reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
AR Code § 14-87-110 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 5 - Improvement Districts Generally|Chapter 87 - Reorganization or Consolidation of Improvement Districts|§ 14-87-110. Payment of overdue taxes

 (a) On such terms as is deemed advisable and as may meet the approval of the board or court before which the proceedings are had, the taxing district may assume and pay any overdue special improvement taxes of any lands embraced in the subsidiary district from the fund produced by the sale of certificates of indebtedness or of refunding bonds of the taxing district.  (b) The taxes so paid, including penalties, cost of redemption, or any other necessary cost incurred, must be allocated to each tract of land properly chargeable with it, and proper proceedings must be had by which the taxing district may be given sufficient lien or may become subrogated to all rights of existing lienors or pledgees to the end that the taxing district may have a first lien on the lands whose obligation it has assumed for all special taxes paid by it.
AR Code § 14-93-101 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 5 - Improvement Districts Generally|Chapter 93 - Property Owners' Improvement Districts|§ 14-93-101. Title

 This chapter may be known and cited as the “Property Owners' Improvement District Law.”
AR Code § 14-93-102 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 5 - Improvement Districts Generally|Chapter 93 - Property Owners' Improvement Districts|§ 14-93-102. Legislative intent

 (a) It is the intent and purpose of this chapter to authorize the formation of improvement districts by the unanimous approval of all owners of real property located in the territory to be included in the district.  (b) It is the intention of Acts 1985, No. 296, to amend or repeal only such sections or subsections of Acts 1983, No. 613, as are specifically mentioned in Acts 1985, No. 296, and the remainder of Acts 1983, No. 613, shall remain in full force and effect as enacted until Acts 1983, No. 613, shall be further amended or repealed.
AR Code § 14-93-103 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 5 - Improvement Districts Generally|Chapter 93 - Property Owners' Improvement Districts|§ 14-93-103. Definitions

 As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:   (1) “Board” means any board of commissioners appointed pursuant to this chapter;  (2) “District” means any improvement district formed under the provisions of this chapter;  (3) “Improvement” means any lands, structures, improvements, fixtures, and appurtenant equipment acquired, constructed, improved, or equipped by a district;  (4) “Nearby municipality” means any municipality located within ten (10) miles of any boundary of a district;  (5) “Person” means an individual, corporation, partnership, association, firm, or other entity recognized by law as having capacity to own real property in the State of Arkansas. As used in this chapter, person shall include a husband and wife owning property jointly;  (6) “Land” or “real property” means all property subject to taxation for the purposes of this chapter;  (7) “County court”, “county judge”, or “county clerk” means “circuit court”, “circuit judge”, or “circuit clerk” in the cases where the district contains lands in more than one (1) county.
AR Code § 14-93-104 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 5 - Improvement Districts Generally|Chapter 93 - Property Owners' Improvement Districts|§ 14-93-104. Construction

 The provisions of this chapter shall be liberally construed to accomplish the purposes of this chapter, and this chapter shall be the sole authority necessary to accomplish its purposes. To this end, it shall not be necessary to comply with the requirements of other laws in acting pursuant to this chapter to accomplish its purposes.
AR Code § 14-93-105 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 5 - Improvement Districts Generally|Chapter 93 - Property Owners' Improvement Districts|§ 14-93-105. Petition to form district

 (a) Upon the petition of all the owners of the record title as reflected by the deed records in the office of the circuit clerk and ex officio recorder of the pertinent county of real property in any territory, it shall be the duty of the county court to:  (1) Lay off into an improvement district the territory described in the petition for the purpose of:  (A) Purchasing, accepting as a gift, constructing, or maintaining waterworks, recreational facilities, systems of gas pipelines, and sewers;  (B) Grading, draining, paving, curbing, and guttering streets and highways and laying sidewalks;  (C) Establishing, equipping, and maintaining rural fire departments; or  (D) More than one (1) of such purposes; and    (2) Name as commissioners of the district the three (3) persons whose names appear in the petition if the petition contains names, or if not, three (3) individuals of integrity and good business ability.    (b) Portions of municipalities may be included in these districts if the portion of area located within municipalities shall be less than fifty percent (50%) of the area of the entire district.  (c) All districts shall be numbered consecutively or else shall receive names selected by the court.  (d) If the court does not act promptly in complying with the terms of this section, or of any other section of this chapter essential to the creation and operation of the district, it may be compelled to do so by mandamus.  (e)  (1) If land in more than one (1) county is embraced in the proposed district, the petition shall be addressed to the circuit court in which the largest portion of the lands lie, and all proceedings shall be had in that court.  (2) Any notices in that event shall be published in newspapers published and having a bona fide circulation in each county in which the district embraces land.    (f)  (1) Any number of petitions may be circulated, and identical petitions with additional names may be filed at any time until the court acts.  (2) A petition under this section shall contain a bold heading stating that a signature on the petition is a vote to create the district.
AR Code § 14-93-106 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 5 - Improvement Districts Generally|Chapter 93 - Property Owners' Improvement Districts|§ 14-93-106. Hearing on petition and determination

