Court Opinion

ID: 9627036
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 08:31:32.655399+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:06:38.494784
License: Public Domain

HENRIOD, Justice
(dissenting).
I dissent, among other things, for reasons stated in the dissent in Barlow v. Clearfield City Corp.1
I also disagree with the main opinion’s conclusion that the property owners in this case are the primary debtors. The statute 2 clearly states that “the board of county commissioners may issue negotiable interest-*400bearing bonds” and “the bonds shall he signed by the chairman of the hoard of county commissioners,” and “shall be attested by the clerk thereof under the seal of the board.” This is an obligation of the county.
In addition to the quoted language, other statutory interdictions clearly say that the land shall be security for the payment of the bonds, indicating that the county is the primary obligor and the landowners some sort of psuedo sureties.
The generalities of the main opinion do not answer this question: “Who would be required to pay the bonds if the land involved became worthless by virtue of flood, earthquake, other acts of God or by destruction through enemy action?” In such event, if the county ultimately would have to pay the obligation represented by the bonds, as it appears it would, the statute clearly would be unconstitutional.3
From the briefs, the arguments and the circumstances surrounding this case, it would appear that legal counsel for prospective purchasers of the bonds suggested the procurement of a decision of this court as an insurance policy against any loss of risk capital and to assure a guaranteed profitable return on such risk capital. Someone certainly considered that nine constitutional conundrums had been posed by the legislation, (including the objection voiced in this dissent) as evinced by the nine assignments of error. I think the case should be resolved solely on the ground that the legislation is in violation of Art. XIV, Section 3, of the Utah Constitution relating to debt limitations.

. 1954, 1 Utah 2d 419, 268 P.2d 682.

. Sec. 17-7-21, U.C.A.1953 as amended.

. Art. XIV, Sec. 3, Utah Constitution.