MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1999 Regular Session

To: County Affairs; Municipalities

By: Representative Holland

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTIONS 19-5-22 AND 21-19-2, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT A PERSON WHO RENTS OR LEASES PROPERTY SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR THE PAYMENT OF GARBAGE OR RUBBISH COLLECTION OR DISPOSAL FEES IF THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY FAILS TO PAY SUCH FEES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 19-5-22, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

19-5-22. (1) Fees for garbage or rubbish collection or disposal shall be assessed jointly and severally against the generator of the garbage or rubbish and against the owner of the property furnished the service. However, any person who rents or leases the property furnished the service shall not be held liable upon the failure of the property owner to pay those fees.

(2) Except as provided in subsection (1) of this section, every generator assessed the fees authorized by Section 19-5-21 and the owner of the property occupied by that generator shall be jointly and severally liable for the fees. The fees shall be a lien upon the real property offered garbage or rubbish collection or disposal service.

The board of supervisors may assess the fees annually. If the fees are assessed annually, the fees for each calendar year shall be a lien upon the real property beginning on January 1 of the next immediately succeeding calendar year. The person or entity owing the fees, upon signing a form provided by the board of supervisors, may pay the fees in equal installments.

If fees are assessed on a basis other than annually, the fees shall become a lien on the real property offered the service on the date that the fees become due and payable.

No real or personal property shall be sold to satisfy any lien imposed under this subsection (2).

The county shall mail a notice of the lien, including the amount of unpaid fees and a description of the property subject to the lien, to the owner of the property.

(3) Liens created under subsection (2) may be discharged by filing with the circuit clerk a receipt or acknowledgement, signed by the designated county official or billing and collection entity, that the lien has been paid or discharged.

(4) (a) The board of supervisors may notify the tax collector of any unpaid fees assessed under Section 19-5-21 within ninety (90) days after the fees are due. Before notifying the tax collector, the board of supervisors shall provide notice of the delinquency to the person who owes the delinquent fees and shall afford an opportunity for a hearing, that complies with the due process protections the board deems necessary, consistent with the Constitutions of the United States and the State of Mississippi. The board of supervisors shall establish procedures for the manner in which notice shall be given and the contents of the notice; however, each notice shall include the amount of fees and shall prescribe the procedure required for payment of the delinquent fees. The board of supervisors may designate a disinterested individual to serve as hearing officer.

(b) Upon receipt of a delinquency notice, the tax collector shall not issue or renew a motor vehicle road and bridge privilege license for any motor vehicle owned by a person who is delinquent in the payment of fees unless those fees in addition to any other taxes or fees assessed against the motor vehicle are paid. Payment of all delinquent garbage fees shall be deemed a condition of receiving a motor vehicle road and privilege license tag.

(c) The tax collector may forward the motor vehicle road and privilege license tag renewal notices to the designated county official or entity that is responsible for the billing and collection of the county garbage fees. The designated county official or the billing and collection entity shall identify those license tags that shall not be issued due to delinquent garbage fees. The designated county official or the billing and collection entity shall stamp a message on the license tag renewal notices that the tag will not be renewed until delinquent garbage fees are paid. The designated county official or the billing and collection entity shall return the license tag notices to the tax collector before the first of the month.

(d) Any appeal from a decision of the board of supervisors under this section regarding payment of delinquent garbage fees may be taken as provided in Section 11-51-75.

SECTION 2. Section 21-19-2, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

21-19-2. (1) (a) To defray the cost of establishing, operating and maintaining the system provided for in Section 21-19-1, the governing authority of a municipality may develop a system for the billing and/or collection of any fees or charges imposed on each person furnished garbage and/or rubbish collection and/or disposal service by the municipality or at the expense of the municipality. The governing authority of the municipality shall provide for the collection of the fees or charges.

(b) The governing authority of a municipality may enter into a contract upon mutual agreement with a public or private corporation, nonprofit corporation, planning and development district or a public agency, association, utility or utility district within the area receiving garbage and/or rubbish collection and/or disposal services from the municipality for the purpose of developing, maintaining, operating and administering a system for the billing and/or collection of fees or charges imposed by the municipality for garbage and/or rubbish collection and/or disposal services. The entity with whom the governing authority of a municipality contracts shall notify the governing authority of the municipality monthly of any unpaid fees or charges assessed under this section. Any entity that contracts to provide a service to customers, within the area being served by the municipality's garbage and/or rubbish collection and/or disposal system, may provide a list of its customers to the governing authority of the municipality upon the request of the governing authority.

(2) (a) To defray the cost of establishing and operating the system provided for in Section 21-19-1, the governing body of a municipality may levy an ad valorem tax not to exceed four (4) mills on all taxable property within the area served by the municipality's garbage and/or rubbish collection and/or disposal system. The service area may be comprised of incorporated and/or unincorporated areas within a county; however, no property shall be subject to this levy unless that property is within an area served by a municipality's garbage and/or rubbish collection and/or disposal system. The rate of the ad valorem tax levied under this section shall be shown as a line item on the notice of ad valorem taxes on taxable property owed by the taxpayer.

