48-6817. District taxes; annual financial estimate and budget

A. At any time after the hearing on formation of the district, the district board, or, if before formation, the governing body, may call an election to submit to the persons who are eligible to vote in the district as prescribed in section 48-6818 and the qualified electors of the district the question of authorizing the district board to levy an ad valorem tax on the assessed value of all the real and personal property in the district at a rate or rates that do not exceed the maximum rate or rates specified in the ballot. All taxes shall be used for the operation and maintenance expenses of the district, excluding expenses for an area described in section 48-6808, subsection E, and shall not exceed an amount equal to thirty cents per one hundred dollars of assessed valuation for all real and personal property in the district, unless a higher rate is approved by a petition signed by the owners of at least fifty-one per cent of the net assessed value of the property of the district and a petition signed by at least fifty-one per cent of the property owners of the district. The district board by simple majority vote may reduce or eliminate any portion of the tax imposed by the district.

B. The district may not levy at a rate or rates in excess of the maximum rate then in effect.

C. When levying an ad valorem tax, the district board shall make annual statements and estimates of the operation and maintenance expenses of the district and the amount of all other expenditures for infrastructure and enhanced municipal services proposed to be paid from the tax levy or levies, all of which shall be provided for by the levy and collection of ad valorem taxes on the assessed value of all the real and personal property in the district. The district board shall file the annual statements and estimates with the clerk. The district board shall publish a notice of the filing of the estimate, shall hold hearings on the portions of the estimate not relating to debt service on bonds and shall adopt a budget. The board, on or before the date set by law for certifying the annual budget of the county or municipality, shall fix, levy and assess the amounts to be raised by ad valorem taxes of the district and shall cause certified copies of the order to be delivered to the board of supervisors and to the department of revenue. All statutes relating to the levy and collection of general county taxes, including the collection of delinquent taxes and sale of property for nonpayment of taxes, apply to the district taxes provided for by this section.