reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
NC Gen Stat § 160A-539 (2021)
2021 North Carolina General Statutes|Chapter 160A - Cities and Towns|Article 23 - Municipal Service Districts.|§ 160A-539 - Consolidation of service districts.

 160A-539. Consolidation of service districts.(a) The city council may by ordinance consolidate two or more service districts upon finding that:(1) The districts are contiguous or are in a continuous boundary; and(2) The services provided in each of the districts are substantially the same; or(3) If the services provided are lower for one of the districts, there is a need to increase those services for that district to the level of that enjoyed by the other districts.(b) Report. - Before the public hearing required by subsection (c), the city council shall cause to be prepared a report containing:(1) A map of the districts to be consolidated;(2) A statement showing the proposed consolidation meets the standards of subsection (a); and(3) If necessary, a plan for increasing the services for one or more of the districts so that they are substantially the same throughout the consolidated district.The report shall be available in the office of the city clerk for at least two weeks before the public hearing.(c) Hearing and Notice. - The city council shall hold a public hearing before adopting any ordinance consolidating service districts. Notice of the hearing shall state the date, hour, and place of the hearing and its subject, and shall include a statement that the report required by subsection (b) is available for inspection in the office of the city clerk. The notice shall be published at least once not less than one week before the date of the hearing. In addition, the notice shall be mailed at least four weeks before the hearing to the owners as shown by the county tax records as of the preceding January 1 of all property located within the consolidated district. The notice may be mailed by any class of U.S. mail which is fully prepaid. The person designated by the council to mail the notice shall certify to the council that the mailing has been completed, and his certificate shall be conclusive in the absence of fraud.(d) Effective Date. - The consolidation of service districts shall take effect at the beginning of a fiscal year commencing after passage of the ordinance of consolidation, as determined by the council.(e) Passage of Ordinance. - No ordinance consolidating two or more service districts as provided for in subsection (a) of this section shall be finally adopted until it has been passed at two meetings of the city council by majority vote of the voting members present, and no service districts shall be consolidated except by ordinance.  (1973, c. 655, s. 1; 1981, c. 53, s. 2; 2016-8, s. 5.)
NC Gen Stat § 160A-540 (2021)
2021 North Carolina General Statutes|Chapter 160A - Cities and Towns|Article 23 - Municipal Service Districts.|§ 160A-540 - Required provision or maintenance of services.

 160A-540. Required provision or maintenance of services.(a) New District. - When a city defines a new service district, it shall provide, maintain, or let contracts for the services for which the residents of the district are being taxed within a reasonable time, not to exceed one year, after the effective date of the definition of the district.(b) Extended District. - When a city annexes territory for a service district, it shall provide, maintain, or let contracts for the services provided or maintained throughout the district to the residents of the area annexed to the district within a reasonable time, not to exceed one year, after the effective date of the annexation.(c) Consolidated District. - When a city consolidates two or more service districts, one of which has had provided or maintained a lower level of services, it shall increase the services within that district (or let contracts therefor) to a level comparable to those provided or maintained elsewhere in the consolidated district within a reasonable time, not to exceed one year, after the effective date of the consolidation. (1973, c. 655, s. 1.)
NC Gen Stat § 160A-541 (2021)
2021 North Carolina General Statutes|Chapter 160A - Cities and Towns|Article 23 - Municipal Service Districts.|§ 160A-541 - Abolition of service districts.

 160A-541. Abolition of service districts.Upon finding that there is no longer a need for a particular service district, the city council may by ordinance abolish that district. The council shall hold a public hearing before adopting an ordinance abolishing a district. Notice of the hearing shall state the date, hour and place of the hearing, and its subject, and shall be published at least once not less than one week before the date of the hearing. The abolition of any service district shall take effect at the end of a fiscal year following passage of the ordinance, as determined by the council.  (1973, c. 655, s. 1; 2016-8, s. 6.)
NC Gen Stat § 160A-542 (2021)
2021 North Carolina General Statutes|Chapter 160A - Cities and Towns|Article 23 - Municipal Service Districts.|§ 160A-542 - Taxes authorized; rate limitation.

