reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MS Code § 51-29-85 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 51 - Waters, Water Resources, Water Districts, Drainage, and Flood Control|Chapter 29 - Drainage Districts with Local Commissioners|§ 51-29-85. Certificates received in lieu of cash

 Whenever such certificate or certificates are issued, the person or persons to whom the same is issued may use such certificate or certificates in purchasing any lands located in said district that have been forfeited to the State of Mississippi for failure to pay taxes thereon. The land commissioner and state treasurer shall receive such certificates in lieu of cash for the amount of the taxes due on said lands to such drainage district, but the amount of the state and county taxes due thereon, if any, shall be paid in cash.   The person or persons to whom certificates of indebtedness for taxes erroneously paid have been issued as provided under Section 51-29-83, if they so elect, shall also be entitled to use such certificates, either in part or whole payment of drainage taxes in the district by which issued at a subsequent tax paying date, notwithstanding such certificate or certificates may have been issued for the purchase of state lands as provided in this section.
MS Code § 51-29-87 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 51 - Waters, Water Resources, Water Districts, Drainage, and Flood Control|Chapter 29 - Drainage Districts with Local Commissioners|§ 51-29-87. Disposition of certificate

 Whenever the state treasurer and land commissioner shall have accepted any such certificate in the purchase of such lands, it shall be his duty to immediately forward the same to the drainage district commissioners with a statement as to the lands purchased and the amount of money allowed on said purchase on account of said certificate; and the said drainage commissioners shall accept the certificate in lieu of money to that extent and amount from said state treasurer and land commissioner. Whenever the county tax collector shall have accepted any such certificate or certificates in the payment of drainage taxes, it shall be his duty to immediately inform the drainage district commissioner of his action, with a statement containing the amount of taxes and description of lands where a certificate or certificates were applied for taxes in lieu of money payment.
MS Code § 51-29-89 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 51 - Waters, Water Resources, Water Districts, Drainage, and Flood Control|Chapter 29 - Drainage Districts with Local Commissioners|§ 51-29-89. Bonds to be a lien on land

 All bonds and evidences of indebtedness issued by the commissioners under the terms of this chapter shall be secured by a lien on all lands and railroads subject to taxation under this chapter, in an amount not to exceed the amount of benefits assessed against such lands and railroads. The board of commissioners shall see to it that an assessment is levied annually and collected under the provisions of this chapter, so long as it may be necessary for the payment of any bonds issued or obligations contracted under its authority, together with the interest thereon; and the making or levying of said assessment or levy may be enforced by mandamus at the instance of any person interested.
MS Code § 51-29-91 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 51 - Waters, Water Resources, Water Districts, Drainage, and Flood Control|Chapter 29 - Drainage Districts with Local Commissioners|§ 51-29-91. Entire district revenues and realty pledged to secure bonds

 To the payment of both principal and interest of the bonds and other negotiable evidences of debt to be issued under the provisions of this chapter, the entire revenues of the district from any and all sources and all real estate and railroads subject to taxation in the district are by this chapter pledged, in an amount not to exceed the amount of betterments assessed against said lands and railroads. The board of commissioners is hereby required to set aside annually from the first revenues collected from any source whatever a sufficient amount to secure and pay the interest on said bonds and evidences of indebtedness and a sinking fund for their ultimate retirement, if a sinking fund is provided for.
MS Code § 51-29-93 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 51 - Waters, Water Resources, Water Districts, Drainage, and Flood Control|Chapter 29 - Drainage Districts with Local Commissioners|§ 51-29-93. Error in names not to invalidate assessments

 No error in the names or residences of the owners of railroads, lands, or improvements, or in the description thereof, shall invalidate said assessment or levy of taxes or benefits, if sufficient description is given to ascertain where the lands, railroads, or improvements are situated.
MS Code § 51-29-97 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 51 - Waters, Water Resources, Water Districts, Drainage, and Flood Control|Chapter 29 - Drainage Districts with Local Commissioners|§ 51-29-97. Financial statement and audit

