**OFFICE OF**  **THE ATTORNEY**  **GENERAL OF**  **TEXAS** AUSTIN

**Xay 8,**  1939

gonorabldT. ld.

Trimble firstAssistantState Superintendent Austin,Texas

Dear **8lr:** opinion**x0.** o-no

eaaent Sob001 Did&t was **orsated** br

authorizedat an eleotionheld Deaeaber 51, lQ2l.

The **8prlnglake** IndspcndentSahool DlaWlot nae~omatea j&l925 by Hotwe Bill'Ho. 234, Chaptar 45, page.153,ThlrtpElghth Zeghlature, Re&er Session, eifeatlveNaroh 24, 1923. ,~,Thls **Aat** provides In **part:**

Woo. 5.~A part of the **territory** deaoribed in Se&ion 1 of thle **Aot** ie takqn iram the Sudan IndependentSohool Dietriot of Lamb CoFIBtf,T. M. Thimble,May 8, 1939, Page 2

Texas, and said territoryso taken away from said Sudan Independent Sohool District ahall remain and be ohargeable with its prorata part of the indebtedness represented**by any**  bonds heretoforevoted by the Sudan Independent School DIetrIot In proportionas the taxable values of that part of the territoryso taken away from the Sudan IndependentSohool Distriotbears to the total taxable values of the Sudan IndependentSohool District aoaordlngto the last officiaI approved asseasment role; provided, however, that the Board of Trusteesot the SprlhglakeIadepsndant sahool Dlstrlot,wlthout the qeaeesltyor a petitionthereformay cwder an eleotlon in said Uatrlot to detemlno rhether or not the said diatrlat M herein **oreated** as a ~~&sl~tilqm much prorata part of outQuestionx0. 1. Doas ths Aot **ors8tin6** the **8prln#lake In**  Sahool Dlstriotaitsatlvely dataah that portionot;ita rormsrlyoontainedin the Sudan Indspendsnt8ohool.D18- **triot l** **’ mm**  the Zatter dlatriat?

**We** amilvmr

this **queotlon. in**  **the afflmmtive.**  **we iot**  onat& the springlakaaidriot, uhioh la later lzitirsor **enaot** mnt.and eiieotltedate than either of the **A&a atisoting**  tha Suaan amriot, ~4rp~f58ly doi8 M. **A.** iaia 

### by xr. JugtiM critz la Xqfmi'd 

### Indepemhmt suhool Dir&riot ~8. Willmmr Indepm&mt Sohool Diatriot (TercCorn.. App.) 54S.W. (2d) 854: 

## *It is witlea that **a soho**  **amriot ha6** 

**no oantraot**  or vested right in laws fixing the botmdarlea,and oaruwt assert that a.atatutareau0ing its arsa riolate any ooatraot right. El Dorado Independent8ohool Dietx$otvs. Tlsdsle (Tex.COIL App.) 5 **S.W.** (2d) 420."
QuoetionWo. 

### 2. What obligation,if any, relatingto the (40.000.00bond Issue or the Sudan dlstriot atkaohes to,the Sprlnglakedlstviot,or that part thereof aetaohed **fmm the**  **Sudan** distrlot and made a part of the Springlakadietriot?

Seation S of the **Aot** &eating the Springlakedl8triot, Quoted above,providesthat:

"Said territwyawtsken awayrmm said Su

### dan Independent

Sohool Distrlot shall remain and be ohargsable

with Umprorata part of any bondsHonorable'f. M. Trimble, May 8, 1939, Page 3

heretofore voted by the Sudan Independent School lxstrict

. . ."

