reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
Arkansas Code of 1987 (2023) › Title 14 - LOCAL GOVERNMENT (§§ 14-1-101 — 14-387-706) › Subtitle 16 - PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE GENERALLY (§§ 14-262-101 — 14-272-304) › Chapter 272 - RURAL FIRE DEPARTMENTS (§§ 14-272-101 — 14-272-304) › Subchapter 3 - FIRE DEPARTMENT SERVICES AGREEMENTS (§§ 14-272-301 — 14-272-304) › Section 14-272-303 - Firefighting services entitlement

(a)
Beneficiaries shall be entitled to receive all firefighting services specified in the services agreement.
(b)
(1)
Should a fire department provide firefighting services to a nonbeneficiary, then the nonbeneficiary shall pay to the fire department a sum not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000) as consideration for the provision of firefighting services, with its being understood that the exact amount of the sum shall be specified by written resolution of the fire department in the services agreement.
(2)
If any nonbeneficiary owing such a debt to a fire department fails to pay the debt in full within thirty (30) days after receipt of a written request for payment delivered by certified mail from the fire department, the fire department may initiate litigation against that nonbeneficiary to collect the amount owed to the fire department.
Acts 2001, No. 1725, § 4.
Arkansas Code of 1987 (2023) › Title 14 - LOCAL GOVERNMENT (§§ 14-1-101 — 14-387-706) › Subtitle 16 - PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE GENERALLY (§§ 14-262-101 — 14-272-304) › Chapter 272 - RURAL FIRE DEPARTMENTS (§§ 14-272-101 — 14-272-304) › Subchapter 3 - FIRE DEPARTMENT SERVICES AGREEMENTS (§§ 14-272-301 — 14-272-304) › Section 14-272-304 - Payment of service availability fees

(a)
A fire department shall adopt written procedures pursuant to which the department's service availability fees shall be paid.
(b)
If not paid within thirty (30) days after a due date, then a fire department shall have the right to initiate collection litigation against a delinquent beneficiary and shall have the right to receive a judgment in the amount of the delinquent service availability fee, plus all reasonable costs and fees.
(c)
A fire department shall have the right to contract with third parties for the provision of accounting, invoicing, servicing, and related and unrelated services associated with the assessment, collection, and administration of service availability fees.
Acts 2001, No. 1725, § 5.
Arkansas Code of 1987 (2023) › Title 14 - LOCAL GOVERNMENT (§§ 14-1-101 — 14-387-706) › Subtitle 17 - PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS (§§ 14-282-101 — 14-287-105) › Chapter 282 - AMBULANCE SERVICE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS (§§ 14-282-101 — 14-282-117) › Section 14-282-101 - Purpose

It is the purpose and intent of this chapter to:
(1)
Authorize the establishment and prescribe the procedure for the establishment of improvement districts for the purpose of providing ambulance services to residents of the districts;
(2)
Prescribe the procedure for assessing the property in the ambulance service improvement district to finance the services; and
(3)
Support emergency medical services and ambulance operations that are necessary to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the residents of the ambulance service improvement district.
Amended by Act 2013, No. 1172,§ 1, eff. 8/16/2013.
Acts 1975 (Extended Sess. 1976), No. 1221, § 1; A.S.A. 1947, § 20-2001; reen. Acts 1987, No. 1011, § 1.
Arkansas Code of 1987 (2023) › Title 14 - LOCAL GOVERNMENT (§§ 14-1-101 — 14-387-706) › Subtitle 17 - PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS (§§ 14-282-101 — 14-287-105) › Chapter 282 - AMBULANCE SERVICE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS (§§ 14-282-101 — 14-282-117) › Section 14-282-104 - Hearing and appeal - Appointment of board of commissioners - Purpose of petition

(a)
On the day named in the notice, it shall be the duty of the county court to meet and to hear the petition and to determine whether those signing the petition constitute the majority in value and area.
(b)
(1)
If the county court determines that a majority in value and area have petitioned for the establishment of the district, it shall enter its judgment laying off the district as defined in the petition and appointing the commissioners who are resident property holders in the district, all of whom shall be citizens of integrity and good business ability.
(2)
If it finds that a majority has not signed the petition, it shall enter its order denying it.
(c)
(1)
The commissioners shall serve without compensation and shall be appointed to serve for terms of one (1), two (2), and three (3) years, respectively, and for five-member commissions, terms of one (1), two (2), three (3), four (4), and five (5) years.
(2)
The length of the term of each commissioner shall be stated in the order of the county court making the appointment.
(3)
As the terms of the commissioners expire, the county court shall appoint successors to hold office for a term of three (3) years.
(4)
The county court may reappoint a commissioner whose term is expiring.
(5)
In case of vacancy on the board of commissioners after the commissioners have organized, the county court shall appoint some resident property holder as his or her successor, who shall qualify in like manner and within a like time.
(6)
The commissioners shall serve until their successors are appointed and qualified.
(d)
Any petitioner or any opponents of the petition may appeal from the judgment of the county court creating or refusing to create the district, but the appeal must be taken and perfected within thirty (30) days. If no appeal is taken within that time, the judgment creating the district shall be final and conclusive upon all persons.
(e)
The commissioners are authorized to acquire such vehicles, equipment, and other facilities and to employ such personnel as they deem necessary to provide adequate ambulance services to the residents of the district.
(f)
The purpose for which the district is to be formed shall be stated in the petition, and the judgment establishing the district shall give it a name which shall be descriptive of the purpose. The district shall also receive a number to prevent its being confused with other districts for similar purposes.
Amended by Act 2013, No. 1172,§ 3, eff. 8/16/2013.
Acts 1975 (Extended Sess. 1976), No. 1221, §§ 2-4; A.S.A. 1947, §§ 20-2002 -- 20-2004; reen. Acts 1987, No. 1011, §§ 2-4.
Arkansas Code of 1987 (2023) › Title 14 - LOCAL GOVERNMENT (§§ 14-1-101 — 14-387-706) › Subtitle 17 - PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS (§§ 14-282-101 — 14-287-105) › Chapter 282 - AMBULANCE SERVICE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS (§§ 14-282-101 — 14-282-117) › Section 14-282-105 - Board of commissioners - Organization

