§1420.14. Notice of creation; incontestability after unchallenged delay; assumption of assets, rights, and responsibilities of the districts and continuation of obligations

A. The establishment, creation, consolidation, or merger of any special service district by the Jefferson Parish Council shall be by ordinance. A notice of the intention to establish, create, merge, or consolidate the district and the date, time, and place of such action shall be published in the official journal of the parish in accordance with the provisions of the Jefferson Parish Charter for the adoption of ordinances. At the time and place so advertised, or at any time and place to which such hearing may be adjourned from time to time, all interested persons shall be given an opportunity to be heard with regard to the proposed establishment, creation, consolidation, or merger of any special service district.

B. After the establishment, creation, consolidation, or merger of any special service district, notice of such, stating the boundaries of the district, shall be published one time in the official journal of the parish, in accordance with the provisions of the Jefferson Parish Charter for the publication of adopted ordinances. Thirty days after such publication, the establishment, creation, consolidation, or merger of the district shall become incontestable, and no court shall have jurisdiction to entertain litigation questioning the legality of the establishment, creation, consolidation, or merger of such district. If the Jefferson Parish Council desires to call an election in any such district to authorize the issuance of bonds, the levy of any new or additional taxes, or the assumption of indebtedness, it may call such election and publish notice thereof prior to the expiration of the thirty-day period.

C. At the expiration of the thirty-day period provided for in Subsection B of this Section, existing districts of the same type included in any such consolidated or merged district shall no longer have the right to issue bonds or other obligations, and all books, records and assets thereof shall be transferred to the consolidated district. The governing authority of the consolidated district shall cause taxes to continue to be levied for the payment of the outstanding indebtedness of each underlying district of the same type which has not been assumed by the consolidated district, as hereinafter provided, in all respects as would have been required had such consolidation not been effected. In addition, if such indebtedness of any underlying district consists of revenue bonds or special assessment certificates payable from service charges or assessments, the governing authority of the consolidated district shall continue to impose and collect such service charges or assessments, as well as any special taxes previously authorized and legally dedicated by covenant with bondholders to the payment of maintenance or operation expenses.

D. The creation of a consolidated or merged district pursuant to this Part shall not affect or impair in any manner contract rights enjoyed by the holders of any outstanding bonds or obligations of the underlying districts. To the extent required by such contract rights, taxes, service charges, and assessments on the property from which the principal and interest on such bonds or obligations are payable shall continue to be levied and collected as provided in Subsection C of this Section. However, any consolidated or merged district may assume all or any indebtedness of its underlying districts in the manner and with effect provided by R.S. 39:661 et seq. for the assumption of indebtedness by parishes.

E. The consolidated or merged district may continue the levy of any special taxes authorized to be levied by the underlying districts and use the assets transferred to it or in lieu thereof, may levy its own special taxes on all property within the consolidated district for the purpose of maintaining, operating, constructing, and improving district works in the manner provided by the constitution and laws of this state after having been authorized to do so at a special election held in accordance with the provisions of the constitution and laws of this state.

F. The consolidated or merged district may commingle the revenues and assets of the underlying districts transferred to it and utilize same for the objects and purposes of the new consolidated or merged district, provided that expenditures are made for the objects and purposes authorized by the voters of the underlying districts and further provided that the level of services to the underlying districts is not reduced by the transfer or commingling of such funds.

G. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, any consolidated or merged district shall be eligible for any and all allocation of state revenue sharing or other reimbursement or payment from the Property Tax Relief Fund that would otherwise be distributed to the underlying districts had the consolidation or merger not occurred.

Acts 1999, No. 880, §1, eff. July 2, 1999; Acts 2000, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 50, §1, eff. April 17, 2000; Acts 2001, No. 382, §1, eff. June 13, 2001.