 Within sixty (60) days after the end of the fiscal year following the organization of said drainage district, and annually thereafter, the commissioners shall prepare and retain a copy of a sworn statement of the financial condition of the district to cover the preceding fiscal year. The report shall contain, among other things, a statement of the cash on hand the first of the year for which the report is made, together with all other assets of the district; the total receipts of the preceding year; the disbursement for administration, for construction, for maintenance, for bonds redeemed, and for interest due on outstanding bonds, together with all other indebtedness of the district. The commissioners are further authorized and empowered to do any and all things incident to the management and affairs and business of the district.   The State Auditor of Public Accounts or his assistant may annually audit the books, financial report and expenditures of the commission in the same manner that such officer audits other boards and commissions; and the same powers and duties which such officer exercises or enjoys with respect to other boards and commissions shall be exercised and performed in the same manner in his audit of drainage district commissions. A fee of not exceeding Thirty Dollars ($30.00) per man hour for the time required to conduct each audit shall be paid by each drainage district audited under this section. All such fees shall be paid into the State Department of Audit Fund. Upon the recommendation of the Director of the State Department of Audit, the State Auditor shall appoint auditors on a temporary or permanent status to perform drainage district audits. The State Auditor shall not audit dormant districts which have no income or disbursements during any year.
MS Code § 51-29-99 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 51 - Waters, Water Resources, Water Districts, Drainage, and Flood Control|Chapter 29 - Drainage Districts with Local Commissioners|§ 51-29-99. Penalty for obstructing or damaging drains

 Any person who shall obstruct a drain or damage drainage work provided for by this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, on conviction thereof, be fined not more than one hundred dollars nor less than ten dollars; and he shall also be liable to the district for double the cost of removing such obstruction or repairing such damage.
MS Code § 51-29-101 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 51 - Waters, Water Resources, Water Districts, Drainage, and Flood Control|Chapter 29 - Drainage Districts with Local Commissioners|§ 51-29-101. Contractors may pass over private lands

 The commissioners, engineers, and contractors, with their teams and outfits engaged in drainage work, shall have the right to pass over all the lands of others to and from the district, being liable to the owner for any damage done thereto. Any owner who shall prevent such passage over his lands shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and fined one hundred dollars for each day that he prevents such passage.
MS Code § 51-29-103 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 51 - Waters, Water Resources, Water Districts, Drainage, and Flood Control|Chapter 29 - Drainage Districts with Local Commissioners|§ 51-29-103. Procedure for districts to come under this chapter

 Any district which has heretofore been organized, including swamp land districts, or which may hereafter be organized under other statutes, may become a district under the terms of this chapter as follows:   If a third of the landowners owning a majority of the acreage or a majority of the landowners owning a third of the acreage of real property within any such district shall petition the chancery court, or chancellor in vacation, to constitute them a drainage district under the terms hereof, the clerk of the chancery court shall give notice of the application by two weeks' publication in some newspaper published and having a bona fide circulation in the county or counties in which the lands of said district lie, stating the time when said petition will be heard and the object of said petition. All owners of real property within the district shall have the right to appear and contest the said petition, or support the same. The chancery court, or chancellor in vacation, shall hear the evidence and shall either grant the petition or deny the same, as he may deem it most advantageous to the property owners of the district and to the public benefit. If he grants the petition, the said district shall have all the rights and powers and be subject to all the obligations and provisions provided by the terms of this chapter. If the majority of the landowners or the majority of the owners of the acreage therein petition for the adoption of this chapter, the court or chancellor must make an order declaring that such district shall henceforth be governed by the terms of this chapter, and shall appoint commissioners according to its terms, who shall carry into effect without delay the proposed drainage improvements.
MS Code § 51-29-105 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 51 - Waters, Water Resources, Water Districts, Drainage, and Flood Control|Chapter 29 - Drainage Districts with Local Commissioners|§ 51-29-105. Construction of chapter

 This chapter shall be liberally construed to promote the ditching, drainage, and reclamation of wet, swampy, and overflowed lands. The collection of assessments hereunder shall not be defeated by reason of any omission, imperfection, or defect in the organization of any district or in the proceedings occurring prior to the judgment of the court confirming assessment of benefits and damages; but said judgment shall be conclusive that all prior proceedings were regular and according to law. In case any assessment shall be held to be void for want of notice, the said commissioners may, upon motion, be permitted to give such owner due notice and ask for a time to be set by the chancery court, or chancellor in vacation, for hearing any and all objections that said landowner may have to such proceedings and the assessment. The chancery court, or chancellor in vacation, at such time may make such orders in reference thereto as justice may require, and may assess such landowner his just proportion of the benefits received by him by such proposed work or the damages suffered by him by such proposed work; and thereupon such assessment as to such land shall be binding and conclusive.
MS Code § 51-29-107 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 51 - Waters, Water Resources, Water Districts, Drainage, and Flood Control|Chapter 29 - Drainage Districts with Local Commissioners|§ 51-29-107. Special commissioner may hear and determine cases under this chapter