Mr. Boles states in his letter:

Vhere was no agreementa8 to assumption 0r bonded indebtedness so far as the written reoords show and this copy of the County Board minutes coatsins the only County reoord of'the transaction. No assumption eleotion was over ordered or held. The involved territory has been oonsidered
a part of the Springlaketerritoryeinae that date and the matter has not been bmught to the attention oi the County Board again-Untilthle year.*

.
It appears, 

### therefore, that no action -has bosn’3aken rOr $ha l asumptlon

of any part of the #40,0CCAC 1nUebtedneas bytha gprlnm diatriot

### in oonromity with 

### the above quoted 

### awtloa **of the**  **Aot** oroatingthe Sprlngl#&odiatriot. Nor has the Co?mty~ ?oard of Truatoeaof Lamb Couutytakan auy 

### aotlonIn thla oonneoon as authorizea

by Aota 1987,

lii$ Fortloth Legirlature, ?irat Called


### :~aaloa,

pow 

### 228, Chapter84, whi.oh Aot Walso aeslgnatea w Art- .P,942b,

RevisedCivil 8tatutee of Texas. **We** quote from seotlon &.that Aott

"When the boundariesof may aohool dietriot

having on outstanding bolded **inaabtsunoss** ha+s ~ ,~' beeu **ohanged or**  **its territory**  **divi&ed, or.**  **two**
or more of suoh diatriotaoonaolidatod,It shalt. ~~,e bethe dutyof tha County Boardof Truateea to make auoh m adjustmentoi ouoh **ind~btedneaa** and ' dietriotpr0portloa betraw the distrlets oftooted and betwepn the territory divided, dstaohed
or added, aa may **be** Just end equitable,taking into oonolderatlon

the value of aohool bmperti6s and the taxablewealth ot the diatriotseffeoted and the territoryso divided, detaohod or added
as the oaae maybe. And when 8da.mard has arrived at **a aatlafaotory**  **baals ot**  +oh im adjustment, it shall have the power to make euch-orders in relationthe-to as shell be oauolualvoand binding upon the distrioti and the territorythereby offeotod.R

We also oell yoti &tontion to that portion of Seation t' of the abovequoted **Aot** which oreated the Bpringlakedistriot 8&l& **P~ldos** that the Sprfnglekodiatriot ee a whole may assume **this ~Xmita**  share of the debt aeolaredto be -ains t that portion 0r P@ alatriotwhich wa8 rormerlya part 0r the Sudan aiatrlot

### upon m elOQtion80 deciuinghold in'the f&pr&n@akedlatriot~ This eleo- %OO la expresslyauthorizsdta be oalled by the ,Truateoa of thegosornble T. K. Trircblo, hay 8, 1959, Page 4

Springlake district without the necessity of a petition.

Almost the identical situation as here presented arose in the ease or Lyford Independent Sohool District vs. Wlllamar IndopendentSchool Distriat (Comm. **App.** of Tel.1 34 S.?:. (26) 854. In th& ease the Lyrord Independent Sohool Dlstriot was first created by apeoial act ot the Legislature. Thereafter the Willamar Indopendont Sahool Dlstriot was creeted by speoial aat, end the newly arestedWillamar district was given a part of the territory roimerly belonging to the Lyford district. Section **4** of the Act creating the Willsmar district provided:

Vhat the Willamar Independent Sohool Dlatrlot as createdby this Aot ahall pay 

### Its share

or any indebtedness now duo to the Lytord ludepsadaat Sohool Dlstrlot to be pIw8ted aooordIllg to the aaaeasedvalue or that part or thIa dIetrIot whioh Ia a part or said Lyford dIatrIot.*

The COmmIaeIonOf Appeola ex#reSaadmom doubt as to tha oOnafItutIonalIty

of the Aot OreatIagthe Willamar dirtriot, **but** sala that all auob doubt had boon reamed by b aubaequentvalidating aat of tha~&gIalature, being Senate Bill Eo. SS4, Chapter S98, pw 666, General Lswa, **Re&.ar** Sosalon, Rmty-Flrat Legislature. Said validatingaot **being inoorporatea**  **in Vernon** **’ s**  **hotatea Stat**  **utes** ***a** hrtlole 2SC28. ThIa ralIdatIa.8 aat rotild

apply with aqual foroe to the 8atsareatIngthe Sudaa a&t&s SprInglakedIat~~.aa~a.

