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S.B. 173

             1     

SPECIAL DISTRICT AND LOCAL DISTRICT

             2     
GOVERNING BODY ISSUES

             3     
2000 GENERAL SESSION

             4     
STATE OF UTAH

             5     
Sponsor: R. Mont Evans

             6      AN ACT RELATING TO SPECIAL DISTRICTS AND LIMITED PURPOSE LOCAL
             7      GOVERNMENT ENTITIES; MODIFYING PROVISIONS RELATING TO THE
             8      COMPOSITION, OPERATION, AND COMPENSATION OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF
             9      SPECIAL DISTRICTS AND ENACTING SUCH PROVISIONS FOR LOCAL DISTRICTS;
             10      AND MAKING TECHNICAL CHANGES.
             11      This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
             12      AMENDS:
             13          17A-2-208, as last amended by Chapter 227, Laws of Utah 1993
             14          17A-2-210, as last amended by Chapter 124, Laws of Utah 1996
             15          17A-2-219, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             16          17A-2-305, as last amended by Chapter 154, Laws of Utah 1999
             17          17A-2-308, as last amended by Chapter 17, Laws of Utah 1997
             18          17A-2-411, as last amended by Chapter 368, Laws of Utah 1998
             19          17A-2-506, as last amended by Chapter 36, Laws of Utah 1997
             20          17A-2-509, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             21          17A-2-511, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             22          17A-2-512, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             23          17A-2-514, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             24          17A-2-529, as last amended by Chapter 322, Laws of Utah 1997
             25          17A-2-530, as last amended by Chapter 322, Laws of Utah 1997
             26          17A-2-531, as last amended by Chapter 365, Laws of Utah 1999
             27          17A-2-532, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990


             28          17A-2-533, as last amended by Chapter 30, Laws of Utah 1992
             29          17A-2-534, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             30          17A-2-535, as last amended by Chapter 227, Laws of Utah 1993
             31          17A-2-536, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             32          17A-2-537, as last amended by Chapter 36, Laws of Utah 1997
             33          17A-2-540, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             34          17A-2-541, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             35          17A-2-543, as last amended by Chapter 227, Laws of Utah 1993
             36          17A-2-544, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             37          17A-2-545, as last amended by Chapter 227, Laws of Utah 1993
             38          17A-2-546, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             39          17A-2-547, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             40          17A-2-548, as last amended by Chapter 227, Laws of Utah 1993
             41          17A-2-549, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             42          17A-2-550, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             43          17A-2-551, as last amended by Chapter 227, Laws of Utah 1993
             44          17A-2-552, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             45          17A-2-553, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             46          17A-2-555, as last amended by Chapter 227, Laws of Utah 1993
             47          17A-2-556, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             48          17A-2-560, as last amended by Chapter 227, Laws of Utah 1993
             49          17A-2-561, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             50          17A-2-563, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             51          17A-2-566, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             52          17A-2-609, as last amended by Chapters 5 and 273, Laws of Utah 1991
             53          17A-2-610, as last amended by Chapter 227, Laws of Utah 1993
             54          17A-2-613, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             55          17A-2-614, as last amended by Chapter 322, Laws of Utah 1997
             56          17A-2-615, as last amended by Chapter 227, Laws of Utah 1993
             57          17A-2-617, as last amended by Chapter 227, Laws of Utah 1993
             58          17A-2-618, as last amended by Chapter 227, Laws of Utah 1993


             59          17A-2-619, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             60          17A-2-622, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             61          17A-2-703, as last amended by Chapter 146, Laws of Utah 1994
             62          17A-2-704, as last amended by Chapter 146, Laws of Utah 1994
             63          17A-2-705, as last amended by Chapter 146, Laws of Utah 1994
             64          17A-2-706, as last amended by Chapter 273, Laws of Utah 1991
             65          17A-2-707, as last amended by Chapter 273, Laws of Utah 1991
             66          17A-2-711, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             67          17A-2-712, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             68          17A-2-714, as last amended by Chapter 227, Laws of Utah 1993
             69          17A-2-715, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             70          17A-2-716, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             71          17A-2-718, as last amended by Chapter 227, Laws of Utah 1993
             72          17A-2-719, as last amended by Chapter 10, Laws of Utah 1997
             73          17A-2-720, as last amended by Chapter 227, Laws of Utah 1993
             74          17A-2-721, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             75          17A-2-723, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             76          17A-2-724, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             77          17A-2-726, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             78          17A-2-727, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             79          17A-2-728, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             80          17A-2-731, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             81          17A-2-732, as last amended by Chapter 322, Laws of Utah 1997
             82          17A-2-733, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             83          17A-2-740, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             84          17A-2-741, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             85          17A-2-742, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             86          17A-2-743, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             87          17A-2-744, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             88          17A-2-745, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             89          17A-2-746, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990


