Whenever the board shall, by resolution, determine that the interest of the district and the public interest or necessity demand the acquisition, construction, installation or completion of any works or other improvements or facilities, or the making of any contract with the United States or other persons or corporations, to carry out the objects or purposes of the district, requiring the creation of a general obligation indebtedness of five thousand dollars ($5,000) or more, secured by property tax revenue from within the district, the board shall order the submission of the proposition of issuing the obligations or bonds or creating other indebtedness to the qualified electors of the district at a district election held in accordance with the provisions of the Local Election Act [Chapter 1, Article 22 NMSA 1978]. The declaration of public interest or necessity required in this section and the provision for the holding of the election may be included within one and the same resolution. The resolution, in addition to the declaration of public interest or necessity, shall recite the objects and purposes for which the indebtedness is proposed to be incurred, the estimated cost of the works or improvements, as the case may be, the amount of principal of the indebtedness to be incurred and the maximum rate of interest to be paid on the indebtedness. The resolution shall also announce the date upon which the election shall be held; provided that the date is not in conflict with the provisions of Section 1-24-1 NMSA 1978.
History: 1941 Comp., § 77-3425, enacted by Laws 1943, ch. 80, § 25; 1953 Comp., § 75-18-25; 1978 Comp., § 73-21-28; 2009, ch. 241, § 4; 2018, ch. 79, § 171; 2019, ch. 212, § 266.
The 2019 amendment, effective April 3, 2019, provided that the date for a bond election shall not conflict with the provisions of the Special Election Act; after "Section", deleted "1-12-71" and added "1-24-1".
The 2018 amendment, effective July 1, 2018, provided that elections called for the purpose of voting on the question of issuing bonds to carry out the objects or purposes of the district be held in accordance with the provisions of the Local Election Act, and prohibited the board from scheduling an election on a date that conflicts with the provisions of Section 1-12-71 NMSA 1978; and after "a district election held", deleted "for that purpose. Any such election may be held separately or may be consolidated or held concurrently with any other election authorized by the Water and Sanitation District" and added "in accordance with the provisions of the Local Election", after "the election shall be held", deleted "and the manner of holding it and the method of voting for or against the incurring of the proposed indebtedness. The resolution shall also fix the compensation to be paid the officers of the election and shall designate the polling place and shall appoint, for each polling place from the electors of the district, the officers of the election consisting of three judges, one of whom shall act as clerk" and added "provided that the date is not in conflict with the provisions of Section 1-12-71 NMSA 1978".
The 2009 amendment, effective June 19, 2009, in the first sentence, after "requiring the creation of a", added "general obligation"; and after "($5,000) or more", added "secured by property tax revenue from within the district, the".
County improvements. — Issuance by water and sanitation district of bonds pursuant to provisions of County Improvements Law (now County Improvement District Act, Section 4-55A-1 NMSA 1978 et seq.) would not require election specified in this section. 1976 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 76-01.
Am. Jur. 2d, A.L.R. and C.J.S. references. — 39A C.J.S. Health and Environment § 56.
Structure New Mexico Statutes
Chapter 73 - Special Districts
Article 21 - Water and Sanitation Districts
Section 73-21-1 - [Declaration of purpose.]
Section 73-21-2 - Short title.
Section 73-21-3 - Purpose of water and sanitation districts.
Section 73-21-4 - Definitions.
Section 73-21-5 - Organization of district.
Section 73-21-7 - Bond of petitioners.
Section 73-21-8 - Notice of hearing on petition.
Section 73-21-9 - Hearing on petitions; election for organization and officers.
Section 73-21-10 - Filing decree.
Section 73-21-11 - [Board of directors; qualification; bond.]
Section 73-21-15 - Board increase; appointed members.
Section 73-21-15.1 - Appointment of first board.
Section 73-21-16 - General powers.
Section 73-21-18 - Levy and collection of taxes.
Section 73-21-19 - Levies to cover defaults and deficiencies.
Section 73-21-20 - Officers levy and collect taxes.
Section 73-21-21 - Sale for delinquencies; purchase by district.
Section 73-21-22 - Sinking fund.
Section 73-21-23 - Inclusion [of additional property].
Section 73-21-24 - Exclusion [from district].
Section 73-21-25 - Liability of property included or excluded.
Section 73-21-26 - Bonds; interest; form.
Section 73-21-27 - Community Service District Act provisions apply.
Section 73-21-28 - Board resolution; indebtedness; election.
Section 73-21-31 - Effect of election; subsequent elections.
Section 73-21-32 - Correction of faulty notices.
Section 73-21-33 - Early hearings.
Section 73-21-34 - Liberal construction.
Section 73-21-35 - Character of act.
Section 73-21-36 - Acquisition, construction or improvement of systems; joint revenue bonds.
Section 73-21-37 - Interest; maturity; form; method of sale.
Section 73-21-38 - Revenue bond issuance.
Section 73-21-39 - Bonds collectible from operating revenues.
Section 73-21-40 - Rates; bondholders' remedy and taxpayer elector.
Section 73-21-41 - Restricted use of bond funds.
Section 73-21-42 - Violations; penalties.
Section 73-21-43 - Validation; existing districts.
Section 73-21-44 - Sale of system; escrow of proceeds.
Section 73-21-45 - Refunding bonds.
Section 73-21-46 - Limitations upon issuance.
Section 73-21-47 - Proceeds of refunding bonds.
Section 73-21-48 - Refunding bonds; detail; form.
Section 73-21-49 - Combination of issues.
Section 73-21-50 - Tax levy for general obligation refunding bonds.
Section 73-21-51 - Applicability of other bond provisions.
Section 73-21-52 - Duties of local government division.
Section 73-21-53 - Use of bond proceeds restricted.
Section 73-21-54 - Board's determination final.
Section 73-21-55 - Districts not subject to utility laws; option to submit to regulation.