MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2002 Regular Session
To: Ways and Means
By: Representative Morris
AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE COUNTIES AND MUNICIPALITIES TO ESTABLISH PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS; TO PROVIDE FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF A BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO GOVERN AND MANAGE THE OPERATION OF ANY SUCH DISTRICT; TO PRESCRIBE THE POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE BOARD, INCLUDING THE AUTHORITY TO ACQUIRE PROPERTY THROUGH GIFT, PURCHASE OR CONDEMNATION PROCEEDINGS, TO CONSTRUCT AND IMPROVE FACILITIES FOR WATER, SEWER AND WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT, FOR ROADS, PARKS, AND RECREATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE, AND FOR FIRE STATIONS AND FIRE PREVENTION CONTROL FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT; TO AUTHORIZE THE DISTRICT TO ISSUE BONDS, NOTES AND OTHER EVIDENCES OF DEBT AND INCUR INDEBTEDNESS FOR PROJECTS PERFORMED BY THE DISTRICT; TO PROVIDE FOR SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS, FEES AND CHARGES THAT MAY BE LEVIED AND IMPOSED UPON PROPERTY WITHIN THE DISTRICT; TO PROVIDE FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF LIENS UPON REAL PROPERTY WITHIN THE DISTRICT TO ENFORCE THE COLLECTION OF ASSESSMENTS, FEES AND CHARGES IMPOSED BY THE DISTRICT; TO PRESCRIBE THE MANNER AND PROCEDURE FOR TERMINATION OF THE DISTRICT; TO AMEND SECTION 17-13-5, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, IN CONFORMITY TO THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Public Improvement District Act."
SECTION 2. The Legislature finds that:
(a) There is a need for uniform, focused and fair procedures in state law to provide a reasonable alternative for the establishment, power, operation and duration of independent districts to manage and finance basic public improvement services; and that, based upon a proper and fair determination of applicable facts, an independent district can constitute a timely, efficient, effective, responsive and economic way to deliver these basic services, thereby providing a solution to the state's planning, management and financing needs for delivery of capital infrastructure in order to service projected growth without overburdening counties and municipalities and their taxpayers.
(b) It is the legislative intent and purpose to authorize a uniform procedure by general law to establish an independent special district as an alternative method to manage and finance basic services for public improvements through the levy and collection of special assessments. It is further the legislative intent and purpose to provide by general law for the uniform operation, exercise of power and procedure for termination of any such independent district. It is further the purpose and intent of the Legislature that a district created under this act not have or exercise any zoning or permitting power. It is further the purpose and intent of the Legislature that no debt or obligation of a district shall constitute a burden on any local government without its consent.
SECTION 3. As used in this act the following terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section unless the context clearly requires otherwise:
(a) "Assessable improvements" means any public improvements and community facilities that the district is empowered to provide in accordance with this act.
(b) "Assessment bonds" means special obligations of the district that are payable solely from proceeds of the special assessments levied for an assessable project.
(c) "Board" or "board of directors" means the governing board of the district or, if such board has been abolished the board, body or commission succeeding to the principal functions thereof or to whom the powers given to the board by this act have been given by law.
(d) "Bond" includes "certificate," and the provisions that are applicable to bonds are equally applicable to certificates. The term "bond" includes any assessment bond, refunding bond, revenue bond and other such obligation in the nature of a bond as is provided for in this act.
(e) "Public improvement district" or "district" means a special district that is created pursuant to this act and limited to the performance of those specialized functions authorized by this act, the boundaries of which are contained wholly within a single county; the governing head of which is a body created, organized and constituted and authorized to function specifically as prescribed in this act for the delivery of public improvement services; and the formation powers, governing body, operation, duration accountability, requirements for disclosure and termination of which are as required by general law.
(f) "Cost," when used with reference to any project, includes but is not limited to:
(i) The expenses of determining the feasibility or practicability of acquisition, construction or reconstruction.
(ii) The cost of surveys, estimates, plans and specifications.
(iii) The cost of improvements.
(iv) Engineering, fiscal and legal expenses and charges.
(v) The cost of all labor, materials, machinery and equipment.
(vi) The cost of all lands, rights, servitudes and franchises acquired.