             90          17A-2-747, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             91          17A-2-748, as last amended by Chapter 227, Laws of Utah 1993
             92          17A-2-749, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             93          17A-2-750, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             94          17A-2-751, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             95          17A-2-752, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             96          17A-2-754, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             97          17A-2-756, as last amended by Chapter 299, Laws of Utah 1995
             98          17A-2-757, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             99          17A-2-758, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             100          17A-2-759, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             101          17A-2-760, as last amended by Chapter 227, Laws of Utah 1993
             102          17A-2-761, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             103          17A-2-767, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             104          17A-2-768, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             105          17A-2-801, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             106          17A-2-802, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             107          17A-2-818, as last amended by Chapters 199 and 299, Laws of Utah 1995
             108          17A-2-819, as last amended by Chapter 10, Laws of Utah 1997
             109          17A-2-820, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             110          17A-2-821, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             111          17A-2-824, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             112          17A-2-825, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             113          17A-2-827, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             114          17A-2-828, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             115          17A-2-829, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             116          17A-2-830, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             117          17A-2-831, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             118          17A-2-834, as last amended by Chapter 199, Laws of Utah 1995
             119          17A-2-835, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             120          17A-2-836, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990


             121          17A-2-840, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             122          17A-2-841, as last amended by Chapter 322, Laws of Utah 1997
             123          17A-2-842, as last amended by Chapter 322, Laws of Utah 1997
             124          17A-2-843, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             125          17A-2-845, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             126          17A-2-847, as last amended by Chapter 199, Laws of Utah 1995
             127          17A-2-849, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             128          17A-2-850, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             129          17A-2-907, as last amended by Chapter 250, Laws of Utah 1999
             130          17A-2-1016, as last amended by Chapter 365, Laws of Utah 1999
             131          17A-2-1038, as last amended by Chapter 266, Laws of Utah 1997
             132          17A-2-1039, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             133          17A-2-1040, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             134          17A-2-1044, as last amended by Chapter 227, Laws of Utah 1993
             135          17A-2-1048, as last amended by Chapter 368, Laws of Utah 1998
             136          17A-2-1049, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             137          17A-2-1050, as last amended by Chapter 298, Laws of Utah 1997
             138          17A-2-1051, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             139          17A-2-1052, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             140          17A-2-1054, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             141          17A-2-1056, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             142          17A-2-1326, as last amended by Chapter 227, Laws of Utah 1993
             143          17A-2-1402, as last amended by Chapter 5, Laws of Utah 1991
             144          17A-2-1407, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             145          17A-2-1409, as last amended by Chapter 268, Laws of Utah 1997
             146          17A-2-1412, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             147          17A-2-1413, as last amended by Chapter 299, Laws of Utah 1995
             148          17A-2-1420, as last amended by Chapter 227, Laws of Utah 1993
             149          17A-2-1425, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             150          17A-2-1437, as last amended by Chapter 152, Laws of Utah 1996
             151          17A-2-1439, as last amended by Chapter 261, Laws of Utah 1996


             152          17A-2-1440, as last amended by Chapter 261, Laws of Utah 1996
             153          17A-2-1442, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             154          17A-2-1448, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             155          17A-2-1449, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             156          17A-2-1454, as enacted by Chapter 67, Laws of Utah 1990
             157          17A-2-1808, as enacted by Chapter 216, Laws of Utah 1995
             158          17B-2-203, as enacted by Chapter 368, Laws of Utah 1998
             159          17B-2-208, as enacted by Chapter 368, Laws of Utah 1998
             160      ENACTS:
             161          17B-2-401, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             162          17B-2-402, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             163          17B-2-403, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             164          17B-2-404, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             165          17B-2-405, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             166          17B-2-406, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             167      REPEALS:
             168          17A-2-209, as last amended by Chapter 124, Laws of Utah 1996
             169          17A-2-215, as last amended by Chapter 227, Laws of Utah 1993
             170          17A-2-218, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             171          17A-2-220, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             172          17A-2-508, as last amended by Chapter 368, Laws of Utah 1998
             173          17A-2-510, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             174          17A-2-513, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             175          17A-2-1410, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             176          17A-2-1411, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 186, Laws of Utah 1990
             177      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             178          Section 1. Section 17A-2-208 is amended to read:
             179           17A-2-208. Cemetery maintenance district board of trustees -- Appointment -- Other
             180      provisions applicable.
             181          (1) [There] Each cemetery maintenance district shall be [three cemetery maintenance
             182      commissioners in each cemetery district who shall constitute the cemetery maintenance board]