 160A-542. Taxes authorized; rate limitation.(a) A city may levy property taxes within defined service districts in addition to those levied throughout the city, in order to finance, provide or maintain for the district services provided therein in addition to or to a greater extent than those financed, provided or maintained for the entire city. In addition, a city may allocate to a service district any other revenues whose use is not otherwise restricted by law.(b) Property subject to taxation in a newly established district or in an area annexed to an existing district is that subject to taxation by the city as of the preceding January 1.(c) Property taxes may not be levied within any district established pursuant to this Article in excess of a rate on each one hundred dollar ($100.00) value of property subject to taxation which, when added to the rate levied city wide for purposes subject to the rate limitation, would exceed the rate limitation established in G.S. 160A-209(d), unless that portion of the rate in excess of this limitation is submitted to and approved by a majority of the qualified voters residing within the district. Any referendum held pursuant to this subsection shall be held and conducted as provided in G.S. 160A-209.(d) In setting the tax rate, the city council shall consider the current needs, as well as the long-range plans and goals for the service district. The city council shall set the tax rate so that there is no accumulation of excess funds beyond that necessary to meet current needs, fund long-range plans and goals, and maintain a reasonable fund balance. Moneys collected shall be used only for meeting the needs of the service district, as those needs are determined by the city council.(e) This Article does not impair the authority of a city to levy special assessments pursuant to Article 10 of this Chapter for works authorized by G.S. 160A-491, and may be used in addition to that authority.  (1973, c. 655, s. 1; 2015-241, s. 15.16B(b).)
NC Gen Stat § 160A-543 (2021)
2021 North Carolina General Statutes|Chapter 160A - Cities and Towns|Article 23 - Municipal Service Districts.|§ 160A-543 - Bonds authorized.

 160A-543. Bonds authorized.A city may incur debt under general law to finance services, facilities or functions provided within a service district. If a proposed general obligation bond issue is required by law to be submitted to and approved by the voters of the city, and if the proceeds of the proposed bond issue are to be used in connection with a service that is or, if the bond issue is approved, will be provided only for one or more service districts or at a higher level in service districts than city wide, the proposed bond issue must be approved concurrently by a majority of those voting throughout the entire city and by a majority of the total of those voting in all of the affected or to be affected service districts. (1973, c. 655, s. 1; 2004-151, s. 4.)
NC Gen Stat § 160A-544 (2021)
2021 North Carolina General Statutes|Chapter 160A - Cities and Towns|Article 23 - Municipal Service Districts.|§ 160A-544 - Exclusion of personal property of public service corporations.

 160A-544. Exclusion of personal property of public service corporations.There shall be excluded from any service district and the provisions of this Article shall not apply to the personal property of any public service corporation as defined in G.S. 160A-243(c); provided that this section shall not apply to any service district in existence on January 1, 1977. (1977, c. 775, s. 4.)
NC Gen Stat § 160A-550 (2021)
2021 North Carolina General Statutes|Chapter 160A - Cities and Towns|Article 24 - Parking Authorities.|§ 160A-550 - Short title.

 160A-550. Short title.This Article may be cited as the "Parking Authority Law." (1951, c. 779, s. 1; 1979, 2nd Sess., c. 1247, s. 44.)
NC Gen Stat § 160A-551 (2021)
2021 North Carolina General Statutes|Chapter 160A - Cities and Towns|Article 24 - Parking Authorities.|§ 160A-551 - Definitions.

