House Bill 1847

(As Sent to Governor)

AN ACT TO CREATE A NEW ENTITY TO BE KNOWN AS THE NATCHEZ-ADAMS COUNTY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY; TO PROVIDE FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS TO THE AUTHORITY; TO PROVIDE THE DUTIES AND POWERS OF THE AUTHORITY; TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY OF NATCHEZ AND ADAMS COUNTY TO ISSUE GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS TO PROVIDE FUNDS FOR THE AUTHORITY TO ACQUIRE AND IMPROVE PROPERTY; TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY OF NATCHEZ AND ADAMS COUNTY TO LEVY AN AD VALOREM TAX TO SUPPORT THE AUTHORITY AND TO AUTHORIZE SUCH ENTITIES TO FUND THE AUTHORITY FROM ANY EXCESS FUNDS OF SUCH ENTITY; TO REPEAL CHAPTER 702, LOCAL AND PRIVATE LAWS OF 1971, AS AMENDED, WHICH CREATES THE NATCHEZ-ADAMS COUNTY ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. (1) The governing authorities of the City of Natchez, Mississippi, and the Board of Supervisors of Adams County, Mississippi, are hereby authorized and empowered jointly to create and establish an organization to be known as Natchez-Adams County Development Authority, hereinafter referred to as the authority.

(2) The authority shall be composed of five (5) citizens of Adams County, Mississippi, three (3) of whom shall be appointed by the Board of Supervisors of Adams County, Mississippi, and two (2) of whom shall be appointed by the governing authorities of the City of Natchez. No appointee may hold an elected office and serve on the board of the authority.

(3) The term of the initial appointments made by the county shall be for two (2), three (3) and four (4) years, respectively, as designated by the Board of Supervisors of Adams County. The term of the initial appointments made by the city shall be for one (1) and five (5) years respectively as designated by the governing authorities of the City of Natchez. All subsequent appointments shall be made in the same manner as the initial appointments for a term of four (4) years or until their successors are appointed and qualified. All appointments made to the authority shall be made within thirty (30) days from and after the effective date of this act.

(4) In making appointments to the authority, the Board of Supervisors of Adams County and the governing authorities of the City of Natchez shall strive to maintain a ratio reflective of the population of Adams County, Mississippi, and shall each specifically strive to assure that no racial group have more than sixty percent (60%) nor less than forty percent (40%) representation on the authority.

(5) Members of the Natchez-Adams County Development Authority in place before the effective date of this act shall continue to serve as members of the authority until their current terms expire or until reappointed.

SECTION 2. Before entering upon the duties of office, each member of the authority shall take and subscribe to the oath of office required by Section 268, Mississippi Constitution of 1890, and shall give bond in the sum of Twenty Thousand Dollars ($20,000.00), conditioned upon the faithful performance of his or her duties, each bond to be payable to and approved by the authority. Premiums for said bond shall be paid by the authority.

SECTION 3. (1) The members of the authority shall meet at the Adams County Courthouse within thirty (30) days after all initial appointments have been made and shall elect from among their number a chairman, vice chairman and secretary-treasurer of the authority and shall adopt a seal and such bylaws, rules and regulations as may be necessary to govern the time, place and manner for holding subsequent meetings of the authority and for the conduct of its business, not inconsistent with the provisions of this act. The authority shall record and retain minutes of all meetings. Any action taken by the authority shall be official at the time the action is taken. Actions may be taken by the authority at any regular, special or adjourned meeting.

(2) The authority is hereby authorized to promulgate such reasonable rules and regulations as it shall deem necessary to effectuate the intent and purposes of this act, which are not in contravention of this act or any other law, and is further authorized, in its discretion, to appoint an executive committee from its membership to perform certain duties and functions and exercise such power and authority as the authority by duly adopted resolution shall prescribe.

(3) The members of the authority shall serve without salary or compensation, but may be reimbursed for actual expenses, including mileage and travel expenses, whether within or without the State of Mississippi, incurred in the performance of their duties, as authorized by Section 25-3-41, Mississippi Code of 1972.

(4) The fiscal year for the authority shall be from October 1 of one year through September 30 of the following year.

SECTION 4. (1) The authority is hereby granted the following powers, together with all powers incidental thereto or necessary for the performance of those hereinafter stated, in order to effectuate the purposes of this act:

(a) To acquire by gift, purchase or otherwise, and to own, lease, hold, maintain, control and develop, real estate and improvements thereof situated within the county, either within or without the corporate limits of a municipality, for development, use or operation as one or more industrial park complexes, buildings or sites or economic development districts.