             183      governed by a board of trustees.
             184          (2) (a) The county legislative body shall appoint the first members of a cemetery
             185      maintenance [commissioners of the cemetery maintenance district] board of trustees according to
             186      the requirements of Title 17A, Chapter 1, Part 3.
             187          (b) The certificate of appointment shall be filed with the clerk of the county legislative
             188      body.
             189          [(3) Every cemetery maintenance commissioner shall take and subscribe the official oath,
             190      and shall file the oath with the county legislative body.]
             191          (3) (a) The provisions of Title 17B, Chapter 2, Part 4, Board of Trustees, apply to each
             192      cemetery maintenance district to the same extent as if the cemetery maintenance district were a
             193      local district under Title 17B, Chapter 2, Local Districts.
             194          (b) (i) If a change in the number of board of trustees members is necessary to comply with
             195      the requirements of Subsection 17B-2-402 (1), the board of trustees may by majority vote,
             196      notwithstanding Subsection 17B-2-402 (3), change the number of board members to the next odd
             197      number higher or lower than the number of current board members.
             198          (ii) If a change under Subsection (3)(b)(i) decreases the number of board members, the
             199      change may not take effect until the expiration of the term of the member whose term next expires.
             200          (c) If a change in the length or expiration date of the term of a board of trustees member
             201      is necessary to comply with the requirements of Subsection 17B-2-403 (2), the change may not take
             202      effect until the expiration of the term of the member whose term length or expiration date is to be
             203      changed.
             204          Section 2. Section 17A-2-210 is amended to read:
             205           17A-2-210. Appointments to fill.
             206          [(1)] All vacancies on the cemetery maintenance board shall be filled by the county
             207      legislative body by following the procedures and requirements of Section 17A-1-303 .
             208          [(2) (a) The board members shall:]
             209          [(i) assume their duties at noon on the first Monday in January;]
             210          [(ii) serve without compensation, but be reimbursed for their actual and necessary
             211      expenses; and]
             212          [(iii) take and subscribe to the official oath.]
             213          [(b) The subscribed oath shall be filed with the county legislative body.]


             214          Section 3. Section 17A-2-219 is amended to read:
             215           17A-2-219. Acquisition and possession of property -- Legal title.
             216          The legal title to all property acquired under the provisions of this part shall immediately
             217      and by operation of law, vest in such cemetery maintenance district and shall be held by such
             218      district in trust for and is dedicated and set aside to the uses and purposes set forth in this part.
             219      [Said board is authorized and empowered to hold, use, acquire, manage, occupy and possess said
             220      property as herein provided and to institute and maintain any and all actions and proceedings, suits
             221      at law or in equity or to enforce, maintain, protect or preserve any and all rights, privileges and
             222      immunities created by this part or acquired in pursuance thereof. In all courts, actions, suits or
             223      proceedings, the said board may sue, appear and defend, in person or by attorney and in the manner
             224      of such cemetery maintenance district.]
             225          Section 4. Section 17A-2-305 is amended to read:
             226           17A-2-305. Board of trustees -- Creation -- Appointment and election of members
             227      -- Qualifications.
             228          (1) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (3) and Section 17A-2-327 , the governing body
             229      of each district created under this part, except a district that has boundaries that coincide with the
             230      boundaries of an incorporated municipality, shall consist of a board of trustees created as provided
             231      in this Subsection (1).
             232          (b) (i) [Whenever] If a district is created that does not include property within the
             233      boundaries of an incorporated municipality, the county legislative body of the initiating county
             234      may, in the initial resolution creating the district, declare that the county legislative body of that
             235      county act as the trustees of the district.
             236          (ii) When the county legislative body of the county is designated as the trustees of the
             237      district, they may:
             238          (A) exercise all the powers, authority, and responsibility vested in the trustees under this
             239      chapter; and
             240          (B) use any existing county offices, officers, or employees for the purposes of the district.
             241          (iii) The county legislative body shall charge the district a reasonable amount for the
             242      services rendered to the district by the county officers, offices, and employees, other than the
             243      county legislative body, to the county treasurer for the general fund of the county.
             244          (c) (i) At any time after creation of [any] a district under [the provisions of this subsection]