 (a)  (1) Upon the filing of a petition, it shall be the duty of the county clerk to present the petition to the county judge.  (2)  (A) The judge shall thereupon set a date and time, not more than sixty (60) days and not less than thirty (30) days after the date of the presentation of the petition to the judge, for a hearing, before the county court, for consideration of the petition.  (B) A notice of the hearing shall be published for two (2) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the county and, if available, on the website of the county or of the Secretary of State.      (b)  (1) At the hearing, it shall be the duty of the court to hear the petition and to ascertain whether those signing it constitute all the owners of the real property to be located in the district.  (2)  (A) If the court determines that all the owners of the real property to be located in the district have petitioned for the improvement, it shall enter its judgment laying off the district as defined in the petition and appointing the commissioners named in the petition if commissioners are named therein and are property holders in the district.  (B) If the court finds that fewer than all the owners have signed the petition, it shall enter its order denying the petition.      (c)  (1) Any petitioner or any opponent of the petition may appeal from the judgment of the court creating or refusing to create the district. However, appeal must be taken and perfected within thirty (30) days after entry of the judgment.  (2) If no appeal is taken within that time, the judgment creating the district shall be final and conclusive upon all persons.    (d)  (1) The petition shall state the specific purpose for which the district is to be formed, and the judgment establishing the district shall give it a name which shall be descriptive of the purpose.  (2) The district shall also receive a number to prevent its being confused with other districts formed for similar purposes.
AR Code § 14-93-107 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 5 - Improvement Districts Generally|Chapter 93 - Property Owners' Improvement Districts|§ 14-93-107. Board of commissioners generally

 (a)  (1)  (A) Within thirty (30) days after their appointment, the members of a board of commissioners shall take and file with the county clerk their oath of office, in which they shall swear to support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Arkansas, to discharge faithfully their duties as commissioners, and to not be interested, directly or indirectly, in any contract let by the board except upon the approval of all the owners of real property located in the district.  (B) Any commissioner failing to file this oath within this period shall be deemed to have declined the office and the county court shall appoint some property holder as his successor, who shall qualify in like manner within a like time.    (2)  (A) In case of a vacancy on the board, after the members have organized, the remaining commissioners shall select the successor.  (B) The person so selected shall qualify by taking the oath of office as prescribed for the original commissioners.      (b)  (1)  (A) The board shall organize by electing one (1) of its members chairman and another as secretary.  (B) The board may also employ such agents, servants, engineers, and attorneys as it deems best and fix their compensation and the compensation of the secretary.    (2) The board shall also select some solvent bank or trust company as the depository of its funds.    (c) In addition to and not by way of limitation of the above powers, the board shall have the power to:  (1) Make and execute all contracts, leases, conveyances, and other instruments of the district;  (2) Join with any other political subdivision, municipality, district, or government agency, either state or federal, in the acquisition, construction, maintenance, operation, and financing of any of the facilities, works, or operations authorized by this chapter or as to the performance of any of its functions;  (3) Establish rules and regulations for the transaction of the district's business and for the services, use, and right to use of its facilities or services, or both, or to effectuate any purpose of this chapter;  (4) Do all things incidental or auxiliary to the exercise of the express powers granted by this chapter; and  (5) Perform all actions useful to carry out the purposes of this chapter, unlimited by any express provision of this section.    (d) No member of the board shall be liable for any damages unless it shall be made to appear that he acted with a corrupt and malicious intent.
AR Code § 14-93-108 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 5 - Improvement Districts Generally|Chapter 93 - Property Owners' Improvement Districts|§ 14-93-108. Removal of board members