(vii) Financing charges.
(viii) The creation of initial reserve and debt service funds.
(ix) Working capital.
(x) Interest charges incurred or estimated to be incurred on money borrowed before and during construction and acquisition and for such reasonable period of time after completion of construction or acquisition as the board may determine.
(xi) The cost of issuance of bonds pursuant to this act, including advertisements and printing.
(xii) The cost of any election held pursuant to this act and all other expenses of issuance of bonds.
(xiii) The discount, if any, on the sale or exchange of bonds.
(xiv) Administrative expenses.
(xv) Such other expenses as may be necessary or incidental to the acquisition, construction or reconstruction of any project or to the financing thereof, or to the development of any lands within the district.
(g) "District manager" means the manager of the district.
(h) "District roads" means highways, streets, roads, alleys, sidewalks, landscaping, storm drains, bridges and thoroughfares of all kinds and descriptions.
(i) "Landowner" means the owner of land, including real property as it appears in the official records of the county, including a trustee, a private corporation and an owner of a condominium unit.
(j) "Project" means any development, improvement, property, utility, facility, works, enterprise or service undertaken after the passage of this act or established under the provisions of this act.
(k) "Revenue bonds" means obligations of the district that are payable from revenues derived from sources other than ad valorem taxes on real or personal property and that do not pledge the property, credit or general tax revenue of the district.
(l) "Sewer system" means any plant, system, facility or property, and additions, extensions and improvements thereto, useful or necessary in connection with the collection, treatment or disposal of sewage.
(m) "Water management and control facilities" means any lakes, canals, ditches, reservoirs, dams, levees, flood ways, pumping stations or any other works, structures or facilities for the conservation, control, development, utilization and disposal of water, and any purposes incidental thereto.
(n) "Water system" means any plant system, facility or property, and additions, extensions, and improvements thereto, useful or necessary in connection with the development of sources, treatment or purification and distribution of water.
SECTION 4. (1) The method for the establishment of a public improvement district shall be pursuant to an ordinance adopted by the governing body of the county in which the land is located granting a petition for the establishment of a public improvement district. The petition for the establishment of a public improvement district shall be filed by the petitioner with the governing body of the county. The petition shall contain:
(a) A description of the boundaries of the district;
(b) The written consent to the establishment of the district by all landowners in the district;
(c) A designation of five (5) persons to be the initial members of the board of directors, who shall serve in that office until replaced by elected members as provided in this act;
(d) The proposed name of the district;
(e) A map of the proposed district showing existing infrastructure, if any; and
(f) Based upon available data, the proposed timetable for construction of the district services and the estimated cost of constructing the proposed services.
(2) A public hearing on the petition shall be conducted by the governing body of the county within forty-five (45) days after the petition is filed unless an extension of time is requested by the petitioners and granted by the governing body of the county. The hearing shall be held at an accessible location in the county in which the public improvement district is to be located. The petitioner shall cause a notice of the hearing to be published in a newspaper having general circulation in the county at least once a week for the four (4) successive weeks immediately prior to the hearing. Such notice shall give the time and place for the hearing, a description of the area to be included in the district, and any other relevant information which the establishing governing bodies may require. The advertisement shall be published in the official minutes of the local governing body.
(3) The governing body of the county shall consider the record of the public hearing and any other relevant factors in making its determination to grant or deny a petition for the establishment of a public improvement district.
(4) An ordinance establishing a public improvement district shall include the boundaries of the district, the names of the five (5) persons designated to be the initial members of the board of directors of the district and the name of the district.
(5) If all of the land in the area for the proposed district is within the territorial jurisdiction of a municipality, then the petition requesting establishment of a public improvement district under this act shall be filed by the petitioner with that particular municipality. In such event, the duties of the county with regard to the petition shall be the duties of the municipality. If any of the land area of a proposed district is within the land area of a municipality, the governing body of the county may not create the district without the approval of the municipality.
(6) The governing body of a county and/or a municipality may enter into contribution agreements with the district.
