The board may issue bonds and notes, but county commissioners must approve the issuance by majority vote unless the district is wholly in a county with more than 3 million people. If the bonds are backed by ad valorem taxes, the district must impose the tax prescribed by Section 775.074.
Sec. 775.076. BONDS AND NOTES AUTHORIZED. (a) The board may issue bonds and notes as prescribed by this chapter to perform any of its powers. (a-1) Before the board may issue bonds or notes authorized by this section, the commissioners court of each county in which the district is located must approve the issuance of the bonds or notes by a majority vote. This subsection does not apply to a district located wholly in a county with a population of more than three million. (b) The board may issue bonds and notes in one or more issues or series that are payable from and secured by liens on and pledges of: (1) ad valorem taxes; (2) all or part of the district's revenues, income, or receipts; or (3) a combination of those taxes, revenues, income, and receipts. (c) The bonds and notes may be issued to mature in not more than 40 years from the date of their issuance. (d) Provision may be made for the subsequent issuance of additional parity bonds or notes or subordinate lien bonds or notes under terms and conditions stated in the resolution authorizing the issuance of the bonds or notes. (e) to (g) Repealed by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1140, Sec. 23(2), eff. Sept. 1, 2001. (h) If provided by the resolution, the proceeds from the sale of the bonds or notes may be used for: (1) paying interest on the bonds or notes during the period of the acquisition or construction of a facility to be provided through the issuance of the bonds or notes; (2) paying expenses of operation and maintenance of the facility; (3) creating a reserve fund to pay the principal of and interest on the bonds or notes; and (4) creating other funds. (i) As provided in the resolution, proceeds from the sale of the bonds and notes may be placed on time deposit or invested until needed. (j) If the bonds or notes are issued payable by a pledge of revenues, income, or receipts, the district may pledge all or any part of its revenues, income, or receipts from fees, rentals, rates, charges, and proceeds and payments from contracts to the payment of the bonds or notes, including the payment of principal, interest, and any other amounts required or permitted in connection with the bonds or notes. The pledged fees, rentals, rates, charges, proceeds, and payments must be established and collected in amounts that will be at least sufficient, together with any other pledged resources, to provide for: (1) all payments of principal, interest, and any other amounts required in connection with the bonds or notes; and (2) the payment of expenses in connection with the bonds or notes and the operation, maintenance, and other expenses in connection with the facilities to the extent required by the resolution authorizing, or the trust indenture securing, the issuance of the bonds or notes. (k) The district shall impose a tax as prescribed by Section 775.074 if the bonds or notes are payable wholly or partly from ad valorem taxes. Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989. Amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1140, Sec. 7, 23(2), eff. Sept. 1, 2001; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 235, Sec. 8, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 930, Sec. 7, eff. Sept. 1, 2003. Amended by: Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 900 (H.B. 2653), Sec. 5, eff. September 1, 2007.