(a)
Within thirty (30) days after their appointment, the commissioners shall take and file their oaths of office with the county clerk, in which they shall swear to support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Arkansas, to faithfully discharge their duties as commissioners and that they will not be interested, directly or indirectly, in any contract let by the board. Any commissioner failing to file the oath within the period shall be deemed to have declined the office, and the county court shall appoint some resident property holder as his successor who shall qualify in like manner within a like time.
(b)
The board shall organize by electing one (1) of its members chairman, and it shall select a secretary.
(c)
The board may also employ such personnel as it deems best and fix their compensation.
(d)
Each improvement district shall be a body corporate, with power to sue and be sued, and it shall have a corporate seal.
(e)
The board shall also select some solvent bank or trust company as the depository of its funds, exacting of the depository a bond in an amount equal to the amount of money likely to come into its hands.
Acts 1975 (Extended Sess. 1976), No. 1221, § 4; A.S.A. 1947, § 20-2004; reen. Acts 1987, No. 1011, § 4.
Arkansas Code of 1987 (2023) › Title 14 - LOCAL GOVERNMENT (§§ 14-1-101 — 14-387-706) › Subtitle 17 - PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS (§§ 14-282-101 — 14-287-105) › Chapter 282 - AMBULANCE SERVICE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS (§§ 14-282-101 — 14-282-117) › Section 14-282-106 - Board of commissioners - Liability

No member of the board of improvement shall be liable for any damages unless it shall be made to appear that he acted with a corrupt and malicious intent.
Acts 1975 (Extended Sess. 1976), No. 1221, § 13; A.S.A. 1947, § 20-2013; reen. Acts 1987, No. 1011, § 13.
Arkansas Code of 1987 (2023) › Title 14 - LOCAL GOVERNMENT (§§ 14-1-101 — 14-387-706) › Subtitle 17 - PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS (§§ 14-282-101 — 14-287-105) › Chapter 282 - AMBULANCE SERVICE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS (§§ 14-282-101 — 14-282-117) › Section 14-282-107 - Formation of plans - Assessment generally

(a)
Upon the qualification of the commissioners, they shall form plans for the providing of ambulance improvements they intend to make and the property and equipment they intend to purchase.
(b)
They shall thereupon appoint three (3) assessors to assess the annual benefits which will accrue to the real property within the district from the providing of ambulance services and shall fix their compensation. The assessors shall take an oath that they will well and truly assess all annual benefits that will accrue to the landowners of the improvement district by the providing of ambulance services.
(c)
The assessors shall thereupon proceed to assess the annual benefits to the lands within the improvement district. They shall inscribe in a book each tract of land and shall extend opposite each tract of land the amount of annual benefits that will accrue each year to the land by reason of the services.
(d)
In case of any reassessment, the reassessment shall be advertised and equalized in the same manner as provided in this section for making the original assessment. The owners of all property whose assessment has been raised shall have the right to be heard and to appeal from the decision of the assessors, as in the original assessment.
(e)
The assessors shall place opposite each tract the name of the supposed owner, as shown by the last county assessment, but a mistake in the name shall not void the assessment, and the assessors shall correct errors which occur in the county assessment list.
(f)
The commissioners shall have the authority to fill any vacancy in the position of assessor and the assessors shall hold their office at the pleasure of the board.
Acts 1975 (Extended Sess. 1976), No. 1221, § 5; A.S.A. 1947, § 20-2005; reen. Acts 1987, No. 1011, § 5.
Arkansas Code of 1987 (2023) › Title 14 - LOCAL GOVERNMENT (§§ 14-1-101 — 14-387-706) › Subtitle 17 - PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS (§§ 14-282-101 — 14-287-105) › Chapter 282 - AMBULANCE SERVICE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS (§§ 14-282-101 — 14-282-117) › Section 14-282-109 - Assessment - Annual reassessment

(a)
The commissioners shall one (1) time a year order the assessors to reassess the annual benefits of the district, provided there have been improvements made or improvements destroyed or removed from one (1) or more tracts of land in the district, making it necessary to have the annual benefits revised.
(b)
Whereupon, it shall be the duty of the assessors to reassess the benefits of the district, and the annual benefits assessed may be raised or lowered as conditions of the property change.
(c)
However, the annual benefits extended against any piece of property shall not be increased from the annual benefits originally extended unless improvements are made to the land that will be benefited by the ambulance services provided by the improvement district.
Acts 1975 (Extended Sess. 1976), No. 1221, § 7; A.S.A. 1947, § 20-2007; reen. Acts 1987, No. 1011, § 7.
Arkansas Code of 1987 (2023) › Title 14 - LOCAL GOVERNMENT (§§ 14-1-101 — 14-387-706) › Subtitle 17 - PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS (§§ 14-282-101 — 14-287-105) › Chapter 282 - AMBULANCE SERVICE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS (§§ 14-282-101 — 14-282-117) › Section 14-282-110 - Assessment - Entry upon board records - Lien