             245      this part, the county legislative body of the initiating county may by resolution determine that the
             246      interests of the district would be best served by the appointment of a board of trustees.
             247          (ii) The trustees shall be appointed by the county legislative body according to the
             248      procedures and requirements of Chapter 1, Part 3, Special District Board Selection Procedures.
             249          (d) The county legislative body shall hold an election for trustees as provided in Chapter
             250      1, Part 3, Special District Board Selection Procedures, when:
             251          (i) a petition requesting an election for trustees is filed with the county legislative body at
             252      least 30 days before the date set for a bond election or 90 days before the date set for the November
             253      municipal elections; and
             254          (ii) the petition is signed by at least 10% of the people eligible to vote on a bond issue in
             255      [any] the district [created under this part].
             256          (2) In the resolution creating the district, the county legislative body of the initiating
             257      county may appoint a board of trustees according to the procedures and requirements of Chapter
             258      1, Part 3, Special District Board Selection Procedures, to serve until the election and qualification
             259      of the successors as provided in this part.
             260          (3) (a) If the district is created for the purpose of providing electric service, the
             261      requirements of this Subsection (3) supersede any contrary provision in this part.
             262          (i) The initial board of trustees may be appointed by the county legislative body until the
             263      election and qualification of successors as provided in this Subsection (3).
             264          (ii) The board of trustees shall subsequently be elected by the persons using electricity
             265      within the district.
             266          (iii) In addition to the qualifications enumerated in this section, each member of the board
             267      of trustees shall be a resident of the district and a user of electricity from the district.
             268          (iv) The board of trustees may be elected according to geographic areas within the district.
             269          (v) A municipality within the district is not entitled to automatic representation on the
             270      board of trustees.
             271          (b) All proceedings that have taken place in connection with the organization of the board
             272      of trustees of an electric service district are considered valid and binding despite any failure to
             273      comply with the provisions of this section if the electric service district was created or purported
             274      to be created under this part before April 28, 1986.
             275          (c) The county legislative body of the initiating county may, in the initial resolution


             276      creating an electric service district, set the boundaries of the geographic areas which each trustee
             277      will represent [and the number of members who may serve on the board of trustees].
             278          [(d) The board of trustees may not consist of less than three or more than nine members.]
             279          (4) (a) (i) Each incorporated municipality that is contained entirely within, but does not
             280      coincide with, the boundaries of the district [may request the county legislative body to appoint
             281      to the board one member who is a resident of the municipality] shall be represented on the board
             282      as provided in this Subsection (4)(a).
             283          (ii) The legislative body of [the] each municipality or, if municipalities are combined under
             284      Subsection (4)(a)(iii)(B), the legislative bodies of those combined municipalities, shall appoint
             285      [that] a member by following the procedures and requirements of Chapter 1, Part 3, Special
             286      District Board Selection Procedures.
             287          (iii) (A) [If] Except as provided in Subsection (4)(a)(iii)(B) and subject to Subsection
             288      17B-2-402 (1), if two or more incorporated municipalities are entitled to representation on the
             289      board of trustees, the number of members of the board of trustees shall be increased to the lowest
             290      odd number greater than the number of those municipalities.
             291          (B) If the number of municipalities plus the number of board members under Subsection
             292      (4)(b) exceeds nine, then the number of trustees shall be nine and the least populated
             293      municipalities shall be combined for purposes of representation to the extent necessary to result
             294      in nine trustees.
             295          [(B)] (b) (i) Except as provided in Subsection (4)[(a)(iii)(C)](b)(ii), the members of the
             296      board of trustees who are not appointed from a municipality under Subsections (4)(a)(i) and (ii)
             297      shall reside within the district but outside the boundaries of each municipality that has the right to
             298      appoint a member to the board of trustees.
             299          [(C)] (ii) Notwithstanding Subsection (4)[(a)(iii)(B)](b)(i), if the population in the
             300      unincorporated part of the district is less than 5% of the total district population, the members of
             301      the board of trustees who are not appointed from a municipality under Subsections (4)(a)(i) and
             302      (ii) shall be chosen from the district at large.
             303          [(b)] (c) (i) If the boundaries of the newly created district coincide with the boundaries of
             304      an incorporated municipality, the legislative body of the municipality shall be the board of trustees
             305      for the district.
             306          (ii) When the municipal legislative body serves as the board of trustees:


