Except as provided in Montana Code Annotated section 3-11-104, the city court has exclusive jurisdiction of:
A. Proceedings for the violation of a city ordinance, both civil and criminal;
B. When the amount of the taxes or assessments sought does not exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000.00), actions for the collection of taxes or assessments levied for any of the following purposes, except that no lien on the property taxed or assessed for the nonpayment of the taxes or assessments may be foreclosed in any such action:
1. City purposes;
2. The erection or improvement of public buildings;
3. The laying out, opening, or improving of a public street, sidewalk, alley, or bridge;
4. The acquisition or improvement of any public grounds; and
5. Public improvements made or ordered by the city within its limits;
C. Actions for the collection of money due to the city or from the city to any person when the amount sought, exclusive of interest and costs, does not exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000.00);
D. When the amount claimed, exclusive of costs, does not exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000.00), actions for:
1. The breach of an official bond given by a city officer;
2. The breach of any contract when the city is a party or is in any way interested;
3. Damages when the city is a party or is in any way interested;
4. The enforcement of forfeited recognizances given to, for the benefit of, or on behalf of the city; and
5. Collection on bonds given upon an appeal taken from the judgment of the court in any action mentioned in subsections D1 through D4 of this section;
E. Actions for the recovery of personal property belonging to the city when the value of the property, exclusive of the damages for the taking or detention, does not exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000.00); and
F. Actions for the collection of a license fee required by an ordinance of the city. (1975 Code § 2.48.030; amd. 2008 Code)