SECTION 5. (1) The board of the district shall exercise the powers granted to the district pursuant to this act. The board shall consist of five (5) members as otherwise provided in this section. Each member shall hold office for a term of four (4) years and until a successor is chosen and qualifies. The initial members of the board shall be residents of the state and at least one (1) of the initial members shall be a resident of the area immediately adjacent to the district.
(2) Beginning six (6) years after the initial appointment of members, the position of each member whose term has expired shall be filled by a qualified elector of the district, elected by the qualified electors of the district.
(3) Members of the board shall be known as directors and, upon entering into office, shall take an oath of office. They shall hold office for the terms for which they were elected or appointed and until their successors are chosen and qualified. If during the term of office, a vacancy occurs, the remaining members of the board shall fill the vacancy by an appointment for the remainder of the unexpired term.
(4) A majority of the members of the board constitutes a quorum for the purposes of conducting its business and exercising its powers and for all other purposes. Action taken by the district shall be upon a vote of a majority of the members present unless general law or a rule of the district requires a greater number.
(5) As soon as practicable after each election or appointment, the board shall organize by electing one (1) of its members as chair and by electing a secretary, who need not be a member of the board, and such other officers as the board may deem necessary.
(6) The board shall keep a permanent minute book in which shall be recorded minutes of all meetings, resolutions, ordinances, proceedings and all corporate acts.
(7) Members of the board may receive per diem compensation for services in an amount as provided under Section 25-3-69, and shall be entitled to expenses necessarily incurred in the discharge of their duties in accordance with Section 25-3-41. Any payments for compensation and expenses shall be paid from funds of the district.
SECTION 6. (1) The board shall employ and fix the compensation of a district manager. The district manager shall have charge and supervision of the works of the district and shall be responsible for (a) preserving and maintaining any improvement or facility constructed or erected pursuant to the provisions of this act, (b) maintaining and operating the equipment owned by the district, and (c) for performing such other duties as may be prescribed by the board. The district manager may hire or otherwise employ and terminate the employment of such other persons including, without limitation, professional, supervisory and clerical employees, as may be necessary as authorized by the board. The compensation and other conditions of employment of the officers and employees of the district shall be as provided by the board. The district manager, a board member or district employee may be a stockholder, officer or employee of a landowner.
(2) The board shall designate a person who is a resident of the state as treasurer of the district, who shall have charge of the funds of the district. Such funds shall be disbursed only upon the order or pursuant to the resolution of the board by warrant or check countersigned by the treasurer and by such other person as may be authorized by the board. The board may give the treasurer such other or additional powers and duties as the board may deem appropriate and may fix his or her compensation. The board may require the treasurer to give a bond in such amount on such terms, and with such sureties as may be deemed satisfactory to the board to secure the performance by the treasurer of his or her powers and duties. The financial records of the district shall be audited by an independent certified public accountant at least once a year.
(3) The board may select as a depository for its funds any qualified public depository as provided for under Sections 27-105-301 through 27-105-371.
SECTION 7. (1) The district shall comply with Sections 19-11-1 through 19-11-27, the County Budget Law.
(2) At least sixty (60) days before adoption of the annual budget, the district board shall submit to the local governing authorities having jurisdiction over the area included in the district for purposes of disclosure and information only, the proposed annual budget for the ensuing fiscal year and any proposed long-term financial plan or program of the district for future operations.
SECTION 8. The district shall take affirmative steps to provide for the full disclosure of information relating to the public financing and maintenance of improvements to real property undertaken by the district. Such information shall be made available to all existing residents and to all prospective residents of the district. The district shall furnish each developer of a residential development within the district with sufficient copies of that information who shall provide each prospective initial purchaser of property in that development with a copy.
SECTION 9. The district shall have, and the board may exercise, the power:
(a) To sue and be sued in the name of the district; to adopt and use a seal and authorize the use of a facsimile thereof; to acquire, by purchase, gift, devise or otherwise, and to dispose of, real and personal property; and to make and execute contracts and other instruments necessary or convenient to the exercise of its powers.
(b) To contract for the services of consultants to perform planning, engineering financial, legal, or other appropriate services of a professional nature.
(c) To borrow money and accept gifts; to apply for and use grants or loans of money or other property from the United States, the state, a unit of local government or any person or any organization for any district purposes and enter into agreements required in connection therewith; and to hold, use and dispose of such monies or property for any district purposes in accordance with the terms of the gift, grant, loan or agreement relating thereto.