 (a) When the owners of two-thirds (2/3) in assessed value of the real property located within any district shall sign a petition stating that the petitioners believe it to be in the best interest of the district that the board, or any member thereof, be removed and shall file it with the county court of the county in which the district is located, the court shall set a date for a hearing thereon and shall give notice thereof by one (1) publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the district at least ten (10) days before the date of the hearing.  (b)  (1) The purpose of the hearing shall be to determine the sufficiency of the petition.  (2) Any property owner of the district may appear and present evidence either in support of or against the sufficiency of the petition.    (c)  (1) If, after hearing the evidence presented, the court shall determine that the petition is signed by at least two-thirds (2/3) in assessed value of the real property owners in the district, the court shall forthwith enter an order of the court removing the member of the board in accordance with the petition.  (2) The vacancies thereby created shall be filled in the manner prescribed by law.
AR Code § 14-93-109 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 5 - Improvement Districts Generally|Chapter 93 - Property Owners' Improvement Districts|§ 14-93-109. Planning by board

 (a) The board shall form plans relative to the acceptance, purchase, or construction of the improvement.  (b) To that end, the board may employ such engineers, attorneys, and other assistants as it may find necessary and shall file copies of all pertinent reports and actions by its members with the county clerk.
AR Code § 14-93-110 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 5 - Improvement Districts Generally|Chapter 93 - Property Owners' Improvement Districts|§ 14-93-110. Purposes for which district organized

 Any district may be organized for any one (1) or more of the following purposes:   (1) To purchase, accept as a gift, or construct a waterworks system or betterments, improvements, and extensions to such waterworks system, either within or without the boundaries of the district if the property of the district will be benefited thereby and to operate and maintain any such waterworks system it may purchase, construct, or own;  (2) To purchase, accept as a gift, or construct, either within or without the boundaries of the district, if the property of the district will be benefited thereby, a sewage collection system or a sewage treatment plant, intercepting sewers, outfall sewers, force mains, pumping stations, ejector stations, and all other appurtenances necessary or useful and convenient for the collection or treatment, purification, and disposal of industrial or domestic sewage;  (3) To open, grade, drain, pave, curb, gutter, or otherwise improve streets, roads, highways, and every other way, including viaducts and underpasses for passage and use of vehicles, either within or without the boundaries of the district, if the property of the district will be benefited thereby. Such purpose shall include the acquisition of rights-of-way by purchase or the exercise of the power of eminent domain, and to maintain such streets, roads, highways, and every other way for passage and use by vehicles, lying within the boundaries of the district or beyond the boundaries of the district, if the property of the district will be benefited thereby;  (4) To build, purchase, or accept as a gift recreational facilities such as, but not limited to, parks, lakes, golf courses, playgrounds, clubhouses, stadiums, auditoriums, arts and crafts centers, folklore centers, interpretative centers, camping areas, green belt areas, and any other facilities to provide for the recreation and cultural needs of the owners of the lands within the district;  (5) To lay and maintain sidewalks;  (6) To lay gas pipelines connecting with gas systems in nearby or adjacent municipalities;  (7) To build telephone lines to connect with the telephone system operating in nearby or adjacent municipalities; and  (8) To establish, equip, and maintain rural fire departments including construction of fire department buildings, and purchase of fire trucks, fire boats, and other fire fighting equipment.
AR Code § 14-93-111 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 5 - Improvement Districts Generally|Chapter 93 - Property Owners' Improvement Districts|§ 14-93-111. Powers of districts generally

 (a) Any district, in aid to and furtherance of the purposes prescribed in § 14-93-110, shall have the authority to hire managers and other employees and to pay their salaries incident to the operation and maintenance of any of the improvements authorized in this chapter. It shall also have the authority to acquire and purchase equipment and machinery incident to the operation and maintenance of such facilities and shall be further authorized to do any and all other actions which shall be deemed necessary in order to purchase, construct, accept as a gift, operate, and maintain any and all improvements authorized in this chapter.  (b) Any district shall have the power to sell or lease any improvement owned by it to any adjacent or nearby municipality, or district therein or another improvement district within or near the county, to public service corporations serving on behalf of the property owners of the district, or to any other corporation, organization, or person, and may make contracts with the inhabitants of nearby municipalities, or it may operate any such improvement and may connect any such improvement with the improvements, systems, and transmission lines of any municipality or other district, and with respect to sewers, may carry its sewers to any proper outlet within or without the district.  (c) Any district may accept as a gift any or all of the improvements and facilities authorized in this chapter upon the assumption of the maintenance and operation of the improvement and shall have the authority to effect the assessment of benefits and to levy the necessary tax against the assessment of benefits, as provided in this chapter, in order to provide the revenue for the costs of maintenance and operation.
AR Code § 14-93-112 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 5 - Improvement Districts Generally|Chapter 93 - Property Owners' Improvement Districts|§ 14-93-112. Corporate powers