 All hearings hereinbefore provided to be heard before the chancellor may be heard before a special commissioner who may be appointed by the chancellor, who shall have full authority to make all findings of law and of fact, and whose findings shall be reduced to writing and reported to the chancellor for confirmation either in term-time or in vacation. Such reports shall be subject to exceptions or objections, but no notice of the hearing of such exceptions shall be necessary, provided the date for hearing exceptions to the commissioner's report shall have been fixed in the order referring the matter to the commissioner. Such commissioner shall receive such compensation as may be allowed him by the chancellor.
MS Code § 51-29-109 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 51 - Waters, Water Resources, Water Districts, Drainage, and Flood Control|Chapter 29 - Drainage Districts with Local Commissioners|§ 51-29-109. Expenses of chancellor to be paid by district

 As a part of the cost of the organization and conduct of a drainage district, the chancellor may tax his own traveling and hotel expenses in deciding all hearings provided for in this chapter, when such hearings are had before the chancellor in vacation. Such traveling expenses shall be paid to the chancellor upon his filing an itemized statement thereof with the said drainage commission.
MS Code § 51-29-113 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 51 - Waters, Water Resources, Water Districts, Drainage, and Flood Control|Chapter 29 - Drainage Districts with Local Commissioners|§ 51-29-113. Clerk of district to certify order to tax collector

 Should an appeal not be perfected within fifteen days after the decision of the board of drainage commissioners, or upon the final decision of the courts upon appeal, it shall be the duty of the clerk of the drainage district to immediately certify a copy of said order to the tax collector, showing the change and apportionment of such assessments; and such tax collector shall be guided thereby in making future collections of such assessments and tax. Such change in such assessment as made shall be deemed in law to be the amount of such assessment and tax to be due on the land as fixed by such order, and such lands shall not thereafter be liable for any amount above its apportioned part thereof. Such tax collector may issue receipt upon the payment by any party of such amount as has been apportioned to be due on any subdivision of land under the provisions of this chapter.
MS Code § 51-29-117 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 51 - Waters, Water Resources, Water Districts, Drainage, and Flood Control|Chapter 29 - Drainage Districts with Local Commissioners|§ 51-29-117. Manner of appeal

 Whenever an appeal is allowed to be prosecuted under this chapter, the same shall be taken within the time fixed by this chapter. If the appeal be from an order of the board of supervisors, same shall be perfected in the same manner as an appeal from orders of the board of supervisors approving tax assessment. If the appeal be from an order of the chancery court or chancellor in vacation, such appeal shall be prosecuted in like manner as is provided by law for the prosecution of appeals from other decrees of said court, but must be within the time fixed by this chapter for appealing.   No appeal herein provided for shall be allowed to delay the organization of the district, or the progress of the work or improvement.
MS Code § 51-29-119 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 51 - Waters, Water Resources, Water Districts, Drainage, and Flood Control|Chapter 29 - Drainage Districts with Local Commissioners|§ 51-29-119. Additional powers given to certain drainage districts

 Any drainage district operating under the provisions of this chapter, having as its purpose and object a comprehensive and general plan to control overflow and surplus water of rivers and their tributaries, is hereby given the power, in addition to the foregoing powers given by this chapter, to construct and maintain by-passes for conveying surplus and overflow waters by means of ditches, canals, floodways, levees, conduits, or other artificial means by shorter and more direct route from tributaries of natural streams and their watersheds to their main water course, and from one point in a natural water course to another point therein. However, said by-passes, ditches, canals, floodways, levees, or conduits shall empty the water directly into the same watercourse to which it would naturally flow.
MS Code § 51-29-121 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 51 - Waters, Water Resources, Water Districts, Drainage, and Flood Control|Chapter 29 - Drainage Districts with Local Commissioners|§ 51-29-121. Assessments to be apportioned when land lies in certain districts

 Whenever such districts include within their boundaries land already included in an existing drainage district, such land in the existing district shall remain liable for benefits already assessed or that may thereafter be assessed by such existing district, and shall also be liable to be assessed for benefits by the new district as now provided by law; but such land in an existing district may, for any of its improvements used by the new district, be given credit against the assessment of benefits levied by the new district to the amount of its pro rata portion of all the bonded and outstanding indebtedness, including interest to accrue upon such bonds and indebtedness of such existing district.
MS Code § 51-29-123 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 51 - Waters, Water Resources, Water Districts, Drainage, and Flood Control|Chapter 29 - Drainage Districts with Local Commissioners|§ 51-29-123. Certain districts may own rights of way and dispose of same