             307          (A) they shall maintain separate minutes, accounts, and other records of the affairs of the
             308      district;
             309          (B) they may use the existing facilities and personnel of the municipality to administer
             310      district affairs;
             311          (C) notwithstanding Subsections 17B-2-403 (1) and (2), their terms coincide with their
             312      terms as officials of those municipalities; and
             313          (D) they represent the district at large.
             314          [(c)] (d) If there is no elected board of trustees for the unincorporated county at the time
             315      of the first bond election, election of members of the board of trustees who are not appointed as
             316      representatives of municipalities shall be held at the time the bond election is held.
             317          [(d)] (e) Candidates for election to the board of trustees shall be taxpayers and qualified
             318      voters in the district.
             319          [(e)] (f) Subject to Subsection (4)(a)(iii)(C), a registered voter in the district outside of an
             320      incorporated municipality that has the right to appoint a member to the board of trustees may file
             321      a signed statement announcing as a candidate to be one of the first elected trustees of the district
             322      with the county clerk within 30 days after the board of trustees has entered an order calling the
             323      bond election, but not less than 15 days before the election.
             324          [(f)] (g) The board of trustees, in calling the bond election, shall provide a separate ballot,
             325      if required, that contains the names of the candidates and blanks in which the voters may write in
             326      additional names.
             327          [(g)] (h) Each voter at the election may vote for three persons, or a lesser number qualified
             328      to represent the area outside the corporate limits of any incorporated municipality that has the right
             329      to appoint a member to the board of trustees, if some members of the board of trustees of the
             330      improvement district are appointed by a municipality or incorporated area.
             331          [(h)] (i) The three persons, or a lesser number qualified as provided in this section,
             332      receiving the highest number of votes at the election are members of the board of trustees, together
             333      with those members appointed by an incorporated municipality.
             334          [(i)] (j) As a member of the board of trustees, each representative may vote on all
             335      questions, orders, resolutions, and ordinances coming before the board.
             336          [(j) (i) The members of the first board of trustees shall serve for two and four year terms
             337      from the first Monday of the next January following the first election held in the district.]


             338          [(ii) Initial terms shall be selected by lot, and shall be apportioned so that, as nearly as
             339      possible, 1/2 of the board will serve for two years and 1/2 for four years.]
             340          [(k) After the first election, except for appointments made to fill unexpired terms, the term
             341      of each member shall be four years and until his successor is elected and qualified.]
             342          [(l)] (k) In voting on the election of trustees, all qualified voters in the district outside the
             343      corporate limits of any incorporated municipality that has the right to appoint a member to the
             344      board of trustees may vote.
             345          [(m)] (l) Following the election or appointment of the first trustees, any elected trustee
             346      shall be elected according to the procedures and requirements of Chapter 1, Part 3, Special District
             347      Board Selection Procedures.
             348          [(n) Each trustee shall:]
             349          [(i) take office on the first Monday of the January after his election;]
             350          [(ii) take the oath of office; and]
             351          [(iii) give the bond required by law for members of the county legislative body.]
             352          [(o) The trustees initially appointed shall:]
             353          [(i) meet immediately after their appointment;]
             354          [(ii) qualify as trustees;]
             355          [(iii) elect one of their members as chairman; and]
             356          [(iv) appoint a clerk and a treasurer.]
             357          Section 5. Section 17A-2-308 is amended to read:
             358           17A-2-308. Board of trustees -- Other provisions applicable -- No compensation to
             359      county legislative body -- Audit -- Budget.
             360          [(1) (a) Except for the levy of taxes, and for the powers and duties expressly vested in the
             361      county legislative body in this part, the board of trustees shall exercise all powers and duties in the
             362      operation of the properties of the district as are ordinarily exercised by the governing body of a
             363      political subdivision.]
             364          [(b) The board of trustees shall:]
             365          [(i) fix its domicile;]
             366          [(ii) set a regular meeting time;]
             367          [(iii) select and have an official seal made; and]
             368          [(iv) either require all officers and employees who are charged with the handling of any


