The board must propose a service plan and initial tax rate, call a county election, and give notice and ballot wording requirements for approving the authority and tax rate.
Sec. 457.053. CONFIRMATION ELECTION. (a) If an authority is created under Section 457.051, the board shall propose a service plan and an initial tax rate for the authority. The initial tax rate must be the same rate as that collected by the city transit department created by the principal municipality. (b) After proposing a service plan and an initial tax rate, the board shall call an election in the county to approve the creation of the authority and the tax rate. The election must be held on a uniform election date but may not be held on the same day as an election held by the county under Section 323.101, Tax Code. The election is not held in the territory of the principal municipality. (c) Notice of the election must include a description of the nature and rate of the proposed tax. The board shall send a copy of the notice to the department and the comptroller. (d) At the election, the ballots shall be printed to permit voting for or against the following proposition: "The creation of the (name of county) Transit Authority and the imposition of a (rate of tax) percent sales and use tax in (name of county) County." (e) If a majority of the votes cast at the election approve the proposition: (1) the board shall record the result in its minutes and adopt an order implementing the service plan; and (2) on the day the sales and use tax takes effect in the authority, the city transit department created by the principal municipality under Chapter 453 or former Article 1118z, Revised Statutes, is dissolved, and its assets, personnel, and obligations are transferred to the authority. (f) If less than a majority of the votes cast at the election approve the proposition, the board shall adopt an order dissolving the authority, and the city transit department of the principal municipality is not affected. (g) The jurisdiction of an authority is coextensive with the territory of the county. (h) The board shall file a certified copy of an order adopted under Subsection (e)(1) or (f) with the department, with the comptroller, and in the deed records of the county. Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 30.35(a), eff. Sept. 1, 1997.