Title GV, Government Code

Sec. 1477.105. BONDS NOT PAYABLE FROM TAXES. (a) A bond issued under this subchapter: (1) is not a debt of the county; (2) may be a charge only on the revenue pledged for the payment of the bond; and (3) may not be included in determining the power of the county to issue bonds or…

Sec. 1477.106. NOTICE OF INTENTION TO ISSUE BONDS. (a) The commissioners court of the county may not authorize bonds under this subchapter until the court gives notice of its intention to issue the bonds. (b) The notice must state, as to the proposed bonds: (1) the maximum amount…

Sec. 1477.107. ELECTION. (a) If, before the bonds are authorized, the commissioners court receives a petition requesting an election on the issuance of the bonds that is signed by more than 10 percent of the county's registered voters who are resident owners of taxable property i…

Sec. 1477.108. CONTENTS OF ORDER AUTHORIZING BONDS. An order authorizing the issuance of bonds under this subchapter may contain: (1) reasonable and proper provisions for protecting and enforcing the rights or remedies of the bondholders, including covenants that state the duties…

Sec. 1477.109. MATURITY. A bond issued under this subchapter must mature not later than 40 years after its date. Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 227, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.

Sec. 1477.110. SIGNATURES; REGISTRATION BY COUNTY TREASURER. (a) A bond issued under this subchapter must be signed by the county judge and attested by the county clerk. (b) The county treasurer shall register a bond issued under this subchapter but is not required to sign the bo…

Sec. 1477.111. SALE OF BONDS. The commissioners court shall determine the manner of sale of bonds issued under this subchapter. Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 227, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.

Sec. 1477.112. USE OF BOND PROCEEDS. (a) The county shall disburse the proceeds of bonds issued under this subchapter in accordance with any restrictions provided in the order authorizing the bonds. (b) The bondholders have a lien on the proceeds until the proceeds are applied. (…

Sec. 1477.113. ADDITIONAL BONDS. (a) Unless otherwise provided by the order authorizing the bonds, if the proceeds of bonds issued to pay for a natural gas system are not sufficient to pay the cost of the system, the county may issue additional bonds under this subchapter not to …

Sec. 1477.114. GAS RATES AND CHARGES. The commissioners court shall contract for and impose rates and charges for gas supplied by the natural gas system that will be sufficient to: (1) operate and maintain the system; (2) pay when due the principal of and interest on any bonds is…

Sec. 1477.115. BONDHOLDER'S RIGHT TO MANDAMUS. (a) A holder of a bond issued under this subchapter is entitled, by mandamus or other proceedings in court, to enforce the holder's rights against: (1) the county; (2) county employees and agents; and (3) the employees of the county'…

Sec. 1477.116. REFUNDING BONDS. Bonds issued to refund bonds issued under this subchapter may only be: (1) exchanged for bonds being refunded; or (2) sold and delivered to provide money to pay matured or redeemable bonds maturing or redeemable not later than six months after the …

Sec. 1477.117. EXEMPTION FROM ASSESSMENT OR TAXATION. (a) A county is not required to pay any assessment on a natural gas system or any part of a natural gas system acquired or constructed under this subchapter. (b) A bond issued under this subchapter, a transfer of the bond, and…

Sec. 1477.118. COUNTY USE OF GAS. The county shall pay for gas used by the county for its own facilities from general funds of the county legally available for that purpose, and free service is prohibited. Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 227, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.

Sec. 1477.119. SALE OF GAS NOT NEEDED FOR COUNTY PURPOSES. The commissioners court may sell, deliver, and distribute natural gas of a natural gas system purchased or constructed under this subchapter that is not needed for county purposes to a municipal corporation or political s…

Sec. 1477.120. EMINENT DOMAIN. (a) The county may not acquire a natural gas system or a facility of a natural gas system under this subchapter by the exercise of the power of eminent domain or exercise the power of eminent domain under this subchapter outside the county's boundar…

Sec. 1477.121. RELOCATION OR ALTERATION EXPENSE. If a county, in the exercise of a power under this subchapter, including the power of eminent domain or the power of relocation, makes necessary the relocation or rerouting of, or alteration of the construction of, a highway, railr…

Sec. 1477.122. ESSENTIAL GOVERNMENTAL FUNCTION. A county, in accomplishing the purposes of this subchapter, is performing an essential governmental function. Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 227, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999. SUBCHAPTER D. OBLIGATIONS FOR FIRE-FIGHTING EQUIPMENT

Sec. 1477.151. AUTHORITY TO PURCHASE FIRE-FIGHTING EQUIPMENT. The commissioners court of a county may purchase fire trucks and other fire-fighting equipment to be used for the protection and preservation of bridges, county shops, county warehouses, and other county property locat…

Sec. 1477.152. AUTHORITY TO ISSUE OBLIGATIONS AND IMPOSE TAXES. (a) The county may issue time warrants and bonds of the county for a purchase under Section 1477.151 and may impose taxes for the payment of those time warrants or bonds. The county shall deposit the taxes in the gen…

Sec. 1477.153. LIMIT ON AMOUNT OF OBLIGATIONS. A county may issue time warrants or bonds under this subchapter only in an amount that will at all times leave unencumbered taxes in an amount sufficient to pay all current expenses from the county's general fund. Added by Acts 1999,…

Sec. 1477.201. AUTHORITY TO ISSUE CERTIFICATES OF INDEBTEDNESS. The commissioners court of a county may issue certificates of indebtedness to acquire, construct, repair, renovate, improve, or equip firefighter training facilities for the county and to acquire property in connecti…

Sec. 1477.202. AUTHORITY TO IMPOSE AND PLEDGE AD VALOREM TAX. The commissioners court shall impose and pledge annual county ad valorem taxes under Section 9, Article VIII, Texas Constitution, in an amount sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on certificates of indebted…

Sec. 1477.203. LIMIT ON AMOUNT OF INDEBTEDNESS. The aggregate principal amount of certificates of indebtedness issued by a county under this subchapter may not exceed $5 million. Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 227, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.

