An authority may issue bonds for transportation or reserve purposes, but certain long-term tax-secured bonds need voter approval, some indebtedness needs city approval, and some commercial paper programs need new CFO certification to continue past five years.
Sec. 452.352. POWER TO ISSUE BONDS. (a) An authority may issue bonds at any time and for any amounts it considers necessary or appropriate for: (1) the acquisition, construction, repair, equipping, improvement, or extension of its public transportation system; or (2) creating or funding self-insurance or retirement or pension fund reserves. (b) A bond any portion of which is secured by a pledge of sales and use tax revenues and that has a maturity longer than five years from the date of issuance may not be issued by an authority until an election has been held and the proposition proposing the issue has been approved by a majority of the votes received on the issue in accordance with either Section 452.362 or 452.363. (c) A subregional authority created by a contiguous municipality may not issue a document of indebtedness, including a bond, unless the document is approved by the governing body of the contiguous city. (d) Subsection (b) does not apply to: (1) refunding bonds; (2) bonds described by Subsection (a)(2); or (3) commercial paper notes having maturities of 270 days or less that are authorized to be issued and reissued from time to time under a commercial paper program in a maximum principal amount that the chief financial officer certifies, based on reasonable estimates of pledged sales and use tax revenue, can be repaid in full within five years after the date of authorization of the commercial paper program, taking into consideration any other bonds or notes having a prior or parity lien on the pledged revenue, regardless of the final date of the commercial paper program. (e) A commercial paper program described by Subsection (d)(3) may not be continued beyond five years unless, before issuing any note with a maturity exceeding five years from the date of the initial authorization of the program or five years from the date of any new certification, the chief financial officer provides a new certification that the maximum principal amount of the program, based on reasonable estimates of pledged sales and use tax revenue, can be repaid in full within five years after the date of the most recent new certification, taking into consideration any other bonds or notes having a prior or parity lien on the pledged revenue. Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995. Amended by: Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 54 (S.B. 1375), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2007.