(d) To adopt bylaws prescribing the powers, duties and functions of the officers of the district, the conduct of the business of the district and the maintenance of records.
(e) To maintain an office at such place or places as it may designate within a county in which the district is located, which office must be reasonably accessible to the landowners. Meetings shall be held at such office or such other location as may be designated by the board.
(f) To hold, control and acquire by donation, or purchase or dispose of, any public servitudes or dedications to public use and to make use of such servitudes or dedications for any of the purposes authorized by this act.
(g) To lease as lessor or lessee to or from any person, firm, corporation, association, or body public or private, any projects of the type that the district is authorized to undertake and facilities or property of any nature for the use of the district to carry out any of the purposes authorized by this act.
(h) To borrow money and issue bonds, certificates, warrants, notes or other evidence of indebtedness as provided in this act; to levy such special assessments as may be authorized; and to charge, collect and enforce fees and other user charges.
(i) To acquire property for public use through condemnation, exercised pursuant to Sections 11-27-1 through 11-27-51, subject to the approval of the governing body of the county and/or the municipality that enacted the ordinance establishing the district.
(j) To raise, by user charges or fees authorized by resolution of the board, amounts of money which are necessary for the conduct of the district activities and services and to enforce their receipt and collection in the manner prescribed by resolution not inconsistent with law.
(k) To cooperate with, contract, or enter into contribution agreements with, other governmental agencies, including the governing bodies of counties and/or municipalities, as may be necessary, convenient, incidental or proper in connection with any of the powers, duties or purposes authorized by this act.
(l) To determine, order, levy, impose, collect and enforce special assessments pursuant to this act.
(m) To enter into interlocal cooperative agreements pursuant to Section 17-13-1 et seq.
(n) To exercise all of the powers necessary and proper in connection with any of the powers, duties or purposes authorized by this act.
SECTION 10. The district shall have, and the board may exercise, any or all of the special powers relating to public improvements and community facilities authorized by this act. The district shall have the power to finance, fund, establish, acquire, construct or reconstruct, enlarge or extend, equip, operate and maintain systems, facilities and basic infrastructures for the following:
(a) Water management and control for the lands within the district and connection of some or any of such facilities with roads and bridges.
(b) Water supply, sewer and wastewater management, reclamation and reuse, or any combination thereof.
(c) Bridges or culverts that may be needed across any drain, ditch canal, floodway, holding basin, excavation, public highway, tract, grade, fill or cut and roadways over levees and embankments.
(d) District roads equal to or exceeding the specifications of the county in which such district roads are located, and street lights.
(e) Parks and facilities for indoor and outdoor recreational, cultural and educational uses, and other tourism related infrastructure and facilities.
(f) Fire prevention and control, including fire stations, water mains and plugs, fire trucks, and other vehicles and equipment.
(g) Security, except that the district may not exercise any police power, but may contract with the appropriate local governmental agencies for an increased level of such services within the district boundaries.
(h) Waste collection and disposal.
(i) Systems as defined in Section 21-27-11(b).
SECTION 11. No public improvement district may purchase or sell a water or wastewater utility that provides service to the public, or enter into a management contract for such facilities, until the board has held a public hearing on the purchase, sale or management contract and has made a determination that the purchase, sale or management contract is in the public interest.
SECTION 12. (1) The district may issue and sell from time to time bonds, notes, negotiable notes, tax anticipation notes, bond anticipation notes, other fund anticipation notes, renewal notes, refunding bonds, interim certificates, certificates of indebtedness, certificates of participation, debentures, warrants, commercial paper or other obligations or evidences of indebtedness to provide funds for and to fulfill and achieve its public purpose or corporate purposes, as set forth in this act, including but not limited to the payment of all or a portion of the costs of a project, to provide amounts necessary for any corporate purposes, including incidental expenses in connection with the issuance of the obligations, the payment of principal and interest on the obligations of the district, the establishment of reserves to secure such obligations, and all other purposes and expenditures of the district incident to and necessary or convenient to carry out its public functions or corporate purposes, and any credit enhancement for such obligations.