(b) To engage in works of internal improvement for such sites, including, but not limited to, construction or contracting for the construction of streets, roads, railroads, site improvements, water, sewerage, drainage, pollution and other related facilities necessary or required for industrial or economic development use and development of projects.

(c) To acquire, purchase, install, lease, construct, own, hold, equip, control, maintain, use, operate and repair such structures and facilities as are determined to be necessary and convenient for the planning, development, use, operation and maintenance of projects for industrial or economic development purposes, including, but not limited to, buildings, utility installations, elevators, compressors, warehouses, air, rail and other transportation terminals and pollution control facilities. In the event the authority takes by gift or otherwise any land, buildings or other tangible assets from any persons, firms or corporations, public or private, the authority may assume all or any part of the liabilities resulting from such acceptance under such terms and conditions as will be in the best interest of the citizens of Adams County.

(d) To sell, lease, trade, exchange or otherwise dispose of industrial sites and improvements thereon situated within projects to individuals, firms or corporations, public or private, for all types of industrial, economic, commercial and agricultural uses upon such terms and conditions, for such consideration, and with such safeguards as it determines will best promote and protect the public interest, convenience and necessity, and to execute deeds, leases, contracts, easements and other legal instruments necessary or convenient therefor.

(e) To fix and prescribe fees, charges and rates for the use of any water, sewerage, utilities, pollution or other facilities constructed, owned and operated by the authority in connection with a project and to collect the same from persons, firms and corporations using the same for industrial, commercial or agricultural purposes, except as to rates and charges against common carriers regulated by an agency of the federal government or the Mississippi Public Service Commission.

(f) To employ an executive director and a minority economic development director, and to employ a staff or to contract for staff and professional services with other organizations such as attorneys, engineers, accountants, consultants and such personnel as shall be reasonably necessary to carry out the duties and powers authorized by this act.

(g) To expend funds to promote and solicit new business and industry for the City of Natchez and Adams County and to provide services which will ensure the continued operation and expansion of existing industry in the City of Natchez and Adams County.

(h) To sue and be sued, complain and defend, in its own name, but with and limited by the same governmental immunity from suit as is accorded to Adams County by the Constitution and laws of the State of Mississippi.

(i) To borrow money, from time to time, and to pledge anticipated income from all sources toward the repayment of same.

(j) To lend money for purposes within the intent of this act, invest and reinvest its funds, and take and hold real and personal property as security for the payment of funds so loaned or invested.

(k) To conduct its business, carry on its operations, and have offices and exercise the powers granted by this act in any state, territory, district or possession of the United States, or in any foreign country.

(l) To have and exercise all powers necessary or convenient to effect any or all of the purposes for which the authority is organized, not inconsistent with the laws of Mississippi.

(m) To pledge to one or more lending institutions the revenues to be derived from the tax levy authorized under Section 13 of this act for such period of time as is necessary to repay any loan or loans incurred by the authority for the purpose of accomplishing the provisions of this act.

(n) To adopt and issue a certificate of necessity to use the power of eminent domain in the acquisition of real property. Upon the adoption of such certificate of need which shall state the description of the real property needed to be acquired by eminent domain, the authority shall transmit a copy of such certificate to the Board of Supervisors of Adams County, Mississippi, and to the governing authorities of the City of Natchez, Mississippi, which bodies may initiate proceedings under the provisions of Title 11, Chapter 27, Mississippi Code of 1972. The eminent domain proceedings thereby initiated shall be conducted according to and governed by the provisions of Title 11, Chapter 27, Mississippi Code of 1972.

(2) The governing authorities of the City of Natchez and the Adams County Board of Supervisors, upon the request of the authority, are each authorized to issue bonds for the purposes authorized by this act, the principal of and interest on which shall be payable solely out of the revenue derived from the sale, operation and leasing of a project and its facilities, except as provided hereinafter in this act. The terms, conditions, forms and laws applicable to such bonds shall be as provided in Sections 57-3-11 through 57-3-23, Mississippi Code of 1972.

(3) Contracts for the acquisition, construction, improvement, equipping and furnishing of a project shall be entered into upon the basis of public bidding pursuant to Section 31-7-1 et seq., Mississippi Code of 1972.

(4) Any sale or lease of all or part of a project may be executed upon such terms and conditions and for such monetary rental or other consideration as may be found adequate and approved by the authority in orders or resolutions authorizing the same. Any covenants and obligations of lessees or sublessees to make expenditures in determined amounts, and within such time or times, for improvements to be erected on the land owned or otherwise held by the authority, and to conduct thereon industrial, commercial, economic, agricultural or public purpose operations in such aggregate payroll amounts and for such period of time or times as may be determined and defined in such sale or lease, and to give preference in employment where practicable to qualified residents of the city and county, shall, if included in such sale or lease, constitute and be deemed adequate and sufficient consideration for the execution of any such sale or lease, and no monetary rental or other consideration may be required; any such instrument may contain reasonable provisions giving the lessee the right to remove its or his improvements upon termination of the lease.