 160A-551. Definitions.As used or referred to in this Article, unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context:(1) The term "authority" shall mean a public body and a body corporate and politic organized in accordance with this Article for the purposes, with the powers and subject to the restrictions hereinafter set forth;(2) The term "bonds" shall mean bonds authorized by this Article;(3) The term "city" shall mean the city that is, or is about to be, included in the territorial boundaries of an authority when created hereunder;(4) The term "city clerk" shall mean the clerk of the city or the officer thereof charged with the duties customarily imposed on the clerk;(5) The term "city council" shall mean the legislative body, council, board of commissioners, or other body charged with governing the city;(6) The term "commissioner" shall mean one of the members of an authority, appointed in accordance with the provisions of this Article;(7) The term "parking project" shall mean any area or place operated or to be operated by the authority for the parking or storing of motor and other vehicles, open to public use for a fee, and shall without limiting the foregoing, include all real and personal property, driveways, roads, approaches, structures, garages, meters, mechanical equipment, and all appurtenances and facilities either on, above or under the ground which are used or usable in connection with such parking or storing of such vehicles, including on-street parking meters if so provided by the governing authority;(8) The term "real property" shall mean lands, structures, franchises, and interest in lands, and any and all things usually included within the said term, and includes not only fees simple absolute but also any and all lesser interests, such as easements, rights-of-way, uses, leases, licenses, and all other incorporeal hereditaments and every estate, interest or right, legal or equitable, including terms of years, and liens thereon by way of judgments, mortgages or otherwise, and also claims for damage to real estate. (1951, c. 779, s. 2; 1965, c. 998, s. 1; 1979, 2nd Sess., c. 1247, s. 44.)
NC Gen Stat § 160A-553 (2021)
2021 North Carolina General Statutes|Chapter 160A - Cities and Towns|Article 24 - Parking Authorities.|§ 160A-553 - Appointment, removal, etc., of commissioners; quorum; chairman; vice-chairman, agents and employees.

 160A-553. Appointment, removal, etc., of commissioners; quorum; chairman; vice-chairman, agents and employees.An authority shall consist of five commissioners appointed by the city council, and the city council shall designate the first chairman. No commissioner shall be a city official.The commissioners who are first appointed shall be designated by the city council to serve for terms of one, two, three, four and five years respectively from the date of their appointment. Thereafter, the term of office shall be five years. A commissioner shall hold office until his successor has been appointed by the city council and has qualified. Vacancies shall be filled by the city council for the unexpired term. Three commissioners shall constitute a quorum. A commissioner shall receive no compensation for his services, but he shall be entitled to reimbursement for his actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of his official duties.When the office of the first chairman of the authority becomes vacant, the authority shall select a chairman from among its members. An authority shall select from among its members a vice-chairman, and it may employ a secretary (who shall be executive director), technical experts and such other officers, agents and employees, permanent or temporary, as it may require, and shall determine their qualifications, duties and compensation. An authority may, with the consent of the city council call upon the city attorney or chief law officer of the city for such legal services as it may require, or it may employ its own counsel and legal staff. An authority may delegate to one or more of its agents or employees such powers or duties as it may deem proper. The city council may remove any member of the authority for inefficiency, neglect of duty or misconduct in office, giving him a copy of the charges against him and an opportunity of being heard in person, or by counsel, in his defense upon not less than 10 days' notice. (1951, c. 779, s. 4; 1979, 2nd Sess., c. 1247, ss. 42, 44.)
NC Gen Stat § 160A-554 (2021)
2021 North Carolina General Statutes|Chapter 160A - Cities and Towns|Article 24 - Parking Authorities.|§ 160A-554 - Duty of authority and commissioners.

 160A-554. Duty of authority and commissioners.The authority and its commissioners shall be under a statutory duty to comply or cause compliance strictly with all provisions of this Article and, in addition thereto, with each and every term, provision and covenant in any contract of the authority on its part to be kept or performed. (1951, c. 779, s. 5; 1979, 2nd Sess., c. 1247, s. 44.)
NC Gen Stat § 160A-555 (2021)
2021 North Carolina General Statutes|Chapter 160A - Cities and Towns|Article 24 - Parking Authorities.|§ 160A-555 - Interested commissioners or employees.