(2) Except as may otherwise be provided by the district, all obligations issued by the district shall be negotiable instruments and payable solely from the levy of any special assessment by the district or from any other sources whatsoever that may be available to the district but shall not be secured by the full faith and credit of the state or the county or municipality that created the district.
(3) Obligations shall be authorized, issued and sold by a resolution or resolutions of the district adopted as provided in this act. Such bonds or obligations may be of such series, bear such date or dates, mature at such time or times, bear interest at such rate or rates, including variable, adjustable, or zero interest rates, be payable at such time or times, be in such denominations, be sold at such price or prices, at public or private negotiated sale, after advertisement as is provided for in Section 17-21-53(1), (2), be in such form, carry such registration and exchangeability privileges, be payable at such place or places, be subject to such terms of redemption and be entitled to such priorities on the income, revenue and receipts of, or available to, the district as may be provided by the district in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issuance and sale of the bonds or obligations of the district.
(4) The obligations of the district shall be signed by such directors or officers of the district by either manual or facsimile signatures as shall be determined by resolution or resolutions of the district, and shall have impressed or imprinted thereon the seal of the district or a facsimile thereof.
(5) Any obligations of the district may be validly issued, sold and delivered notwithstanding that one or more of the directors or officers of the district signing such obligations or whose facsimile signature or signatures may be on the obligations shall have ceased to be such director or officer of the district at the time such obligations shall actually have been delivered.
(6) Obligations of the district may be sold in such manner and from time to time as may be determined by the district to be most beneficial, and the district may pay all expenses, premiums, fees or commissions that it deems necessary or advantageous in connection with the issuance and sale thereof, subject to the provisions of this act.
(7) The district may authorize the establishment of a fund or funds for the creation of a debt service reserve, a renewal and replacement reserve or such other funds or reserves as the district may approve with respect to the financing and operation of any project and as may be authorized by any bond resolution, trust agreement indenture of trust or similar instrument or agreement pursuant to the provisions of which the issuance of bonds or other obligations of the district may be authorized.
(8) Any cost, obligation or expense incurred for any of the purposes specified in this act shall be a part of the project costs and may be paid or reimbursed as such out of the proceeds of bonds or other obligations issued by the district.
(9) Neither the directors of the board nor any person executing the bonds shall be personally liable for the bonds or be subject to any personal liability by reason of the issuance thereof. No earnings or assets of the district shall accrue to the benefit of any private persons. However, the limitation of liability provided for in this subsection shall not apply to any gross negligence or criminal negligence on the part of any director or person executing the bonds.
(10) The district may avail itself of the provisions of Sections 31-13-1 through 31-13-11.
(11) This act constitutes full and complete authority for the issuance of bonds and the exercise of the powers of the district provided herein. No procedures or proceedings, publications, notices, consents, approvals, orders, acts or things by the board or any board, officers, commission, department, agency or instrumentality of the district, other than those required by this act, shall be required to perform anything under this act, except that the issuance or sale of bonds pursuant to the provisions of this act shall comply with the general law requirements applicable to the issuance or sale of bonds by the district. Nothing in this act shall be construed to authorize the district to utilize bond proceeds to fund the ongoing operations of the district.
SECTION 13. Any pledge made by the district shall be valid and binding from time to time when the pledge is made without the need for physical delivery of any pledged property. The money, assets or revenues of the district so pledged and thereafter received by the district shall be immediately subject to the lien of such pledge and shall be valid and binding as against all parties having claims of any kind in tort, contract or otherwise against the district, irrespective of whether such parties have notice thereof. Neither the resolution nor any other instrument by which a pledge is created need be recorded or filed in order to establish and perfect a lien or security interest in the property so pledged by the district.
SECTION 14. It is hereby determined that the creation of the district and the carrying out of its public functions and corporate purposes is, in all respects, a public and governmental purpose for the benefit of the people of the state and for the improvement of their health, safety, welfare, prosperity and security, that such functions and purposes are public purposes and that the district will be performing an essential governmental function in the exercise of the powers conferred upon it by this act. All obligations authorized to be issued by the district pursuant to the provisions of this act, together with interest thereof, income therefrom, and gain upon the sale thereof shall be exempt from all state and local taxes.