The COmmIasionOf Appeoli raa~lvedall question8ralatine tathe adJuataant**of bondad**  **indebte6ueaa** between the tno aohool diatrIat8by reterring to Art1010 2942b,~Ravl88d Clril Statutas, fgz 0r whi.ah wo quoted abare.-The 00urt u8ea the rsll~

Wnder Seotion 9 It is providedthat whore the bmndarlea of say aohooldiatriot~ hsving
au outstandIngband~d~lndebtoaneas ha6 been ohangedlor Its territory**dividea,** oto., It la the **duty** 0r~ the County Board 0r mmteiis to asks a Just and equitableaddjuatment of the **propertlee** and **inaebtodnosses lnvol~e&.**  Seotion 10 of the **Aot** provides maus and methods ot oerrying into effect the orders of the County sohool Board made under Sootion 9. Seation 11 provides

ror taking aare of Iadebtedneasaa IH oases where necessaryrefundingbonds ars voted down, or the CountyBoard,is Othemlso unable tm arrange sn ~adJaalaaent

0r suah aattors. Seoti.on 12 Ia general in its provlnlons and gives the Board parer to arrange such mattero in any lega and equit-Bonorsble T. M. Trimble, May 8, 1939, Page 5

able manner."

Ke therefore rerer you to Sections 10, 11 and 12 of Artiole 2742b, Revised Civil Statutes, wblch we quote as follows:

Wee. 10. To **carry** into erreot orders adjustlag bonded Indebtedness when changes are made in 6ohool di6triot.6, the County Board Of Trust&es shall hp.vethe power to order the Trustees or the districts effected, to order

6Il elsotion ror the 166Uitlg or suoh refUnd5ng bonds as may be neOe666ryto carry out the purpeso of suoh order; and, In su0h oaso, it shall be the duty of the dletrlottrustee to order such slaotion,oauso th4 s654 to bs hold, ana, ii the propositioni6 earrlsd; to iSSU4 the bOnda vetod. Sueh **bonds** shall be or the ssae denominationand oerry the s4m4 interest rete
ana mature at the 6ams tlmo as the' outstnnd~ bonds orpIng

by ths **distriot** issuingthem; and wh4B 80 iSSUea, shdli if p0Stibh b4 OXOhfi@g4d 

### for ths outstanding bonds for whioh thk dlstriet issuing thsa-shallstill be liable, aoooralng to ths order adjusting suoh inaebtsdMM;. en& in 01848 tier4 suoh an -esohangooannot be made~-th4~new bonds Of the dlatriot,to the munt Oftho 016 bonds fOE whloh It is still liable and to whioh no oxOhsng4oan be made, shall be **deposited** in ths County Treasury to the **aoeount** of suoh di8trfot. 

### l’herotaftertar~s shallbelrrl4d' and 

### earneased

0tily forth4 paymat Or lnt47?48t, sinking i’bnd

and prinolpalof the now bonds se lo8uad; and the'

iMds arlslngfrom suoh taxatlori shallbe used to alsohergsthe prinolpelona intoceat of suoh now 

### bonds an ham been lssuod ana OXoheugad and suoh old bonds as have aot beon oxohangodi ?shsn

taxes **qre** 00114Ofedapplloeblato. n4~ bonds not sxohangeaaa the pro044asapplied to payment on old bonds not exohangod,the **oorrm** ponding now bonds in the County Troasurf shsll b4 oredltedwith ouoh payment nnd retiredwas the old unoxohangodbonds 4r4 retired.

"'940.11. In oe646 wbero ohaog46 ar4 maa4 and distriotshaving outstandingbonded lndobtadnose and wber4 the neoesaaryrefundingbonds are ' voted down or where ths County B~ardlgt~Trustess ark ~therwlssun&bls to arrange an tidjUstI64nt OrHonorableT. M. Thimble,Hay 8, 19?+, Page 6

settlement of 6uoh bonded indebtedness, it shall ba the duty Of.the tXXl6t446 t0 OOrtify the r4Ot and the territories alrooted by suoh ohanges, to the Commissioners* Court and thereupon it shall beoomo the ctuty