             369      district funds to provide surety bonds or provide a blanket surety bond to cover all those officers
             370      and employees.]
             371          [(c) The board of trustees may:]
             372          [(i) adopt regulations and bylaws for the orderly operation of the district;]
             373          [(ii) employ agents and employees for the operation of the properties of the district;]
             374          [(iii) sue and be sued;]
             375          [(iv) enter into all contracts for the benefit of the district; and]
             376          [(v) generally do all things and perform or cause to be performed all acts that are necessary
             377      or desirable in the conduct of its affairs and in the operation of the properties of the district.]
             378          [(2) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (b), each trustee shall receive total compensation
             379      of not more than $2,500 per year, as determined by the board of trustees.]
             380          (1) (a) Except as provided in Section 17A-2-327 , the provisions of Title 17B, Chapter 2,
             381      Part 4, Board of Trustees, apply to each county improvement district to the same extent as if the
             382      county improvement district were a local district under Title 17B, Chapter 2, Local Districts.
             383          (b) (i) If a change in the number of board of trustees members is necessary to comply with
             384      the requirements of Subsection 17B-2-402 (1), the board of trustees may by majority vote,
             385      notwithstanding Subsection 17B-2-402 (3), change the number of board members to the next odd
             386      number higher or lower than the number of current board members.
             387          (ii) If a change under Subsection (1)(b)(i) decreases the number of board members, the
             388      change may not take effect until the expiration of the term of the member whose term next expires.
             389          (c) If a change in the length or expiration date of the term of a board of trustees member
             390      is necessary to comply with the requirements of Subsection 17B-2-403 (2), the change may not take
             391      effect until the expiration of the term of the member whose term length or expiration date is to be
             392      changed.
             393          [(b)] (2) When the county legislative body acts as the board of trustees, they may not
             394      receive any compensation.
             395          [(c) The district shall reimburse the trustees for actual and necessary traveling and other
             396      expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.]
             397          [(3) (a) At any meeting of the board, the presence of the trustees entitled to cast a majority
             398      of all votes entitled to be cast by the entire board of trustees is necessary for a quorum.]
             399          [(b) All meetings of the board are public.]


             400          [(c) The clerk shall keep a proper record of all proceedings of the board, which is open to
             401      public inspection.]
             402          [(d)] (3) The accounts of the district are subject to periodic audits provided by law for the
             403      auditing of county accounts.
             404          [(4)] (4) The board of trustees shall annually prepare and adopt a budget by following the
             405      procedures and requirements of Title 17A, Chapter 1, Part 4, Uniform Fiscal Procedures for
             406      Special Districts Act.
             407          Section 6. Section 17A-2-411 is amended to read:
             408           17A-2-411. Board of trustees -- Selection procedures -- Surety bonds -- Other
             409      provisions applicable.
             410          (1) Each service area authorized under this part shall be governed by a board of trustees
             411      [consisting of three or more members created as provided in this section].
             412          (2) (a) Upon the creation of a county service area, the county legislative body may adopt
             413      an ordinance declaring that the county legislative body of the county shall act as the trustees of the
             414      service area.
             415          (b) Upon passage of the ordinance, the county legislative body of the county shall act as
             416      trustees of the service area with all the powers, authority, and responsibility vested in the trustees
             417      under this part.
             418          (c) (i) The county legislative body, when acting as trustees, may use any existing county
             419      offices, officers, or employees for the purposes of the service area.
             420          (ii) The county legislative body shall charge costs of those services to the service area and
             421      require them to be paid to the county treasurer for the general fund of the county.
             422          (3) At any time after the creation of a board of trustees as provided in Subsection (1), if
             423      no elected board has been established as provided in this section, the county legislative body of
             424      the county in which the service area is located may:
             425          (a) by ordinance, delegate its powers to an appointed or elected board of trustees as
             426      provided in Chapter 1, Part 3, Special District Board Selection Procedures; and
             427          (b) provide for the appointment or election of the board by following the procedures and
             428      requirements of Chapter 1, Part 3, Special District Board Selection Procedures.
             429          (4) At any time after the creation of a board of trustees as provided in Subsections (2) and
             430      (3), the county legislative body shall hold an election for trustees by following the procedures and


             431      requirements of Chapter 1, Part 3, Special District Board Selection Procedures, if:
             432          (a) the county legislative body receives a petition requesting that an election for trustees
             433      be held that is:
             434          (i) signed by at least 10% of persons eligible to vote in an election in a service area
             435      authorized under this part; and
             436          (ii) filed with the county legislative body at least 30 days before the date set for a bond
             437      election or 90 days before the date set for any municipal election; or
             438          (b) territory located within a municipality is annexed into the county service area under
             439      Section 17A-2-417 .
             440          (5) (a) If there is no elected board of trustees at the time of the first bond election, trustees
             441      shall be elected in conjunction with that bond election.
             442          (b) Candidates for election to the board of trustees shall be taxpayers and qualified voters
             443      in the service area.
             444          (c) At any time within 30 days after the county legislative body has called a bond election,
             445      but not less than 15 days before the day of election, any person who is qualified to vote in the
             446      service area may file a signed statement with the county clerk announcing the person's candidacy
             447      to be one of the first elected trustees of the service area.
             448          (d) The board of trustees shall provide a ballot separate from the bond ballot that contains
             449      the names of the candidates and blanks in which the voters may write in additional names.
             450          (e) A voter at the election may vote for the number of trustee positions to be filled.
             451          (f) The persons receiving the highest number of votes at the election are members of the
             452      board of trustees.
             453          [(6) (a) Members of the first board of trustees shall serve for two and four year terms,
             454      beginning on the first Monday in January after the election.]
             455          [(b) Initial terms shall be selected by lot and shall be apportioned so that, whenever
             456      possible, equal numbers of the board will serve for two years and four years.]
             457          [(c) After the first election, except for appointments made to fill unexpired terms, the term
             458      of each member is four years.]
             459          [(7)] (6) (a) Each member of the board of trustees may vote on all questions, orders,
             460      resolutions, and ordinances coming before the board.
             461          (b) [Each trustee shall receive total compensation of not more than $2,500 per year as