Sec. 1477.204. ELECTION. (a) The commissioners court may issue certificates of indebtedness under this subchapter only if the certificates are approved by a majority of the qualified voters voting at an election held for that purpose by the commissioners court. (b) An election un…

Sec. 1477.205. MATURITY. A certificate of indebtedness issued under this subchapter must mature not later than 40 years after its date. Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 227, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.

Sec. 1477.206. OPERATION OF FIREFIGHTER TRAINING FACILITIES. (a) The commissioners court may: (1) operate and maintain the county's firefighter training facilities; and (2) set and collect charges for: (A) services performed at those facilities; and (B) information furnished to o…

Sec. 1477.251. APPLICABILITY OF SUBCHAPTER. This subchapter applies only to a county with a population of 500,000 or more. Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 227, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.

Sec. 1477.252. AUTHORITY TO ISSUE BONDS AND IMPOSE TAXES. (a) If the subdivisions of surveys in a county are irregularly numbered or if the blocks and subdivisions of municipalities in the county are not numbered or are irregularly numbered, causing difficulties for the county ta…

Sec. 1477.253. ELECTION PROPOSITION. (a) At an election to approve the issuance of bonds under this subchapter, the commissioners court may submit one or more separate propositions for the issuance of bonds. (b) Each proposition submitted at a bond election under this subchapter …

Sec. 1477.254. BONDS OBLIGATION OF COUNTY. (a) A bond issued under this subchapter is an obligation of and a charge against the county issuing the bond. (b) Except as provided by this subchapter, a county must issue bonds under this subchapter and impose taxes in compliance with …

Sec. 1477.301. APPLICABILITY OF SUBCHAPTER. This subchapter applies only to a county: (1) with a population of more than 3.3 million; or (2) with a population of more than 90,000 that borders the United Mexican States other than a county that contains three or more municipalities…

Sec. 1477.302. AUTHORITY FOR VISITOR OR TOURIST ATTRACTIONS. A county may establish, acquire, lease as lessor or lessee, construct, improve, enlarge, equip, repair, operate, or maintain: (1) a public improvement or facility to attract visitors or tourists to the county, including…

Sec. 1477.303. AUTHORITY TO ISSUE REVENUE BONDS. The commissioners court of the county by order may issue revenue bonds to provide all or part of the money to establish, acquire, construct, improve, enlarge, equip, or repair a facility described by Section 1477.302. Added by Acts…

Sec. 1477.304. PLEDGE OF REVENUE. (a) Bonds issued under this subchapter must be secured by a pledge of and be payable from all or a designated part of the revenue from the improvement or facility for which the bonds are issued, as provided in the order authorizing the bonds. (b)…

Sec. 1477.305. LIEN ON FACILITY. Subject to any limitations contained in previous pledges, in addition to pledging the revenue from the improvement or facility, the commissioners court may give a lien on the physical property acquired with the bond proceeds. Added by Acts 1999, 7…

Sec. 1477.306. BONDS NOT PAYABLE FROM TAXATION; EXCEPTION. (a) The owner or holder of a bond issued under this subchapter is not entitled to demand payment of the principal of or interest on the bond from money raised by taxation. (b) Subsection (a) does not apply to a demand for…

Sec. 1477.307. CONTENTS OF ORDER AUTHORIZING BONDS. (a) The order of the commissioners court authorizing the issuance of bonds under this subchapter may provide for the flow of funds and the establishment and maintenance of an interest and sinking fund, a reserve fund, or other f…

Sec. 1477.308. ADOPTION AND EXECUTION OF DOCUMENTS. The commissioners court may adopt and have executed any other proceeding or instrument necessary or convenient to the issuance of bonds under this subchapter. Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 227, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.

Sec. 1477.309. MATURITY. A bond issued under this subchapter must mature not later than 40 years after its date. Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 227, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.

Sec. 1477.310. SIGNATURES. A bond issued under this subchapter must be: (1) signed by the county judge; and (2) countersigned by the county clerk. Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 227, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.

Sec. 1477.311. SALE OF BONDS. The commissioners court may sell bonds issued under this subchapter under terms the court determines to be the most advantageous and reasonably obtainable. Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 227, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.

Sec. 1477.312. USE OF BOND PROCEEDS. (a) From the proceeds of bonds issued under this subchapter, the county may appropriate or set aside amounts to: (1) pay interest expected to accrue during the construction period; (2) deposit into a reserve fund, as provided in the order auth…

Sec. 1477.313. INVESTMENT OF FUNDS. Money in an interest and sinking fund, reserve fund, or any other fund established or provided for in the bond order may be invested in the manner and in the securities as provided in the bond order. Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 227, Sec.…

Sec. 1477.314. CHARGES FOR SERVICES. The commissioners court shall impose and collect charges for the use of an improvement or facility the revenue of which is pledged to secure bonds issued under this subchapter, and for services provided in connection with that use, in amounts …

Sec. 1477.315. REFUNDING BONDS. (a) A county by order may issue revenue refunding bonds similarly secured to refund either original bonds or revenue refunding bonds previously issued by the county under this subchapter. (b) The refunding bonds shall be executed as provided by thi…