SECTION 5. (1) For the purpose of providing funds to defray the expense of acquiring properties pursuant to Section 4 of this act and the expense of improving such property, as provided by this act, the governing authorities of the City of Natchez and the Board of Supervisors of Adams County are hereby authorized to borrow an aggregate amount not in excess of Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000.00) and to issue the negotiable bonds of such governmental subdivisions as evidence of the indebtedness so incurred. Nothing herein shall prevent the governmental subdivisions from issuing such bonds, and the bonds authorized herein may be issued on a countywide basis by Adams County only or, if issued by the City of Natchez as a municipal enterprise, then the bonds shall be issued on a municipal basis only by the municipality.

(2) The principal of and interest on the bonds authorized hereunder shall be payable in the manner provided in this section. Such bonds shall bear such date or dates, be in such denomination or denominations, bear interest at such rate or rates not exceeding the limits set forth in Section 75-17-101, Mississippi Code of 1972, be payable at such place or places within or without the State of Mississippi, shall mature absolutely at such time or times, not to exceed twenty-five (25) years from the date of issue, be redeemable before maturity at such time or times, and upon such terms, with or without premium, shall bear such registration privileges, and shall be substantially in such form, all as determined by resolution of the governing authorities of the city or the board of supervisors, as appropriate. Such bonds shall be executed on behalf of the governmental subdivisions in the manner provided by law for general obligation bonds of the respective governmental subdivisions.

(3) Before issuing any bonds under the provisions of this section, the governmental subdivisions shall, by resolution spread upon their respective minutes, declare their intention to issue bonds for the purposes authorized by this act, shall state in such resolution the amount of bonds proposed to be issued, and shall likewise fix in such resolution the date upon which the governmental subdivisions propose to direct the issuance of such bonds. Notice of such intention shall be published once a week for at least three (3) consecutive weeks in a newspaper published or having a general circulation in Adams County, Mississippi, with the first publication of such notice to be made not less than twenty-one (21) days prior to the date fixed in the resolution declaring the intent to issue the bonds, and the last publication to be made not more than seven (7) days prior to such date. If, on or before the date specified in the resolution, ten percent (10%) of the qualified electors of the governmental subdivision proposing to issue such bonds shall file a written protest against the issuance thereof, then an election upon the issuance thereof shall be called and held as hereby provided. If no such protest be filed, then the bonds may be issued without an election on the question of the issuance thereof at any time within a period of two (2) years after the date specified in the resolution. If an election is required by the protest of the appropriate number of qualified electors of the governmental subdivision, then an election shall be held by such subdivision under the applicable laws. Provided, however, that nothing in this act shall prevent such subdivision from calling an election, whether required by ten percent (10%) of the qualified electors or not, in which event it shall not be necessary to publish the resolution of intent above described.

(4) At such election, all qualified electors of the governmental subdivision may vote, and the ballots used in such election shall have printed thereon a brief statement of the amount and purposes of the proposed bond issue and the words "FOR THE BOND ISSUE" and the words "AGAINST THE BOND ISSUE," and the voters shall vote by placing a cross (X) or check (a) opposite their choice on the proposition.

(5) When the results of any such election shall have been canvassed by the election commission of the governmental subdivision, and certified to the subdivision, it shall be the duty of the governing body of the governmental subdivision to determine and adjudicate whether a majority of the qualified electors residing in such subdivision and voting in such election voted in favor of such bonds, failing of which the proposed bond issue shall be declared as disapproved. If the bond issue shall be approved, the governmental subdivision may issue such bonds within two (2) years from the date of such election, or within two (2) years after final favorable determination of any litigation affecting the issuance of such bonds at such time or times and in such amount or amounts, not exceeding that specified in the notice of the election, as shall be deemed proper by the governmental subdivision.

(6) The full faith, credit and resources of the governmental subdivisions shall be irrevocably pledged for the repayment of bonds and the interest thereon issued by such subdivisions. It shall be the duty of the governmental subdivisions annually to levy and collect a special tax upon all of the taxable property within such subdivisions which shall be sufficient to provide for the payment of the principal and interest on the respective bonds issued, according to the terms thereof; provided, however, any income derived by the governmental subdivisions from the sale or lease of the property authorized to be acquired under this act shall be used for the retirement of the bonds authorized to be sold under the foregoing sections. Further, if such bonds have been heretofore issued, or shall be hereafter issued, by only one (1) of the participating governmental subdivisions under the provisions of this act, the other participating governmental subdivision not issuing such bonds is hereby authorized to enter into an agreement by which it may contribute from any funds available, including, but not limited to, sales tax revenues, and funds other than those created by an ad valorem tax levy, to the bond and interest sinking fund created for the retirement of such bonds.