SECTION 15. Bonds issued under the provisions of this act shall be limited obligations of the district payable solely from the sources pledged for the payment thereof. All such bonds shall contain a statement on their face substantially to the effect that neither the full faith and credit of the state nor the full faith and credit of any governmental unit of the state are pledged to the payment of the principal of or the interest on such bonds. The issuance of bonds under the provisions of this act shall not directly, indirectly or contingently obligate the state or any governmental unit of the state to levy any taxes or to make any appropriation for their payment arising out of contracts authorized under this act.
SECTION 16. The state and all public officers, any county, municipality or other subdivision or instrumentality of the state, any political subdivision, any bank, banker, trust company, savings bank and institution, building and loan association, savings and loan association, investment company or any person carrying on a banking or investment business, any insurance company or business, insurance association and any person carrying on an insurance business, any executor, administrator, curator, trustee and other fiduciary, and any retirement system fund may legally invest any sinking funds, monies or other funds belonging to them or within their control in any bonds or other obligations issued by the district pursuant to the provisions of this act, and such bonds or other obligations shall be authorized security for all public deposits. It is the purpose of this section to authorize such persons, firms, corporations, associations, political subdivisions and officers, or other entities public or private, to use any funds owned or controlled by them, including but not limited to sinking, insurance, investment, retirement, compensation, pension and trust funds, and funds held on deposit, for the purchase of any such bonds or other obligations of the district and that any such bonds shall be authorized security for all public deposits. However, nothing contained in this section with regard to legal investments or security for public deposits shall be construed as relieving any such person, firm, corporation or other entity from any duty of exercising reasonable care in selecting securities.
SECTION 17. (1) The board shall annually determine, order and levy the annual installment of the total benefit special assessments for bonds issued and related expenses to finance district facilities and projects that are levied under this act. These assessments may be due and collected during each year that county taxes are due and collected, in which case such annual installment and levy shall be evidenced to and certified to the assessor by the board not later than August 31 of each year. Such assessments shall be entered by the assessor on the county tax rolls and shall be collected and enforced by the tax collector in the same manner and at the same time as county taxes, and the proceeds thereof shall be paid to the district. These benefit special assessments shall be a lien on the property against which assessed until paid and shall be collectible and enforceable in like manner as county property taxes. All statutes regulating the collection and enforcement of county property taxes shall apply to the enforcement and collection of the benefit special assessments levied under this section. The amount of the assessment for the exercise of the district’s powers under this act shall be determined by the board based upon a report of the district’s engineer and assessed by the board upon such lands, which may be part or all of the lands within the district benefited by the improvement, apportioned between benefited lands in proportion to the benefits received by each tract of land.
(2) To maintain and preserve the facilities and projects of the district, the board shall levy a maintenance special assessment. This assessment may be evidenced by and certified to the assessor by the board of directors not later than August 31 of each year and shall be entered by the assessor on the county tax rolls and shall be collected and enforced by the tax collector in the same manner and at the same time as county taxes, and the proceeds therefrom shall be paid to the district. These maintenance special assessments shall be a lien on the property against which assessed until paid and shall be collectible and enforceable in like manner as county property taxes and all statutes regulating the collection and enforcement of county property taxes shall apply to the enforcement and collection of the benefit special assessments levied under this section. The amount of the maintenance special assessment for the exercise of the district’s powers under this act shall be determined by the board based upon a report of the district’s engineer and assessed by the board upon such lands, which may be all of the lands within the district benefited by the maintenance thereof, apportioned between the benefited lands in proportion to the benefits received by each tract of land.
(3) Benefit special assessments and maintenance special assessments authorized by this section shall be levied and payable in annual installments for each year for which bonds secured by the assessment are outstanding. The tax collector shall collect and enforce assessments in the same manner and at the same time as ad valorem taxes. Benefit special assessments and maintenance special assessments shall constitute a lien on the property against which assessed until paid and shall be on a parity with the lien of state, county, municipal and school board property taxes.
(4) The tax assessor and tax collector are entitled to reasonable compensation for preparing the rolls and collecting the assessments.
