Montana Director of Natural Resources and Conservation
| Montana Director of Natural Resources and Conservation | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Nonpartisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| Compensation: | $131,144 |
| 2025 FY Budget: | $87,649,103 |
| Term limits: | None |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | Serves at the governor's pleasure |
| Authority: | Montana Code, Title 2, Chapter 15, Part 33 |
| Selection Method: | Appointed by the governor |
| Current Officeholder(s) | |
Montana Director of Natural Resources and Conservation
Amanda Kaster | |
| Other Montana Executive Offices | |
| Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Auditor • Superintendent of Public Instruction • Agriculture Director • Insurance Commissioner • Natural Resources Director • Labor Commissioner • Public Service Commission | |
The Montana Director of Natural Resources and Conservation is an appointed state executive position in the Montana state government.
The director serves as head of the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. The mission of the director's office is "administering, managing, planning, and evaluating agency functions in the areas of fiscal operations, human resources, information technology and public information."[1]
Current officeholder
The current Montana Director of Natural Resources and Conservation is Amanda Kaster (nonpartisan). Kaster assumed office in 2021.
Authority
Title 2, Chapter 15, Part 33 of the Montana Code addresses the creation of the Montana Director of the Natural Resources and Conservation.[2]
Under 2-15-3301:
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"There is a department of natural resources and conservation. The department head is the director of natural resources and conservation appointed by the governor in accordance with 2-15-111." |
Qualifications
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches the constitutional or statutory text that establishes the requirements necessary to qualify for a state executive office. That information for the Montana Director of Natural Resources and Conservation has not yet been added. After extensive research, we were unable to identify any relevant information on state official websites. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.
Appointments
Per 2-15-111 of the Montana Code, the director is appointed by the governor with confirmation of the state senate. The director serves at the pleasure of the governor and may be removed at any time.[3]
Vacancies
The governor is given to authority to fill the office of the director in 2-15-111 of the Montana Code: "If a vacancy occurs in the office of a director, the governor shall appoint a new director to serve at the pleasure of the governor."[4]
Duties
- See Energy policy in Montana for information on the state's energy portfolio and goals.
Divisions
As of January 26, 2021, the office of the director contained the following divisions:
- Financial Services
- Public Information
- Legal Unit
- Human Resources
- Information Technology
- Office of Administrative Hearings[5]
State budget
- See also: Montana state budget and finances
The Montana Department of Natural Resources' budget for Fiscal Year 2025 was $87,649,103.[6]
Compensation
- See also: Compensation of state executive officers
2023
In 2023, the officer's salary was $131,144, according to the Council of State Governments.[7]
2022
In 2022, the officer's salary was $130,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[8]
2021
In 2021, the director received a salary of $130,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[9]
2020
In 2020, the director received a salary of $112,935, according to the Council of State Governments.[10]
2019
In 2019, the director received a salary of $111,895, according to the Council of State Governments.[11]
2018
In 2018, the director received a salary of $110,787, according to the Council of State Governments.[12]
2017
In 2017, the director received a salary of $109,690, according to the Council of State Governments.[13]
2016
In 2016, the director received a salary of $108,650, according to the Council of State Governments.[14]
2015
In 2015, the director received a salary of $107,610, according to the Council of State Governments.[15]
2014
In 2014, the director earned a salary of $102,485, according to the Council of State Governments.[16]
2013
In 2013, the director was paid an estimated $99,500.[17]
2010
In 2010, the director was paid an estimated $96,967, according to the Council of State Governments.[18]
Historical officeholders
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for chronological lists of historical officeholders; information for the Montana Director of Natural Resources and Conservation has not yet been added because the information was unavailable on the relevant state official websites, or we are currently in the process of formatting the list for this office. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.
- Amanda Kaster (2021 - Present)
- John Tubbs (2013 - 2021)
- Mary Sexton (2006 - 2013)
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Montana Director Natural Resources Conservation. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
Contact information
Department Address
1625 Eleventh Avenue
Helena, MT 59620
Mailing Address
Post Office Box 201601
Helena, MT 59620
Phone: 406-444-2074
Email: drnc_publicinfo@mt.gov
See also
| Montana | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, "Director's Office," accessed January 26, 2021
- ↑ Montana Legislature, "Montana Code 2-15-3301," accessed January 26, 2021
- ↑ Montana Code Annotated, " 2-15-111. Appointment and qualifications of department heads," accessed January 26, 2021
- ↑ Montana Code Annotated, " 2-15-111. Appointment and qualifications of department heads," accessed January 26, 2021
- ↑ Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, "Director's Office," accessed January 26, 2021
- ↑ Montana Legislature, "HB002," accessed December 6, 2023
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2023 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 21, 2025
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2022 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," provided to Ballotpedia by CSG personnel
- ↑ Issuu, "The Book of the States 2021," accessed September 22, 2022
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2020," accessed January 26, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2019," accessed January 26, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2018," accessed January 26, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2017," accessed January 26, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2016," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2015," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed December 3, 2014
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Table 4.11 Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 30, 2014
- ↑ The Council of State Governments, "The Book of States 2010 Table 4.11," accessed June 22, 2011
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