Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter to the contrary, no school district shall be required, except as provided in this section, to contribute toward the cost of a project for which an application for an apportionment is filed, any of the following funds of the district:

(a) Amounts in the general fund of the district which are apportionments from the State School Fund.

(b) Amounts in the general fund of the district which are the proceeds of a tax levy and have not been earmarked by the governing board of the district or the electors of the district for any purposes for which school district bonds may be issued and sold.

In considering an application for an apportionment the board may review the purposes for which the district has expended or encumbered proceeds from the sale of district bonds authorized to be issued at an election held on or after September 3, 1952. Upon a finding by the board that any such proceeds have been expended or encumbered for purposes outside the scope and intent of this chapter, the board may require the district to contribute toward the project for which an apportionment is sought from any funds of the district, except those referred to in subdivision (a) above, an amount equal to the amount of district bonds proceeds expended or encumbered for purposes outside the scope and intent of this chapter. Proceeds from the sale of district bonds which have been encumbered or expended for the purchase of schoolbuses authorized by Section 15100 shall be deemed encumbered or expended for purposes outside the scope and intent of this chapter.

If a district is required pursuant to this section to make a contribution toward the project for which an apportionment is sought as a result of the purchase prior to January 1, 1967, of schoolbuses authorized by Section 15100 out of proceeds from the sale of district bonds, the district at the time that the board determines that the contribution is required may agree to pay the required contribution by payment into the State School Building Aid Fund by 10 or less annual installments payable without interest over a period not exceeding 10 years after the date of the final apportionment. The first installment shall be due and payable one year after the date of the final apportionment. The installment payments shall be made by the governing board of the district from moneys in the general fund of the district if money is available therefor. If the governing board of the district determines that money is not available in the general fund of the district for such purposes, the maximum rate of school district tax for any school year is hereby increased for any school year by such amount not to exceed the amount of the proposed payment into the State School Building Aid Fund as shown by the budget for such school year as finally adopted by the governing board of the district, less any unencumbered balances remaining at the end of the preceding school year derived from the revenue from the increase in the rate of tax provided by this section.

(Repealed and added by Stats. 1996, Ch. 277, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1997. Operative January 1, 1998.)