In case any taxing district is unable to sell its certificates of indebtedness, it may issue warrants in payment of current expenses in excess of cash on hand, but not in excess of eighty-five percent of taxes levied for the fiscal year of issue but uncollected and not otherwise encumbered, plus fifty percent of the uncollected and not otherwise encumbered taxes of the four preceding years, and the funds derived from the collection of taxes for the current year and such preceding years, to the extent that the same have been encumbered, constitute a special fund for the payment of warrants issued against such taxes. If warrants are issued in excess of
such limitations, such warrants possess no validity as against the taxing district, but the officials knowingly and willfully issuing the same are liable personally for the payment thereof.
21-01-05. Warrants for salaries and official publications - Payable one-half in cash prior to other warrants. The governing board of any political subdivision, in the event that there have not been funds in the treasury of such subdivision sufficient to pay the salaries and wages of the officials and employees, including publication fees for official printing by the official newspaper of such subdivision, in full for a period of six months, by resolution, may authorize the issuance of warrants to such officials, employees, and the official newspaper for salary, wages, and official publication fees, whereby one-half of such salaries, wages, and official publication fees must be paid in cash by the treasurer of such political subdivision to such officials, employees, and official newspaper, and a warrant issued for the balance thereof which must be registered and paid as other warrants are registered and paid. This section must be construed to relieve the treasurer of such political subdivision of liability to other warrant holders because of the payment of salaries, wages, and official publication fees as provided herein.