(a)
The board of commissioners of the improvement district shall at the time that the annual benefit assessment is equalized, or at any time thereafter, enter upon its records an order which shall have all the force of a judgment, providing that there shall be assessed upon the real property of the district and collected annually, the annual benefit assessment set opposite each tract of land described. The annual benefit is to be paid by the owner of the real property in the improvement district, payable as provided in the order.
(b)
The uncollected annual benefit assessment as extended shall be a lien upon the real property in the district against which it is extended from the time the assessment is levied. This lien shall be entitled to preference over all demands, executions, encumbrances, or liens whensoever created and shall continue until the assessment, with any penalty and costs that may accrue thereon, shall have been paid.
(c)
Notice of the amount due shall be given to each landowner, if he fails to pay his assessment on or before the third Monday in April, at his last known address by mail.
(d)
(1)
The remedy against the annual benefit assessment shall be by suit in chancery, and the suits must be brought within thirty (30) days from the time that the notice is mailed.
(2)
On the appeal, the presumption shall be in favor of the legality of the annual benefit assessment.
Acts 1975 (Extended Sess. 1976), No. 1221, § 8; A.S.A. 1947, § 20-2008; reen. Acts 1987, No. 1011, § 8.
Arkansas Code of 1987 (2023) › Title 14 - LOCAL GOVERNMENT (§§ 14-1-101 — 14-387-706) › Subtitle 17 - PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS (§§ 14-282-101 — 14-287-105) › Chapter 282 - AMBULANCE SERVICE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS (§§ 14-282-101 — 14-282-117) › Section 14-282-111 - Assessment - Filing and collection

(a)
The original assessment record or any reassessment record shall be filed with the county clerk, whose duty it shall be to extend the annual benefit assessment annually upon the tax books of the county until the improvement district is dissolved. It shall then be the duty of the collector to collect each year the annual benefit assessment extended upon the book along with the other taxes, and the taxes shall be paid by the collector over to the depository of the improvement district at the same time that he pays over the county funds.
(b)
(1)
If there is any change in the annual benefits assessed, a certified copy of the revised assessment shall be filed with the county clerk who shall extend the revised assessment annually upon the tax books until a new assessment is made, which shall be extended upon the tax books in like manner. The power to reassess and extend the assessment upon the tax books shall be a continuing power as long as the district continues to exist. It shall be the duty of the county collector to collect the taxes so extended.
(2)
In lieu of filing the reassessment, the assessors may make the changes in the assessments in red ink on the assessment already on file, or the assessment record may contain many columns at the head of which the year shall be designated and, in the column the new annual benefits may be shown in red ink which will indicate any increase or decrease in the original annual benefits extended. When the change is made, a red ink line shall be drawn through the figures showing the original annual benefits extended.
Acts 1975 (Extended Sess. 1976), No. 1221, § 9; A.S.A. 1947, § 20-2009; reen. Acts 1987, No. 1011, § 9.
Arkansas Code of 1987 (2023) › Title 14 - LOCAL GOVERNMENT (§§ 14-1-101 — 14-387-706) › Subtitle 17 - PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS (§§ 14-282-101 — 14-287-105) › Chapter 282 - AMBULANCE SERVICE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS (§§ 14-282-101 — 14-282-117) › Section 14-282-112 - Assessment - Time for payment - Failure to pay

(a)
All annual benefits extended and levied under the terms of this chapter shall be payable between the third Monday in February and the third Monday in April of each year.
(b)
(1)
If any annual benefit assessments levied by the board pursuant to this chapter are not paid at maturity, the collector shall not embrace the assessments in the taxes for which he shall sell the lands, but he shall report the delinquencies to the board of commissioners of the improvement district, who shall add to the amount of the annual benefit assessment a penalty of ten percent (10%).
(2)
The board of commissioners shall enforce the collection by chancery proceedings in the chancery court of the county in the manner provided by §§
14-121-426
-
14-121-432
.
(3)
The owner of property sold for taxes thereunder shall have the right to redeem it at any time within two (2) years from the time when his lands have been stricken off by the commissioner making the sale.
Acts 1975 (Extended Sess. 1976), No. 1221, § 10; A.S.A. 1947, § 20-2010; reen. Acts 1987, No. 1011, § 10.
Arkansas Code of 1987 (2023) › Title 14 - LOCAL GOVERNMENT (§§ 14-1-101 — 14-387-706) › Subtitle 17 - PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS (§§ 14-282-101 — 14-287-105) › Chapter 282 - AMBULANCE SERVICE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS (§§ 14-282-101 — 14-282-117) › Section 14-282-113 - Payments by district - Public proceedings and transactions - Filing of report