 160A-555. Interested commissioners or employees.No commissioner or employee of an authority shall acquire any interest direct or indirect in any parking project or in any property included or planned to be included in any parking project, nor shall he have any interest direct or indirect in any contract or proposed contract for materials or services to be furnished or used in connection with any parking project. If any commissioner or employee of an authority owns or controls an interest direct or indirect in any property included or planned to be included in any parking project, he shall immediately disclose the same in writing to the authority and such disclosure shall be entered upon the minutes of the authority. Failure to so disclose such interest shall constitute misconduct in office. (1951, c. 779, s. 6; 1979, 2nd Sess., c. 1247, s. 44.)
NC Gen Stat § 160A-556 (2021)
2021 North Carolina General Statutes|Chapter 160A - Cities and Towns|Article 24 - Parking Authorities.|§ 160A-556 - Purpose and powers of the authority.

 160A-556. Purpose and powers of the authority.An authority incorporated under this Article shall constitute a public body and a body corporate and politic, exercising public powers as an agency or instrumentality of the city with which it is coterminous. The purpose of the authority shall be to relieve traffic congestion of the streets and public places in the city by means of parking facilities, and to that end to acquire, construct, improve, operate and maintain one or more parking projects in the city. To carry out said purpose, the authority shall have power:(1) To sue and be sued;(2) To have a seal and alter the same at pleasure;(3) To acquire, hold and dispose of personal property for its corporate purposes, including the power to purchase prospective or tentative awards in connection with the condemnation of real property;(4) To acquire by purchase or condemnation, and use real property necessary or convenient. All real property acquired by the authority by condemnation shall be acquired in the manner provided by law for the condemnation of land by the city;(5) To make bylaws for the management and regulation of its affairs, and subject to agreements with bondholders, for the regulation of parking projects;(6) To make contracts and leases, and to execute all instruments necessary or convenient;(7) To construct such buildings, structures and facilities as may be necessary or convenient;(8) To construct, reconstruct, improve, maintain and operate parking projects;(9) To accept grants, loans or contributions from the United States, the State of North Carolina, or any agency or instrumentality of either of them, or the city, and to expend the proceeds for any purposes of the authority;(10) To fix and collect rentals, fees and other charges for the use of parking projects or any of them subject to and in accordance with such agreements with bondholders as may be made as hereinafter provided;(11) To do all things necessary or convenient to carry out the purpose of the authority and the powers expressly given to it by this Article;(12) To issue revenue bonds under the Local Government Revenue Bond Act. (1951, c. 779, s. 7; 1965, c. 998, s. 2; 1971, c. 780, s. 18; 1979, 2nd Sess., c. 1247, s. 44.)
NC Gen Stat § 160A-558 (2021)
2021 North Carolina General Statutes|Chapter 160A - Cities and Towns|Article 24 - Parking Authorities.|§ 160A-558 - Contracts.

 160A-558. Contracts.The authority shall let contracts in the manner provided by law for contracts of the city. (1951, c. 779, s. 9; 1979, 2nd Sess., c. 1247, s. 44.)
NC Gen Stat § 160A-559 (2021)
2021 North Carolina General Statutes|Chapter 160A - Cities and Towns|Article 24 - Parking Authorities.|§ 160A-559 - Moneys of the authority.