 Such district shall have the right to acquire and own in fee simple, within the confines of such district, all necessary rights of way for floodways, by-passes, ditches, canals, levees, and other necessary work or improvements, by purchase or condemnation as now provided by law within the district; and it may sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of same, subject to drainage purposes and easements of the district, or it may rent or lease for cash, or part of crops, such parts of its right of way as are susceptible of growing and producing crops, the income therefrom to be used for the maintenance of the improvements of the district.
MS Code § 51-29-125 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 51 - Waters, Water Resources, Water Districts, Drainage, and Flood Control|Chapter 29 - Drainage Districts with Local Commissioners|§ 51-29-125. Certain districts may acquire rights of way through existing districts

 Such districts may acquire such rights of way through existing drainage districts, after obtaining consent of an existing district and upon such terms as the existing district may impose, but when the works or improvements of an existing district are so acquired, the district acquiring shall furnish and provide equivalent relief or protection to that destroyed or impaired by such taking. If not determined by mutual agreement by the commissioners of the districts or landowners, either district may petition the board of supervisors, chancellor, or chancery court having jurisdiction to investigate, determine, and adjudicate what damages shall be paid, or what work or relief shall be done or provided by the new district. Such judgment may be enforced by mandamus, as now provided by law, and all existing rights of landowners in an existing district shall be protected and cared for by such new district. An appeal shall lie from such order as provided by this chapter. Such district may use any ditch, levee, or other improvements of an existing drainage district with the consent of the commissioners thereof, and upon such terms, conditions, stipulations, and price as may be made by such existing drainage district.
MS Code § 51-29-127 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 51 - Waters, Water Resources, Water Districts, Drainage, and Flood Control|Chapter 29 - Drainage Districts with Local Commissioners|§ 51-29-127. Districts acquiring certain lands to assume obligations

 When lands in an existing district, and which have been assessed for benefits, are acquired for rights of way by such districts for canals, ditches, levees, floodways, by-passes, or other necessary drainage purposes, assessments already levied or that may be levied against such land to pay its proportion of outstanding bonds or other obligations of the existing district, including all interest to accrue thereon, shall be assumed and paid by the new district so taking or so acquiring such land, in the proportion that its value, as fixed by condemnation, shall bear to the value of the land included in the entire district.
MS Code § 51-29-129 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 51 - Waters, Water Resources, Water Districts, Drainage, and Flood Control|Chapter 29 - Drainage Districts with Local Commissioners|§ 51-29-129. Law with reference to disposition of waters

 Nothing contained in Sections 51-29-119 through 51-29-129 shall be construed to permit the enlargement of any prescriptive rights now or hereafter existing or acquired, nor permit the diversion of water from one watershed or basin to another watershed or basin. Nor shall said sections apply to or affect, change, modify, or alter the law as now existing relative to the diversion and control of seep water, and they shall not be construed to repeal, amend, or modify any existing laws, but shall be deemed as supplemental to the law as it now exists.
MS Code § 51-29-131 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 51 - Waters, Water Resources, Water Districts, Drainage, and Flood Control|Chapter 29 - Drainage Districts with Local Commissioners|§ 51-29-131. Enlargement of boundaries of drainage districts

 If ten per cent of the landowners owning lands adjoining or adjacent to any existing district operating under the provisions of this chapter shall petition the chancery court to extend the boundaries of any such existing district, describing generally the region which it is intended shall be embraced within the boundaries of such drainage district as extended, it shall be the duty of the chancery court, or chancellor in vacation, to enter an order directing the commissioners of such drainage district to forthwith proceed to cause a survey to be made, and to ascertain the limits of the region which will be benefited by the proposed system of improvements, giving a general idea of its character and the cost of drainage and other improvements necessary and making such suggestions as to the size of the drainage ditches and their location and of levees, dams, and pumping stations, if any of such be necessary, to properly drain and protect said territory, or if the commissioners may deem such levees, dams, pumping stations, or any or either of them advisable, and to file their reports with the clerk of the chancery court. All expenses of making such survey, preparing the plans and estimates of the costs of the improvements, costs of publication, attorneys' fees, and other necessary expenses shall be paid as the work progresses by the existing drainage district to which the land and territory is proposed to be added, or by the board of supervisors as the court or chancellor may order. All such expenses shall be repaid out of the first money received from taxes upon the additional lands embraced in such drainage district, or from the sale of bonds from the district as extended, if that be done; but if that be not done, then the board of supervisors shall levy an ad valorem tax upon the land which it was proposed to add to such existing drainage district to repay the costs advanced by such existing drainage district or the board of supervisors, as the case may be.