(a)
The depository shall pay out no money except upon the order of the board and upon a voucher check signed by at least two (2) of the commissioners. Every voucher check shall state upon its face to whom payable, the amount, and the purpose for which it is used. All voucher checks shall be dated and shall be numbered consecutively in a record to be kept by the board of the number and amount of each.
(b)
All proceedings and transactions of the board shall be a matter of public record and shall be open to the inspection of the public.
(c)
The board of commissioners shall file with the county clerk in January of each year a certified itemized report showing all moneys received, the date of receipt, the source from which received, all moneys paid out, date paid, to whom paid, and for what purpose during the preceding year, together with an itemized list of all delinquent taxes showing owner, description of property, years for which the tax is delinquent, and amount of total delinquency.
Acts 1975 (Extended Sess. 1976), No. 1221, § 11; A.S.A. 1947, § 20-2011; reen. Acts 1987, No. 1011, § 11.
Arkansas Code of 1987 (2023) › Title 14 - LOCAL GOVERNMENT (§§ 14-1-101 — 14-387-706) › Subtitle 17 - PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS (§§ 14-282-101 — 14-287-105) › Chapter 282 - AMBULANCE SERVICE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS (§§ 14-282-101 — 14-282-117) › Section 14-282-114 - Issuance of negotiable notes

(a)
In order to acquire equipment and to do the work, the board may issue the negotiable notes of the improvement district signed by the members of the board and bearing a rate of interest not exceeding six percent (6%) per annum and may pledge and mortgage a portion of future annual benefit assessments as collected for the payment thereof.
(b)
Any petitions for the creation of a district and the court order creating a district, shall limit the total amount of notes that may be outstanding at any one (1) time to twenty thousand dollars ($20,000).
(c)
The improvement district shall have no authority to issue bonds.
Acts 1975 (Extended Sess. 1976), No. 1221, § 12; A.S.A. 1947, § 20-2012; reen. Acts 1987, No. 1011, § 12.
Arkansas Code of 1987 (2023) › Title 14 - LOCAL GOVERNMENT (§§ 14-1-101 — 14-387-706) › Subtitle 17 - PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS (§§ 14-282-101 — 14-287-105) › Chapter 282 - AMBULANCE SERVICE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS (§§ 14-282-101 — 14-282-117) › Section 14-282-115 - Dissolution of district

(a)
The improvement district shall continue to exist for the purpose of operating and maintaining ambulance services until such time as the owners of a two-thirds (2/3) majority in value of the real property within the district petition the county court for dissolution of the improvement district.
(b)
Publication of the petition for dissolution, as provided for in creating the improvement district, shall be made. If the county court finds that a two-thirds (2/3) majority in value of the real property in the district have petitioned for the dissolving of the district, the district shall be dissolved.
(c)
Parties for or against the dissolution shall have the same right of appeal as in the creation of the district.
Acts 1975 (Extended Sess. 1976), No. 1221, § 14; A.S.A. 1947, § 20-2014; reen. Acts 1987, No. 1011, § 14.
Arkansas Code of 1987 (2023) › Title 14 - LOCAL GOVERNMENT (§§ 14-1-101 — 14-387-706) › Subtitle 17 - PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS (§§ 14-282-101 — 14-287-105) › Chapter 282 - AMBULANCE SERVICE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS (§§ 14-282-101 — 14-282-117) › Section 14-282-116 - Advancement on docket - Appeals

(a)
All cases involving the validity of the districts or the annual benefit assessments and all suits to foreclose the lien of annual benefit assessments shall be deemed matters of public interest, and shall be advanced and disposed of at the earliest possible moment.
(b)
All appeals therefrom must be taken and perfected within thirty (30) days.
Acts 1975 (Extended Sess. 1976), No. 1221, § 15; A.S.A. 1947, § 20-2015; reen. Acts 1987, No. 1011, § 15.
Arkansas Code of 1987 (2023) › Title 14 - LOCAL GOVERNMENT (§§ 14-1-101 — 14-387-706) › Subtitle 17 - PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS (§§ 14-282-101 — 14-287-105) › Chapter 282 - AMBULANCE SERVICE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS (§§ 14-282-101 — 14-282-117) › Section 14-282-117 - Fees of county collector and county clerk

The collector of taxes in any county, in collecting annual benefit assessments in any district created under this chapter, shall deduct one percent (1%) of the annual benefit assessments or taxes so collected and retain one-half of the one percent (1/2 of 1%) as the fee of the collector for collecting the assessments or taxes and pay over the remaining one-half (1/2) of the one percent (1%) of the assessments or taxes collected to the county clerk of the county as the fee of the county clerk for extending on the assessment records of the county the annual benefit assessments or taxes.
Acts 1975 (Extended Sess. 1976), No. 1221, § 16; A.S.A. 1947, § 20-2016; reen. Acts 1987, No. 1011, § 16.
Arkansas Code of 1987 (2023) › Title 14 - LOCAL GOVERNMENT (§§ 14-1-101 — 14-387-706) › Subtitle 17 - PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS (§§ 14-282-101 — 14-287-105) › Chapter 283 - MOSQUITO ABATEMENT DISTRICTS (§§ 14-283-101 — 14-283-116) › Section 14-283-101 - Petition for special election