 160A-559. Moneys of the authority.All moneys of the authority shall be paid to the treasurer of the city as agent of the authority, who shall designate depositories and who shall not commingle such moneys with any other moneys. Such moneys shall be deposited in a separate bank account or accounts. The moneys in such accounts shall be paid out on checks of the treasurer on written requisition of the chairman of the authority or of such other person or persons as the authority may authorize to make such requisitions. All deposits of such moneys shall be secured in the manner provided by law for securing deposits of moneys of the city. The city accountant of the city and his legally authorized representatives are authorized and empowered from time to time to examine the accounts and books of the authority, including its receipts, disbursements, contracts, leases, sinking funds, investments and any other records and papers relating to its financial standing. The authority shall cause an annual audit of its accounts to be made by a certified public accountant or firm of certified public accountants, and shall cause a copy of the report of each such audit to be filed with the city clerk, who shall present the same to the city council. The authority shall have power, notwithstanding the provisions of this section to contract with the holders of any of its bonds as to the custody, collection, securing, investment and payment of any moneys of the authority or any moneys held in trust or otherwise for the payment of bonds or in any way to secure bonds, and to carry out any such contract notwithstanding that such contract may be inconsistent with the previous provisions of this section. Moneys held in trust or otherwise for the payment of bonds or in any way to secure bonds and deposits of such moneys may be secured in the same manner as moneys of the authority, and all banks and trust companies are authorized to give such security for such deposits. (1951, c. 779, s. 10; 1979, 2nd Sess., c. 1247, s. 44.)
NC Gen Stat § 160A-560 (2021)
2021 North Carolina General Statutes|Chapter 160A - Cities and Towns|Article 24 - Parking Authorities.|§ 160A-560 - Bonds legal investments for public officers and fiduciaries.

 160A-560. Bonds legal investments for public officers and fiduciaries.The bonds are hereby made securities in which all public officers and bodies of this State and all municipalities and municipal subdivisions, all insurance companies and associations and other persons carrying on an insurance business, all banks, bankers, trust companies, savings banks and savings associations, including savings and loan associations, investment companies and other persons carrying on a banking business and all other persons whatsoever, except as hereinafter provided, who are now or may hereafter be authorized to invest in bonds or other obligations of the State, may properly and legally invest funds including capital in their control or belonging to them; provided that, notwithstanding the provisions of any other general or special law to the contrary, such bonds shall not be eligible for the investment of funds, including capital, trusts, estates or guardianships under the control of individual administrators, guardians, executors, trustees and other individual fiduciaries. The bonds are also hereby made securities which may be deposited with and may be received by all public officers and bodies of this State and all municipalities and municipal subdivisions for any purpose for which the deposit of bonds or other obligations of this State is now or may hereafter be authorized. (1951, c. 779, s. 15; 1979, 2nd Sess., c. 1247, s. 44.)
NC Gen Stat § 160A-561 (2021)
2021 North Carolina General Statutes|Chapter 160A - Cities and Towns|Article 24 - Parking Authorities.|§ 160A-561 - Exemptions from taxation.

 160A-561. Exemptions from taxation.It is hereby found, determined and declared that the creation of the authority and the carrying out of its corporate purposes is in all respects for the benefit of the people of the State of North Carolina, for the improvement of their health, welfare and prosperity, and for the promotion of their traffic, and is a public purpose, and that the authority will be performing an essential governmental function in the exercise of the powers conferred upon it by this Article, and the State of North Carolina covenants with the holders of the bonds that the authority shall be required to pay no taxes or assessments upon any of the property acquired by it or under its jurisdiction, control, possession or supervision or upon its activities in the operation and maintenance of the project or any tolls, revenues or other income received by the authority and that the bonds of the authority and the income therefrom shall at all times be exempt from taxation, except for transfer and estate taxes. (1951, c. 779, s. 16; 1979, 2nd Sess., c. 1247, s. 44.)
NC Gen Stat § 160A-562 (2021)
2021 North Carolina General Statutes|Chapter 160A - Cities and Towns|Article 24 - Parking Authorities.|§ 160A-562 - Tax contract by the State.

 160A-562. Tax contract by the State.The State of North Carolina covenants with the purchasers and with all subsequent holders and transferees of bonds issued by the authority pursuant to this Article, in consideration of the acceptance of and payment for the bonds, that the bonds of the authority issued pursuant to this Article and the income therefrom, and all moneys, funds and revenues pledged to pay or secure the payment of such bonds, shall at all times be free from taxation except for transfer and estate taxes. (1951, c. 779, s. 17; 1979, 2nd Sess., c. 1247, s. 44.)