             462      determined by the board of trustees, except that when] Notwithstanding Section 17B-2-404 , if the
             463      county legislative body acts as the board of trustees, no compensation may be paid to them as
             464      trustees.
             465          (c) Each trustee who is also a member of the county legislative body shall take the oath
             466      of office and shall give the bond that is required by law for members of the county legislative body.
             467          [(d) All laws pertinent to the giving and filing of oaths and bonds for members of the
             468      county legislative body apply to the trustees.]
             469          [(e) Trustees who are not members of the county legislative body shall take the oath of
             470      office and shall give a bond in the amount, and with the sureties, prescribed by the county
             471      legislative body.]
             472          [(8)] (7) All qualified voters in the service area may vote in elections to select trustees and
             473      in elections to approve the issuance of bonds.
             474          [(9) (a)] (8) Following the election or appointment of the first trustees, each elected trustee
             475      shall be elected according to the procedures and requirements of Chapter 1, Part 3, Special District
             476      Board Selection Procedures.
             477          [(b) Each trustee shall take office on the first Monday in January following the trustee's
             478      election.]
             479          [(10) Within a reasonable time after their appointment, the trustees shall meet and elect
             480      one of their members as chairman and shall appoint a clerk and a treasurer, or a clerk-treasurer.]
             481          [(11)] (9) Each vacancy of an elected trustee in office shall be filled according to the
             482      procedures and requirements of Chapter 1, Part 3, Special District Board Selection Procedures.
             483          (10) (a) The provisions of Title 17B, Chapter 2, Part 4, Board of Trustees, apply to each
             484      county service area to the same extent as if the county service area were a local district under Title
             485      17B, Chapter 2, Local Districts.
             486          (b) (i) If a change in the number of board of trustees members is necessary to comply with
             487      the requirements of Subsection 17B-2-402 (1), the board of trustees may by majority vote,
             488      notwithstanding Subsection 17B-2-402 (3), change the number of board members to the next odd
             489      number higher or lower than the number of current board members.
             490          (ii) If a change under Subsection (10)(b)(i) decreases the number of board members, the
             491      change may not take effect until the expiration of the term of the member whose term next expires.
             492          (c) If a change in the length or expiration date of the term of a board of trustees member


             493      is necessary to comply with the requirements of Subsection 17B-2-403 (2), the change may not take
             494      effect until the expiration of the term of the member whose term length or expiration date is to be
             495      changed.
             496          Section 7. Section 17A-2-506 is amended to read:
             497           17A-2-506. Corporate status -- Board of supervisors.
             498          (1) A drainage district is a body corporate and politic with the right to sue and be sued, to
             499      have perpetual succession, and to adopt and use a corporate seal.
             500          (2) The board of [supervisors] trustees shall lay out and construct the work found by the
             501      county legislative body, in connection with its review of the original petition proposing
             502      organization of the drainage district, to be necessary or useful for the drainage of lands in the
             503      district, and shall levy a tax upon the lands in the drainage district, subject to the approval of the
             504      county legislative body, as provided in this part.
             505          (3) The board of [supervisors] trustees and their successors in office shall[: (a)] constitute
             506      the corporate authorities of the drainage district[;].
             507          [(b) exercise the functions conferred upon them by law;]
             508          [(c) be entitled to enter immediately upon the duties of their respective offices upon
             509      qualifying in accordance with law; and]
             510          [(d) hold such offices, respectively, until their successors are appointed and have
             511      qualified.]
             512          (4) (a) The provisions of Title 17B, Chapter 2, Part 4, Board of Trustees, apply to each
             513      drainage district to the same extent as if the drainage district were a local district under Title 17B,
             514      Chapter 2, Local Districts.
             515          (b) (i) If a change in the number of board of trustees members is necessary to comply with
             516      the requirements of Subsection 17B-2-402 (1), the board of trustees may by majority vote,
             517      notwithstanding Subsection 17B-2-402 (3), change the number of board members to the next odd
             518      number higher or lower than the number of current board members.
             519          (ii) If a change under Subsection (4)(b)(i) decreases the number of board members, the
             520      change may not take effect until the expiration of the term of the member whose term next expires.
             521          (c) If a change in the length or expiration date of the term of a board of trustees member
             522      is necessary to comply with the requirements of Subsection 17B-2-403 (2), the change may not take
             523      effect until the expiration of the term of the member whose term length or expiration date is to be