(a)
When petitions are filed with the county court of any county containing the signatures of ten percent (10%) or more of the qualified electors of all or any defined part of any county or all or any defined part of any city, as determined by the number of votes cast by the qualified electors of the county, city, or designated portion thereof, for all candidates for Governor at the last preceding general election, requesting the establishment of a mosquito abatement district in the county or a designated portion of the county or in the city or designated portion of the city and requesting that assessed benefits be made on the property located in the district to finance the operation of the district, the county court shall call a special election in accordance with §
7-11-201
et seq. in the county, city, or designated area of the city to determine whether a mosquito abatement district shall be established for the area.
(b)
Petitions filed pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall specifically define the area proposed to be included in a mosquito abatement district and shall specify the maximum assessed benefits or taxes which may be levied against property within the district for the support of the district. In no event shall the assessed benefits in any district exceed an amount equal to one percent (1%) of the assessed valuation of real property in the district.
(c)
The quorum court of the county may on its own motion enact an ordinance directing the county court to call a special election in accordance with §
7-11-201
et seq. in the county, city, or designated area of the city to determine whether a mosquito abatement district shall be established for the area.
Acts 1979, No. 530, §§ 1, 2; A.S.A. 1947, §§ 82-1201, 82-1202; Acts 1989, No. 661, § 1; 2007, No. 1049, § 73; 2009, No. 1480, § 92.
Arkansas Code of 1987 (2023) › Title 14 - LOCAL GOVERNMENT (§§ 14-1-101 — 14-387-706) › Subtitle 17 - PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS (§§ 14-282-101 — 14-287-105) › Chapter 283 - MOSQUITO ABATEMENT DISTRICTS (§§ 14-283-101 — 14-283-116) › Section 14-283-103 - Board of commissioners - Appointment

(a)
If at such election a majority of the qualified electors voting on the question vote "FOR" the establishment of the proposed mosquito abatement district and the levy of assessed benefits to support the district, the county court shall enter an order establishing the district as described in the petitions and shall appoint five (5) qualified electors of the district as a board of commissioners for the district. Two (2) members of the commission shall be appointed for terms of two (2) years and three (3) members shall be appointed for terms of three (3) years.
(b)
All successor members shall be appointed by the county court for terms of three (3) years.
(c)
Vacancies occurring on the board because of resignation or otherwise shall be filled by the county court for the unexpired term.
(d)
The members of the board shall serve without compensation, but shall be entitled to actual expenses incurred in attending meetings in an amount not to exceed fifty dollars ($50.00) per month for each member of the board.
Acts 1979, No. 530, § 4; A.S.A. 1947, § 82-1204.
Arkansas Code of 1987 (2023) › Title 14 - LOCAL GOVERNMENT (§§ 14-1-101 — 14-387-706) › Subtitle 17 - PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS (§§ 14-282-101 — 14-287-105) › Chapter 283 - MOSQUITO ABATEMENT DISTRICTS (§§ 14-283-101 — 14-283-116) › Section 14-283-104 - Board of commissioners - Power and authority

The board of commissioners of any district created pursuant to this chapter shall have the power and authority to:
(1)
Execute contracts and other instruments for and in behalf of the district;
(2)
Cooperate with any other mosquito abatement district or any political subdivision or agency of this state or the United States in carrying out the purposes of the district;
(3)
Establish rules and regulations for the transaction of the district's business and for carrying out the purposes of the district;
(4)
Make assessments of benefits against real property in the district and provide for the collection of the assessments and issue bonds as provided in this chapter to finance the district and its purposes; and
(5)
Do any and all other actions necessary or desirable to enable the board to carry out its responsibilities and to accomplish the purposes of the district.
Acts 1979, No. 530, § 7; A.S.A. 1947, § 82-1207.
Arkansas Code of 1987 (2023) › Title 14 - LOCAL GOVERNMENT (§§ 14-1-101 — 14-387-706) › Subtitle 17 - PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS (§§ 14-282-101 — 14-287-105) › Chapter 283 - MOSQUITO ABATEMENT DISTRICTS (§§ 14-283-101 — 14-283-116) › Section 14-283-105 - Board of commissioners - Proceedings - Offices

(a)
(1)
The board shall annually choose from among its members a chairman and a secretary-treasurer.
(2)
The chairman and secretary-treasurer shall furnish bond conditioned upon faithful performance of their duties in the amount of five thousand dollars ($5,000) each. The cost of securing and maintaining the bonds shall be paid from funds of the district.
(b)
(1)
The board shall employ a director who shall have such training, experience, and qualifications as may be prescribed by the State Board of Health. The board may employ such other employees as it deems necessary to carry out the purposes of the district.
(2)
Employees of the board shall have such responsibilities and receive such compensation as may be prescribed by the board.
(c)
The county in which any district is located shall cooperate with and assist the board by providing suitable office space and meeting facilities for the board and its staff.
(d)
The board shall meet at least quarterly and at such other times as it may deem necessary to properly carry out its responsibilities.
(1)
Meetings shall be called by the chairman or a majority of the members of the board.
(2)
Three (3) members of the board shall constitute a quorum and any substantive action of the board shall require an affirmative vote of at least three (3) members of the board.
(e)
The Director of the Department of Health shall be an ex officio member of the board and shall serve without compensation. He or his representative shall cooperate with and assist the board by furnishing the board with such surveys, maps, information, and advice as may be helpful to the board in carrying out its responsibilities and to assist in such other manner as may be reasonably requested by the board.
Acts 1979, No. 530, §§ 5, 6; A.S.A. 1947, §§ 82-1205, 82-1206.
Arkansas Code of 1987 (2023) › Title 14 - LOCAL GOVERNMENT (§§ 14-1-101 — 14-387-706) › Subtitle 17 - PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS (§§ 14-282-101 — 14-287-105) › Chapter 283 - MOSQUITO ABATEMENT DISTRICTS (§§ 14-283-101 — 14-283-116) › Section 14-283-106 - Preparation of plans - Assessors and assessments generally