of the CO~iSSiOnOrS' Court to thereaftsr annually levy and c6u64 to bs a66o68- ed and oolleotsd from the taxpayer6 or euoh distriota es they existed before the ohanges were made, the tax neosasery to pay the interest, the sinking fund and discharge the pripoipal of suoh indsbtedness aa it mat&roe. And it shallbs the duty of eeoh IndependentSohool Distriot so offeotoa, to oeuso all fund8 ln fts **hands,** whether sinks ftmde or otherwise,tiloh have beon ool140t8a on eooount of euoh bonded lndebtedneee,~ t0 b4 tmhti8r8ma t0 the **county Treaeuror**  0r the ootzaty in whioh 8uoh aistriot is situatedaa euoh dietriot ehall thereafteroean to levy arrdoolloot en$ tar on aooamt of eu0h bondei ena it ehellbe the duty of th4 county Treesurer fo k44p the funas se treneforroa sndfhose arising trar taxation,la 8eparete *000unte eed applrthe eeme only to the dleahargeof e?mh bonded inaebteane88 sad the inte~et thsmm, 88 th4 leme eieturee.

%40. le. Rothins la the pmvis~on oi this llot eh % :$u?event

the County Board oS~Truet488

. rr06iarr ag any other method for the edJustmsnt end'bettloment of outstandingbonded ipdebt4aa488 or soho ai8tri0t8 in whfoh ohangee er8mea8 **abut** ther shell hey4 full power ena euthorityta meke any legsl and equltebleadjustment,+6 set+ tlenent In suoh 0~48 that oen 

### bs erfoogd.*
'Applying

the above quoted 8eotlons'~iArtlol8~874Sb, R.C. 8. t0 the ~qu4stlone asksa by Mr. Boise, ,m r48peotfUly eavleethat the County Board or Sohool Truet.448 shell meke en #djustment,ot the indebtodxwie

between the Sudan and ’ thq Sprin@ske dietriots,aad itj may Uirsot ths trustessof the Sprlnglakodletrlot @ oell sn.eleotioa within the said dietriot ror the assumptionor its prorate 8har4-of,ths

$4O,OOO.OO.,bondea

lndobtodnessof the Sudan dlstriot. Should suoh an aseumptianof Indebtednose be voted down by the Springlakodietriot,the County Board of Sohool Trusteoe shell Obrti?y the fact to the Ocmmiseioaera * court or Lamb county 88 airoot4a by Seotlon 11, above quotsd. The Commlssionsra~ Oourt of Lamb County shall tharsupon *oauso fo be 8864684a and oolleotedfrw the tarpdyersof euoh dietriots as they exieted bofors th4 ahengoswar4 111164, .tho tar nooeeeary to pay the tnteMst, the 8-a fund and disoharg4 the principal. or BUOh lndobtodnsss as it matures.:Sootion 11, supra.@norable T. X. Thimble, Liay 0, 1939, Fag4 7

;uostlon Eo.Zi. If territory is detached district and edded to another, does tht territory from one school hkvo an interest In the school properties ol the first district (which have been phfd, for by taxes or bond issues) end is the llrst district obll@ted to reimburse the district to vblch the territory is attached ror the prorata Interest ol'the detached territory in the properties of the first school district?

This question is one which the County Board of School Trustees, or the County Commlsaioners ' tiourtrzy take Into consideration in aajustlng the indebtedness between the two dlstriots. 

### Brmmer, "therele 00 euthorlty eStabliShed by law for **deter&&q** the VaLoe or the coa8lder8tloa to be recelred by an ext4nA4d die

### trlotfor as 8uOh iIid~bt&llaSS" &at Sohool - - M. -O&t 3ldSpOllR. (Ed) Sl4, efflr&wd by ColoDission of AppBb, s4

&lStiOS CX'itzin &,#CU'd 33Ld8~4!ll&Wlt sOhOC& DJstr%st 78. wlllale8r Inaepeaamt School Distriot, 34.s. vi. (2a) Em, ssidr

"U~~frorthe~fhat~~op-

.. ertiees original4 oumd by the Lyfoml distrlat rrcntlett SitUaw in suoh diSt.dCt a8 Ohan@ by the Aet ereatlng the ~lllamar afetrlat end thSl-8 $8 M dhpUt8 bStWSW2 the twa al@&t*
as to the owmxwhlp OS the88 ~rqert28s.~

bee e~btarast~anyof~t?i8ihfpl~ ~188 S&Y&U yw thet the SprX8gl8ka aetrl.et

of the Sudan Ub5triat.

BKK:YC BYm 

# Q9&

Belt4r8. f A48l8t8nt