The district board has broad powers to manage property, contracts, financing, licenses, fees, and related operations, and it may create subdistricts only after notice, a public hearing, and parish approval.
§130.443. Powers of district A. The district, acting by and through its board, shall have and exercise all powers of a political subdivision necessary or convenient for the carrying out of its objects and purposes, including but not limited to rights and powers set out in this Subpart and including the following rights and powers: (1) To sue and be sued. (2) To adopt, use, and alter at will a corporate seal. (3) To acquire by purchase or donation any property and to hold, maintain, and use such property, or any interest therein. (4) To sell or transfer any property acquired by it, or any interest therein. (5) To lease or sublease all or any portion of any property at a fixed or variable rental rate without advertisement for public bids. (6) To donate property to the United States or any political subdivision of the state. (7) To enter into contracts for the purchase, acquisition, construction, and improvement of works and facilities necessary in connection with the purposes of the district. (8) In its own name and on its own behalf, to incur debt and to issue general obligation bonds, revenue bonds, certificates, notes, and other evidence of indebtedness, and to levy and cause to be collected certain taxes as provided in this Subpart and as may be provided by general law. (9) To develop, regulate, and operate activities and planned land uses to foster creation of new jobs, agricultural, economic, or industry developments. (10) To develop and regulate the construction, operation, maintenance, and improvement of facilities and infrastructure on property owned or leased by the district. (11) To require and issue licenses with respect to its properties and facilities. (12) To regulate the imposition of fees and rentals charged by the district for its facilities and services rendered by it. (13) To borrow money and pledge all or part of its revenues, leases, rents, or other advantages as security for such loans. (14) The board may contract with and employ attorneys, clerks, engineers, deputy commissioners, superintendents, a director, and other agents and employees, and shall fix their compensation and terms of employment. B. The district, or any subdistrict created by the board, shall not be deemed to be an instrumentality of the state for purposes of Article X, Section 1(A) of the Constitution of Louisiana. C.(1) The district may create subdistricts as provided in this Subsection. (2) The district shall publish notice of its intent to create and designate one or more project areas within the boundaries of the district as a subdistrict or subdistricts of the district in the official journal of the district. At least ten days after publication of such notice in the official journal of the district, the board shall conduct a public hearing on the question of creating such subdistrict or subdistricts. (3) Thereafter, upon approval by a majority of the members of the governing authority of Madison Parish, the board may create such subdistrict or subdistricts approved by the governing authority. Each such subdistrict shall constitute a political subdivision of the state and shall be governed by the board. Each subdistrict shall have the same powers as the district and shall be given a name and designated as "Madison Parish Economic and Industrial Development District Subdistrict No. ___". Acts 2010, No. 558, §1, eff. June 25, 2010.