(a)
As soon as is practical after its establishment, the board shall prepare plans for providing mosquito abatement services and for acquiring the property and equipment necessary to carry out the purposes of the district.
(b)
The county assessors shall assess the annual benefits which will accrue to the real property within the district from the providing of mosquito abatement services.
(c)
The original assessment of benefits and any reassessment shall be advertised and equalized in the same manner as provided in this chapter, and owners of all property whose assessment has been raised shall have the right to be heard and to appeal from the decision of the assessor, as provided in this chapter.
(d)
The assessor shall place opposite each tract the name of the supposed owner, as shown by the last county assessment, but a mistake in the name shall not void the assessment, and the assessor shall correct errors which occur in the county assessment list.
(e)
The assessments levied under this chapter shall be collected by the county collector in the same manner as property taxes.
Acts 1979, No. 530, § 8; A.S.A. 1947, § 82-1208; Acts 1989, No. 661, § 2.
Arkansas Code of 1987 (2023) › Title 14 - LOCAL GOVERNMENT (§§ 14-1-101 — 14-387-706) › Subtitle 17 - PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS (§§ 14-282-101 — 14-287-105) › Chapter 283 - MOSQUITO ABATEMENT DISTRICTS (§§ 14-283-101 — 14-283-116) › Section 14-283-108 - Assessments - Annual reassessments

(a)
The commissioners shall one (1) time a year order the assessors to reassess the annual benefits of the district, provided there have been improvements made or improvements destroyed or removed from one (1) or more tracts of land in the district, making it necessary to have the annual benefits revised.
(b)
(1)
Whereupon, it shall be the duty of the assessors to reassess the benefits of the district, and the annual benefits assessed may be raised or lowered as conditions of the property change.
(2)
However, the annual benefits extended against any piece of property shall not be increased from the annual benefits originally extended unless improvements are made to the land that will be benefited by the mosquito abatement services provided by the district.
Acts 1979, No. 530, § 10; A.S.A. 1947, § 82-1210.
Arkansas Code of 1987 (2023) › Title 14 - LOCAL GOVERNMENT (§§ 14-1-101 — 14-387-706) › Subtitle 17 - PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS (§§ 14-282-101 — 14-287-105) › Chapter 283 - MOSQUITO ABATEMENT DISTRICTS (§§ 14-283-101 — 14-283-116) › Section 14-283-109 - Assessment - Filing and collection

(a)
The original assessment record or any reassessment record shall be filed with the county clerk, whose duty it shall be to extend the annual benefit assessment annually upon the tax books of the county until the district is dissolved.
(b)
It shall then be the duty of the collector to collect each year the annual benefit assessment extended upon the book along with the other taxes, and the taxes shall be paid over by the collector to the depository of the district at the same time that he pays over the county funds.
(c)
(1)
If there is any change in the annual benefits assessed, a certified copy of the revised assessment shall be filed with the county clerk who shall extend the revised assessment annually upon the tax books until a new assessment is made, which shall be extended upon the tax books in a similar manner. The power to reassess and extend the assessment upon the tax books shall be a continuing power as long as the district continues to exist. It shall be the duty of the county collector to collect the taxes so extended.
(2)
In lieu of filing the reassessment, the assessors may make the changes in the assessments in red ink on the assessment already on file, or the assessment record may contain many columns at the head of which the year shall be designated and, in the column, the new annual benefits may be shown in red ink which will indicate any increase or decrease in the original annual benefits extended. When the change is made, a red ink line shall be drawn through the figures showing the original annual benefits extended.
Acts 1979, No. 530, § 11; A.S.A. 1947, § 82-1211.
Arkansas Code of 1987 (2023) › Title 14 - LOCAL GOVERNMENT (§§ 14-1-101 — 14-387-706) › Subtitle 17 - PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS (§§ 14-282-101 — 14-287-105) › Chapter 283 - MOSQUITO ABATEMENT DISTRICTS (§§ 14-283-101 — 14-283-116) › Section 14-283-110 - Assessment - Time for payment - Failure to pay

(a)
All annual benefits extended and levied under the terms of this chapter shall be payable at the time ad valorem taxes are payable, and if any annual benefit assessments levied by the board pursuant to this chapter are not paid when due, the collector shall not embrace the assessments in the taxes for which he shall sell the lands, but he shall report the delinquencies to the board of commissioners of the district. The board shall add to the amount of the annual benefit assessment a penalty of ten percent (10%).
(b)
The board of commissioners shall enforce the collection by chancery proceedings in the chancery court of the county in the manner provided by §§
14-121-426
-
14-121-432
.
(c)
The owner of property sold for taxes thereunder shall have the right to redeem it at any time within two (2) years from the time when his lands have been stricken off by the commissioner making the sale.
Acts 1979, No. 530, § 12; A.S.A. 1947, § 82-1212.
Arkansas Code of 1987 (2023) › Title 14 - LOCAL GOVERNMENT (§§ 14-1-101 — 14-387-706) › Subtitle 17 - PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS (§§ 14-282-101 — 14-287-105) › Chapter 283 - MOSQUITO ABATEMENT DISTRICTS (§§ 14-283-101 — 14-283-116) › Section 14-283-111 - Expenditures - Public proceedings and transactions - Filing of report

