While many counties in Montana are actively upholding the county weed act, several have decided they will not enforce this act due to time, financial, or staffing shortages. And even if you believe your county doesn’t pursue enforcement, you may not have the entire story. It is a common misperception that counties can enforce every problem that arises; when in fact, it is a financial burden for a county to enforce the county weed act. While this act is a law, there is no funding from the state to enforce the law for the counties. If a county does enforce the law, they have to budget for it. When a county completes an enforcement, it is at the expense of the taxpayers of the county. The county sprays the property and bills the landowner. If the landowner does not pay the bill, it eventually goes on his taxes, a process that can take up to two years and leaves the county with the expense until the taxes are paid. If your county does not enforce the weed act, and you file a complaint with them, they are in violation of the law by not acting on that complaint.
Friday, October 23rd, 2009