(7) The bonds issued hereunder shall be exempt from all taxation in the State of Mississippi except gift and inheritance taxes, and their inclusion in any statutory debt limitation shall be governed by the laws applicable to the issuance of bonds as authorized and provided by Section 19-9-5, Mississippi Code of 1972, as it applies to Adams County, and Section 21-33-303, Mississippi Code of 1972, as it applies to the City of Natchez.

SECTION 6. (1) The governing authorities of the City of Natchez, Mississippi, and the Board of Supervisors of Adams County, Mississippi, are each hereby authorized and empowered to annually levy a special tax not to exceed two (2) mills, respectively, of their valuations and assessments, and to annually set aside and appropriate the proceeds of such levy to the Natchez-Adams County Development Authority for the purposes herein contained. In lieu of, or in addition to, the funds derived from a special levy herein provided, the Mayor and Board of Aldermen of the City of Natchez, and the Board of Supervisors of Adams County, Mississippi, are hereby authorized and empowered to fund the authority from such excess funds as may be available in the treasuries of such public bodies. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the contributions of Adams County and the City of Natchez shall be on a basis of sixty percent (60%) and forty percent (40%), respectively, and the governing authorities of the city and the board of supervisors of the county shall meet annually in the month of August to determine and agree upon the total levy or appropriation to be made for the ensuing fiscal year by the city and the county, which shall require the consent of the governing authorities of the city and the board of supervisors of the county. Further, the funds as appropriated for the authority shall be unrestricted by the appropriating entity and shall be used by the authority solely for the purposes set forth in this act.

(2) The levy authorized by this section shall not be revoked or diminished until such time as any loan or loans incurred by the authority are fully satisfied.

(3) All loans or other liabilities presently outstanding, as well as all assets, real or personal, of the Natchez-Adams County Economic and Community Development Authority created under Chapter 702, Local and Private Laws of 1971, as amended, shall be and are hereby recognized as assets and liabilities of the Natchez-Adams County Development Authority created under this act.

SECTION 7. The authority shall have power to receive, in addition to the levies herein provided, other tax monies, private and public donations, and monies from other sources, and may, with the same, expend money to advertise, publicize or promote the industrial, commercial, recreational and educational advantages, opportunities, resources and facilities of the City of Natchez and Adams County.

SECTION 8. All funds appropriated to the Natchez-Adams County Development Authority or donated thereto, pursuant to the provisions of this act, shall be kept in a separate account in a depository to be selected by the authority, and all expenditures from such funds shall be made only upon the prior approval of the authority by check signed by the chairman or vice chairman of the authority and countersigned by the secretary-treasurer.

SECTION 9. As to all money received by the authority, the Natchez-Adams Development Authority shall keep full, complete and accurate records of all of its expenditures, which records shall at all times be available for inspection by the governing authorities of the City of Natchez, Mississippi, and the Board of Supervisors of Adams County, Mississippi, and members of the public at large. The authority shall make and render quarterly detailed accountings to both of the governing authorities of the City of Natchez and the Board of Supervisors of Adams County of all sums of money appropriated to and expended by the authority under the provisions of this act. An annual detailed audit shall be published in a newspaper published locally and having a general circulation throughout Adams County, Mississippi.

SECTION 10. The tax levy herein authorized may be levied and collected without regard to any tax or levy limitation or restriction contained in any law, general or special, and shall not be charged against the general fund taxes or either governing body, this act being supplemental and cumulative to any and all laws relating to tax levies.

SECTION 11. The special ad valorem tax millage authorized by this act shall not be reimbursable by the state under the provisions otherwise made for reimbursements under the homestead exemption laws.

SECTION 12. Chapter 702, Local and Private Laws of 1971, as amended by Chapter 904, Local and Private Laws of 1973, as amended by Chapter 991, Local and Private Laws of 1975, as amended by Chapter 865, Local and Private Laws of 1984, as amended by Chapter 881, Local and Private Laws of 1990, as amended by Chapter 935, Local and Private Laws of 1991, as amended by Chapter 978, Local and Private Laws of 2001, which creates the Natchez-Adams County Economic and Community Development Authority, is hereby repealed.

SECTION 13. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.