2023 Texas Statutes › Water Code › Title 4 - General Law Districts › Chapter 49 - Provisions Applicable to All Districts › Subchapter D. Election Provisions › Section 49.108. Contract Elections

Sec. 49.108.  CONTRACT ELECTIONS.  (a)  A contract may provide that the district will make payment under the contract from proceeds from the sale of notes or bonds, from taxes, or from any other income of the district or any combination of these.
(b)  A district may make payments under a contract from taxes other than operation and maintenance taxes after the provisions of the contract have been approved by a majority of the qualified voters voting at an election held for that purpose.  A contract approved by the qualified voters of a district may contain a provision stating that the contract may be modified or amended by the board without voter approval.
(c)  A contract election may be held at the same time and in conjunction with any other district election.  The election may be called by a separate election order or as part of any other election order.
(d)  A contract approved by the voters will constitute an obligation against the taxing power of the district to the extent provided in the contract.
(e)  A district that is required under Section 49.181 to obtain approval by the commission of the district's issuance of bonds must obtain approval by the executive director before the district enters into an obligation under this section to collect tax for debt that exceeds three years.  This subsection does not apply to contract taxes that are levied to pay for a district's share of bonds that have been issued by another district and approved by the commission or bonds issued by a municipality.
(f)  Sections 26.04, 26.042, 26.05, 26.061, 26.07, and 26.075, Tax Code, do not apply to a tax levied and collected for payments made under a contract approved in accordance with this section.
(g)  On or before the first day for early voting by personal appearance at an election held to authorize a contract, a substantially final form of the contract must be filed in the office of the district and must be open to inspection by the public.  The contract is not required to be attached as an exhibit to the order calling the election to authorize the contract.
(h)  A single contract may contain multiple purposes or provisions for multiple facilities authorized by one or more constitutional provisions.  The contract may generally describe the facilities to be acquired or financed by the district without reference to specific constitutional provisions.  A contract described by this subsection may be submitted for approval in a single proposition at an election.
(i)  A contract between districts to provide facilities or services is not required to specify the maximum amount of bonds or expenditures authorized under the contract if:
(1)  the contract provides that the service area cannot be enlarged without the consent of at least two-thirds of the boards of directors of the districts that are:
(A)  included in the service area as proposed to be enlarged; or
(B)  served by the facilities or services provided in the contract;
(2)  the contract provides that bonds or expenditures, payable wholly or partly from contract taxes, are issued or made:
(A)  on an emergency basis; or
(B)  to purchase, construct, acquire, own, operate, repair, improve, or extend services or facilities necessary to comply with changes in applicable regulatory requirements; or
(3)  the contract provides that the bonds or expenditures require prior approval by any district that is obligated to pay debt service on those bonds or to pay for those expenditures wholly or partly with contract taxes.
Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 715, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.  Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1070, Sec. 6, eff. Sept. 1, 1997;  Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1160, Sec. 1, eff. June 15, 2001;  Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1423, Sec. 7, eff. June 17, 2001.
Amended by:
Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 105 (S.B. 902), Sec. 10, eff. September 1, 2013.
Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 944 (S.B. 2), Sec. 87, eff. January 1, 2020.
Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 884 (S.B. 1438), Sec. 9, eff. June 16, 2021.