 Each district shall be a body corporate with power to sue and to be sued, and it shall have a corporate seal.
AR Code § 14-93-113 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 5 - Improvement Districts Generally|Chapter 93 - Property Owners' Improvement Districts|§ 14-93-113. Right and power of eminent domain

 (a)  (1)  (A) All districts organized under this chapter shall have the right of eminent domain in order that they may carry out the purposes of their creation.  (B) A district under this chapter shall not have the right of eminent domain to condemn rights-of-way outside the boundaries of the district.    (2) This right shall be exercised in the same manner as in the case of railroad, telegraph, and telephone companies, but without the necessity of making a deposit of money before entering into possession of the property condemned.    (b) A district shall have the power of eminent domain for the purposes of:  (1) Condemning any water or sewer utility other than a water or sewer utility owned by a municipality or other type of improvement district, including without limitation a municipal improvement district or consolidated utility district, that is found within the boundaries of the district and is exempt from the definition of “public utility” defined under § 23-1-101; and  (2) Securing any lands or rights-of-way needed in making improvements to water or sewer systems owned and operated by that district.    (c)  (1)  (A) The board of the district may enter upon any private property for the purposes stated in subsection (b) of this section.  (B) If the person is damaged and the board of the district cannot agree on the sum to be paid for the damages, the person aggrieved may file his or her other petition in the circuit court of the county setting forth his or her other grievance and asking compensation for the grievance, making the board of the district a party defendant.  (C) The issues in the suit shall be made up as in other cases at law, and the cause shall be tried by a jury, unless dispensed with by the parties.  (D) The case shall be advanced on the docket so as to have precedence over all other causes.  (E)  (i) The judge of the circuit court may hold a special term at any time for the trial of the cause, giving ten (10) days' notice to the parties of the time of holding the special term.  (ii) This notice may be in writing and shall be served on the parties as a writ of summons is directed to be served unless the notice is waived by the parties or one (1) of the parties.      (2)  (A) In case an agreement cannot be arrived at between the board of improvement and the owner of the property in relation to the damages claimed, the judge of the court, in vacation, may fix an amount to be deposited with some person, to be designated by the court, before the entering upon and taking possession of the property to be used and taken as provided in this section.  (B) When the required amount has been deposited and the certificate filed in the cause, the work may proceed.
AR Code § 14-93-114 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 5 - Improvement Districts Generally|Chapter 93 - Property Owners' Improvement Districts|§ 14-93-114. Sale of land

 Any land that may be acquired by any district organized under this chapter may be sold by the board thereof for the price and on the terms it deems best.
AR Code § 14-93-115 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 5 - Improvement Districts Generally|Chapter 93 - Property Owners' Improvement Districts|§ 14-93-115. Priority of cases

 All cases involving the validity of districts or the assessment of benefits and all suits to foreclose the lien or taxes shall be deemed matters of public interest and shall be advanced and disposed of at the earliest possible moment, and all appeals from them must be taken and perfected within thirty (30) days.
AR Code § 14-93-117 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 5 - Improvement Districts Generally|Chapter 93 - Property Owners' Improvement Districts|§ 14-93-117. Filing and notice of assessment — Hearing

 (a)  (1) The assessment shall be filed with the county clerk.  (2)  (A) The secretary of the board shall thereupon give notice of its filing by publication once a week for two (2) weeks in a newspaper published and having a bona fide circulation in the county.  (B) This notice may be in the following form:      (b) On the day named in the notice, it shall be the duty of the commissioners and assessors to meet together at the place named as a board of equalization, to hear all complaints against the assessment, and to equalize and adjust it. Their determination shall be final, unless suit is brought in the chancery court within thirty (30) days to review it.    “Notice is hereby given that the assessment of benefits and damages of District Number has been filed in the office of the County Clerk of County, and where it is open to inspection. All persons wishing to be heard on said assessment will be heard by the commissioners and the assessor of the district between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., at , in the City of , Arkansas, on the day of , 19 . Secretary”   Click to view form.
AR Code § 14-93-118 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 5 - Improvement Districts Generally|Chapter 93 - Property Owners' Improvement Districts|§ 14-93-118. Reassessment

 (a) The board may, not more often than once a year, require the assessor to reassess the benefits in the district. However, in the event the district shall have incurred any indebtedness or issued bonds, the total amount of assessed benefits shall never be diminished.  (b) The reassessment shall be made, advertised, and equalized in the same manner as provided in this chapter for making the original assessment.