(b) In addition to or in lieu of any other method authorized to defray the cost of establishing and operating the system provided for in Section 21-19-1, the governing body of a municipality that has established a garbage and/or rubbish collection and/or disposal system may assess and collect fees or charges to defray the costs of such services. The governing authority may assess and collect the fees or charges from each single family residential generator of garbage and/or rubbish. The governing authority also may assess and collect such fees or charges from each industrial, commercial and multi-family residential generator of garbage and/or rubbish for any time period that the generator has not otherwise contracted for the collection of garbage and/or rubbish that is ultimately disposed of at a permitted or authorized nonhazardous solid waste management facility.

(c) Before the adoption of any resolution or ordinance to increase the ad valorem tax assessment or fees or charges authorized by this section, the governing authority of a municipality shall have published a notice advertising their intent to increase the ad valorem tax assessment or fees or charges authorized by this section. The notice shall specify the purpose of the proposed increase, the proposed percentage increase and the proposed percentage increase in total revenues for garbage and/or rubbish collection and/or disposal services or shall contain a copy of any resolution by the governing authority stating their intent to increase the ad valorem tax assessment or fees or charges authorized by this section. The notice shall be published in a newspaper having general circulation in the municipality for no less than three (3) consecutive weeks before the adoption of the order. The notice shall be in print no less than the size of eighteen (18) point and shall be surrounded by a one-fourth (1/4) inch black border. The notice shall not be placed in the legal section notice of the newspaper. There shall be no language in the notice inferring a mandate from the Legislature.

In addition to the requirement for publication of notice, the governing authority of a municipality shall notify each person furnished garbage and/or rubbish collection and/or disposal service of any increase in the ad valorem tax assessment or fees or charges authorized by this section. In the case of an increase of the ad valorem tax assessment, a notice shall be conspicuously placed on or attached to the first ad valorem tax bill on which the increased assessment is effective. In the case of an increase in fees or charges, a notice shall be conspicuously placed on or attached to the first bill for fees or charges on which the increased fees or charges are assessed. There shall be no language in any notice inferring a mandate from the Legislature.

(d) The governing authority of a municipality may adopt an ordinance authorizing the granting of exemptions from the fees or charges for certain generators of garbage and/or rubbish. The ordinance shall define clearly those generators that may be exempted and shall be interpreted consistently by the governing authority when determining whether to grant or withhold requested exemptions.

(e) The governing authority may borrow money for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the system in anticipation of:

(i) The tax levy authorized under this section;

(ii) Revenues resulting from the assessment of any fees or charges for garbage and/or rubbish collection and/or disposal; or

(iii) Any combination thereof.

(3) (a) Fees or charges for garbage and/or rubbish collection and/or disposal shall be assessed jointly and severally against the generator of the garbage and/or rubbish and against the owner of the property furnished the service. However, any person who rents or leases the property furnished the service shall not be held liable upon the failure of the property owner to pay such fees.

(b) Except as provided in subsection (3)(a) of this section, every generator assessed the fees or charges provided for and limited by this section and the owner of the property occupied by that generator shall be jointly and severally liable for the fees and/or charges so assessed. The fees or charges shall be a lien upon the real property offered garbage and/or rubbish collection and/or disposal service.

At the discretion of the governing body of the municipality, fees or charges assessed for the service may be assessed annually. If fees or charges are assessed annually, the fees or charges for each calendar year shall be a lien upon the real property offered the service beginning on January 1 of the next immediately succeeding calendar year. The person or entity owing the fees or charges, upon signing a form provided by the governing authority, may pay the fees or charges in equal installments.

If fees or charges so assessed are assessed on a basis other than annually, the fees or charges shall become a lien on the real property offered the service on the date that the fees or charges become due and payable.

No real or personal property shall be sold to satisfy any lien imposed under this section.

The municipality shall mail a notice of the lien, including the amount of unpaid fees or charges and a description of the property subject to the lien, to the owner of the property subject to the lien.

(c) The municipal governing body shall notify the county tax collector of any unpaid fees or charges assessed under this section within ninety (90) days after such fees or charges are due. Upon receipt of a delinquency notice, the tax collector shall not issue or renew a motor vehicle road and bridge privilege license for any motor vehicle owned by a person who is delinquent in the payment of fees or charges, unless such fees or charges, in addition to any other taxes or fees assessed against the motor vehicle, are paid.

(d) Liens created under this section may be discharged as follows:

(i) By filing with the municipal tax collector a receipt or acknowledgement, signed by the municipality, that the lien has been paid or discharged; or

(ii) By depositing with the municipal tax collector money equal to the amount of the claim, which money shall be held for the benefit of the municipality.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1999.