds from the account established in 61-3-321 (21)(a) to the appropriate county or municipality as provided for in the maintenance agreement. If the maintenance agreement provides for maintenance by the department, the department shall use the funds in the account for that purpose.