(5) District assessments may be made payable in no more than thirty (30) yearly installments.
SECTION 18. Any lien in favor of the district arising under this act may be enforced by the district in a court of competent jurisdiction as provided by law. Such proceedings may be brought at any time after the expiration of one (1) year from the date any tax or installment thereof becomes delinquent.
SECTION 19. The district shall comply with the provisions of Section 31-7-1 et seq., regarding the construction of public works or the purchase of materials or supplies.
SECTION 20. (1) The district may prescribe, fix, establish and collect rates, fees, rentals or other charges for the facilities and services furnished by the district, within the limits of the district, including but not limited to recreational facilities, water management and control facilities and water and sewer systems. The district may also recover the costs of making connection with any district facility or system and provide for reasonable penalties against any user or property for any such rates, fees, rentals or other charges that are delinquent.
(2) No such rates, fees, rentals or other charges for any of the facilities or services of the district may be fixed until after a public hearing at which all the users of the proposed facility or services shall have an opportunity to be heard concerning the proposed rates, fees, rentals or other charges. Notice of such public hearing setting forth the proposed schedule of rates, fees, rentals and other charges shall be published in the official journal of the district once at least ten (10) days before such public hearing.
SECTION 21. The district shall provide by ordinance with respect to nonpayment, delinquency charges and discontinuance of service for water and sewer services provided by the district.
SECTION 22. (1) The boundaries of the district may be contracted or expanded in the same manner in which the district was created pursuant to this act.
(2) The district may be terminated or dissolved in one of the following ways:
(a) The district may be terminated or dissolved upon the transfer of all the public improvement services of the district to a unit of local government. The district shall be terminated in accordance with a plan of termination which shall be adopted by the board of directors and filed with the clerk of the court.
(b) If, within five (5) years after the effective date of the ordinance creating the district, a landowner has not received a development permit on some part or all of the area covered by the district, then the district will be automatically dissolved and a court of competent jurisdiction shall cause a statement to that effect to be filed in the public records.
(c) If the district has become inactive, the county or municipality that created the district shall be informed and shall take appropriate action.
SECTION 23. After the establishment of a district under this act, each contract for the initial sale of a parcel of real property and each contract for the initial sale of a residential unit within the district shall include, immediately before the space reserved in the contract for the signature of the purchaser, the following disclosure statement in boldfaced and conspicuous type which is larger than the type in the remaining text of the contract: "THE (Name of District) PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT MAY IMPOSE AND LEVY ASSESSMENTS ON THIS PROPERTY. THESE ASSESSMENTS PAY THE CONSTRUCTION, OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE COSTS OF CERTAIN PUBLIC FACILITIES AND SERVICES OF THE DISTRICT AND ARE SET ANNUALLY BY THE GOVERNING BOARD OF THE DISTRICT. THESE ASSESSMENTS ARE IN ADDITION TO COUNTY AND OTHER LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL TAXES AND ASSESSMENTS AND ALL OTHER TAXES AND ASSESSMENTS PROVIDED FOR BY LAW."
SECTION 24. Within thirty (30) days after the effective date of the ordinance establishing a public improvement district under this act, the district shall cause to be recorded in the land records in the county in which it is located a "Notice of Establishment of the Public Improvement District." The notice shall include the legal description of the district and a copy of the disclosure statement specified in this act.
SECTION 25. This act, being necessary for the welfare of the state and its residents, shall be liberally construed to effectuate its purposes.
SECTION 26. Section 17-13-5, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
17-13-5. For the purpose of this chapter, the following words shall be defined as herein provided unless the context requires otherwise:
(a) "Local governmental unit" shall mean any county, any incorporated city, town or village, any school district, any utility district, any community college, any institution of higher learning, * * * any municipal airport authority or regional airport authority in the state or any public improvement district created under the Public Improvement District Act.
(b) "Governing authority" shall mean the board of supervisors of any county, board of trustees of any school district or community college whether elective or appointive, the governing board of any city, town or village, the board of commissioners of a utility district, the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, * * * the commissioners of a municipal airport authority or regional airport authority or the board of directors of any public improvement district created under the Public Improvement District Act.
SECTION 27. This act shall take effect be in force from and after its passage.