(a)
Funds of the district shall be expended only upon the order of the board and upon a voucher check signed by the chairman and secretary-treasurer of the board.
(1)
Every voucher check shall state upon its face to whom payable, the amount, and the purpose for which it is used.
(2)
All voucher checks shall be dated and shall be numbered consecutively in a record to be kept by the board of the number and amount of each.
(b)
All proceedings and transactions of the board shall be a matter of public record and shall be open to the inspection of the public.
(c)
The board shall file with the county clerk in January of each year a certified itemized report showing all moneys received, the date of receipt, and the source from which received; and all moneys paid out, date paid, to whom paid, and for what purpose, during the preceding year, together with an itemized list of all delinquent taxes showing owner, description of property, years for which the tax is delinquent, and amount of total delinquency.
Acts 1979, No. 530, § 13; A.S.A. 1947, § 82-1213.
Arkansas Code of 1987 (2023) › Title 14 - LOCAL GOVERNMENT (§§ 14-1-101 — 14-387-706) › Subtitle 17 - PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS (§§ 14-282-101 — 14-287-105) › Chapter 283 - MOSQUITO ABATEMENT DISTRICTS (§§ 14-283-101 — 14-283-116) › Section 14-283-113 - Bonds - Security - Liability of board for bonds and contracts

(a)
(1)
It shall be plainly stated on the face of each bond that it has been issued under the provisions of this chapter, that the bonds shall be obligations only of the district, and that in no event shall they constitute any indebtedness for which the faith and credit of the state or any county or municipality or any of the revenues of the state or any county or municipality are pledged.
(2)
No member of the board shall be personally liable on the bonds or for any damages sustained by anyone in connection with any contracts entered into in carrying out the purpose and intent of this chapter unless he shall have acted with corrupt intent.
(b)
(1)
The principal of, interest on, and paying agent's fees in connection with the bonds shall be secured by a lien on, and pledge of, and shall be payable from the assessments levied against the real property within the district.
(2)
The right to issue subsequent issues of bonds can, if the district so determines, be reserved in any authorizing resolution or trust indenture on either a parity or subordinate lien basis and upon such terms and conditions as the district may determine and specify in the particular authorizing resolution or trust indenture.
Acts 1979, No. 530, § 15; A.S.A. 1947, § 82-1215.
Arkansas Code of 1987 (2023) › Title 14 - LOCAL GOVERNMENT (§§ 14-1-101 — 14-387-706) › Subtitle 17 - PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS (§§ 14-282-101 — 14-287-105) › Chapter 283 - MOSQUITO ABATEMENT DISTRICTS (§§ 14-283-101 — 14-283-116) › Section 14-283-114 - Bonds - Refunding

(a)
Bonds may be issued for the purpose of refunding any bonds issued under this chapter.
(b)
Refunding bonds may be either sold or delivered in exchange for the bonds being refunded. If sold, the proceeds may be either applied to the payment of the bonds being refunded or deposited in trust and there maintained in cash or investments for the retirement of the bonds being refunded, as shall be specified by the district in the resolution or trust indenture securing the bonds.
(c)
The resolution or trust indenture securing the refunding bonds may provide that the refunding bonds shall have the same priority on assessments or revenues pledged for their payment as was enjoyed by the bonds refunded.
(d)
Refunding bonds shall be sold and secured in accordance with the provisions of this chapter pertaining to the sale and security of the bonds initially issued.
Acts 1979, No. 530, § 16; A.S.A. 1947, § 82-1216.
Arkansas Code of 1987 (2023) › Title 14 - LOCAL GOVERNMENT (§§ 14-1-101 — 14-387-706) › Subtitle 17 - PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS (§§ 14-282-101 — 14-287-105) › Chapter 283 - MOSQUITO ABATEMENT DISTRICTS (§§ 14-283-101 — 14-283-116) › Section 14-283-115 - Bonds - Tax exemption

Bonds issued under the provisions of this chapter, and the interest thereon, shall be exempt from all state, county, and municipal taxes. This exemption shall include income, inheritance, and estate taxes.
Acts 1979, No. 530, § 17; A.S.A. 1947, § 82-1217.
Arkansas Code of 1987 (2023) › Title 14 - LOCAL GOVERNMENT (§§ 14-1-101 — 14-387-706) › Subtitle 17 - PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS (§§ 14-282-101 — 14-287-105) › Chapter 283 - MOSQUITO ABATEMENT DISTRICTS (§§ 14-283-101 — 14-283-116) › Section 14-283-116 - Dissolution of district

(a)
A mosquito abatement district created pursuant to this chapter may be dissolved upon a vote of a majority of qualified electors of the district, and the question of dissolution of the district may be submitted to the electors in the same manner as is prescribed in this chapter for submitting the question of the establishment of the district.
(b)
If any district having outstanding bonds or other indebtedness is dissolved, the assessed benefits being levied at the time of dissolution shall continue to be levied and collected until the outstanding bonds or other indebtedness are paid.
(c)
No election on the question of dissolution of a mosquito abatement district may be held within the first three (3) years after the establishment of the district.
Acts 1979, No. 530, § 18; A.S.A. 1947, § 82-1218.
Arkansas Code of 1987 (2023) › Title 14 - LOCAL GOVERNMENT (§§ 14-1-101 — 14-387-706) › Subtitle 17 - PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS (§§ 14-282-101 — 14-287-105) › Chapter 284 - FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICTS (§§ 14-284-101 — 14-284-412) › Subchapter 1 - GENERAL PROVISIONS (§§ 14-284-101 — 14-284-126) › Section 14-284-101 - Definitions

(a)
As used in this subchapter, unless the context otherwise requires, wherever the words "majority in value" are used, it shall be construed to mean a majority in assessed value as shown by the latest county assessment records for general taxes.
(b)
As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires, "contractor" means any person, firm, partnership, copartnership, association, corporation, or other organization, or any combination thereof, who, for a fixed price, commission, fee, or wage, attempts to or submits a bid to construct, or contracts or undertakes to construct, or assumes charge, in a supervisory capacity or otherwise, or manages the construction, erection, alteration or repair, or has or have constructed, erected, altered, or repaired, under his, their, or its direction, any fire station, building, or any other improvement or structure for the benefit or use of a district created under this chapter.
Acts 1939, No. 183, § 16; A.S.A. 1947, § 20-916; Acts 1995, No. 426, § 1.
Arkansas Code of 1987 (2023) › Title 14 - LOCAL GOVERNMENT (§§ 14-1-101 — 14-387-706) › Subtitle 17 - PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS (§§ 14-282-101 — 14-287-105) › Chapter 284 - FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICTS (§§ 14-284-101 — 14-284-412) › Subchapter 1 - GENERAL PROVISIONS (§§ 14-284-101 — 14-284-126) › Section 14-284-102 - Purpose of district

The purpose of the district shall be the building, equipping, and operating of a fire station or stations equipped with a fire truck or fire trucks, fire hose, chemical fire extinguishers, and other equipment for extinguishing fires. The district may provide other emergency services, like hazardous and toxic materials response, search and rescue, emergency medical, ambulance, and patient transport services, and such other functions as may be assigned to or reasonably expected of a local fire services agency and which it is trained and qualified to perform.
Acts 1939, No. 183, § 1; 1973, No. 302, § 1; 1979, No. 486, § 1; A.S.A. 1947, § 20-901; Acts 1995, No. 426, § 2; 1997, No. 1093, § 1.
Arkansas Code of 1987 (2023) › Title 14 - LOCAL GOVERNMENT (§§ 14-1-101 — 14-387-706) › Subtitle 17 - PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS (§§ 14-282-101 — 14-287-105) › Chapter 284 - FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICTS (§§ 14-284-101 — 14-284-412) › Subchapter 1 - GENERAL PROVISIONS (§§ 14-284-101 — 14-284-126) › Section 14-284-103 - Petition generally

(a)
Upon the petition of majority in value of the owners of real property in any designated area, no part of which is more than three (3) miles, except as provided in subsection (e) of this section, from a lot or plot of ground not exceeding a square acre in area on which the fire station is located or is to be located, the location of which lot or plot of ground must be definitely fixed in the petition, and which area defined in the petition contains not less than one hundred (100) residences, exclusive of garages and other buildings, it shall be the duty of the county court to lay off into an improvement district the territory described in the petition and to name five (5) commissioners of the district who are resident property holders in the district.
(b)
Portions of incorporated towns may be included in the districts, provided the town has no equipped fire fighting station.
(c)
If any part of the district, as defined in the petition therefor or the court order establishing the district, shall be found to be more than three (3) miles from the designated location of the fire station, it shall not affect the validity of the district, but the portion of the district in excess of three (3) miles from the designated location of the fire station shall be excluded.
(d)
However, any tract of land not exceeding three hundred thirty square feet (330 sq. ft.) which equals one-sixteenth (
1
/
16
) of a section in length and breadth, any part of which shall be within three (3) miles of the fire station of the district, may be included in the district.
(e)
A fire protection district having a radius of five (5) miles may be created in any county having a population of not less than fifteen thousand three hundred (15,300) and not more than fifteen thousand five hundred (15,500) according to the 1970 Federal Decennial Census in the same manner and for the same purposes as provided in this subchapter for a fire protection district having a three-mile radius.
(f)
The petition shall state the purpose or purposes 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. The district shall also receive a number to prevent its being confused with other districts for similar purposes.
Acts 1939, No. 183, §§ 1, 2; 1973, No. 302, § 1; 1979, No. 486, § 1; A.S.A. 1947, §§ 20-901, 20-902.
Arkansas Code of 1987 (2023) › Title 14 - LOCAL GOVERNMENT (§§ 14-1-101 — 14-387-706) › Subtitle 17 - PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS (§§ 14-282-101 — 14-287-105) › Chapter 284 - FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICTS (§§ 14-284-101 — 14-284-412) › Subchapter 1 - GENERAL PROVISIONS (§§ 14-284-101 — 14-284-126) › Section 14-284-105 - Board of commissioners - Appointment - Qualifications

(a)
The board of commissioners shall be resident property holders in the district and shall be citizens of integrity and good business ability.
(b)
(1)
The commissioners shall be appointed to serve for terms of one (1), two (2), three (3), four (4), and five (5) years respectively, and the length of the term of each commissioner shall be stated in the order of the county court making the appointment.
(2)
As the terms of the commissioners expire, the county court shall appoint successors to hold office for a term of five (5) years. The county court may reappoint a commissioner whose term is expiring.
(c)
In case of a vacancy on the board of commissioners after the commissioners have organized, the county court shall appoint some resident property holder as his successor who shall qualify in like manner and within a like time.
(d)
The commissioners shall serve without compensation and until their successors are appointed and qualified.
Acts 1939, No. 183, §§ 1-3; 1973, No. 302, § 1; 1979, No. 486, § 1; A.S.A. 1947, §§ 20-901--20-903.