             524      changed.
             525          Section 8. Section 17A-2-509 is amended to read:
             526           17A-2-509. Board to appoint engineer -- Contract with United States -- Eminent
             527      domain -- Power to obtain water.
             528          [Within 30 days after their appointment and qualification, the supervisors shall meet and
             529      organize as a board, and elect a president, a secretary and a treasurer from among their own
             530      number. Each of such officers shall hold office during the pleasure of the board. The board of
             531      supervisors]
             532          (1) The board of trustees shall appoint a competent engineer and fix [his compensation and
             533      shall have power to adopt a code of bylaws governing the conduct of the business and affairs of
             534      the district as a corporation in connection with its association with individuals and corporations
             535      in and outside of the district, and regulating the use by outsiders of its drainage system. It shall
             536      also have the power to make and execute all necessary contracts, to employ and appoint such
             537      agents, officers and employees as may be required, prescribe their duties, and generally to perform
             538      such acts as shall be necessary fully to carry out the purposes of this part. The board shall also have
             539      power to invest the funds accumulated for the purpose of retiring bonds, in government bonds,
             540      bonds of the state of Utah, or of the public schools of Utah. The board shall also have power to]
             541      the engineer's compensation.
             542          (2) The board may enter into any obligation or contract with the United States under any
             543      act of Congress now enacted, or which may hereafter be enacted, and the rules and regulations
             544      established thereunder, for the construction or operation and maintenance of the drainage system,
             545      or any drainage works, or for the assumption as principal or guarantor of indebtedness to the
             546      United States on account of district lands.
             547          (3) The board and its agents and employees [shall likewise have the right to] may enter
             548      upon any lands to make surveys, and may locate the necessary drainage canal or canals, and the
             549      necessary branches of the same, on any lands which may be [deemed] considered best for such
             550      location. [It shall have the right]
             551          (4) The board may also [to] acquire, on behalf of [said] the district, by purchase or
             552      condemnation or other legal means, all lands and other property necessary for the construction, use,
             553      maintenance, repair, and improvement of [said] a canal or canals, drains and works constructed
             554      (including canals, drains, or drain ditches being constructed) by private owners, and all necessary


             555      appurtenances.
             556          (5) In case of necessity for condemnation proceedings the board shall proceed in the
             557      corporate name of the district under the provisions of the law relating to eminent domain.
             558          (6) Drainage districts organized under the provisions of this part may appropriate water
             559      for useful and beneficial purposes, may regulate and control, for the benefit of the landholders
             560      within the district, all water developed, appropriated, or owned by it, and may appropriate, use,
             561      purchase, develop, sell and convey water and water rights in the same manner and for the same use
             562      and purposes as any corporation, association, or person.
             563          Section 9. Section 17A-2-511 is amended to read:
             564           17A-2-511. Duties of secretary.
             565          [It shall be the duty of the]
             566          The secretary [to] shall:
             567          (1) attend meetings of the board[, to];
             568          (2) keep an accurate journal of its proceedings[, to];
             569          (3) have the care and custody of its records and papers not otherwise provided for[, to];
             570      and
             571          (4) countersign warrants drawn upon the treasurer[, and to prepare and submit to the board
             572      an annual statement, under oath, of receipts and disbursements during the year ending December
             573      31. The secretary shall receive for his services such compensation as the board of supervisors may
             574      determine].
             575          Section 10. Section 17A-2-512 is amended to read:
             576           17A-2-512. Qualification and duties of treasurer.
             577          [The treasurer shall subscribe to the oath of office, and when required by the board of
             578      supervisors shall give a bond to the district with sufficient sureties and in such sum as the board
             579      may require, the oath and bond to be approved by the board and filed with its secretary. ] The
             580      treasurer shall prepare and submit in writing to the board an annual and a monthly report of
             581      receipts and disbursements, and pay out money only upon a warrant signed by the [president] chair,
             582      and countersigned by [the secretary. He] another officer other than the treasurer. The treasurer
             583      shall likewise perform such other duties as the board may require[, and shall receive for his
             584      services an amount to be determined by the board].
             585          Section 11. Section 17A-2-514 is amended to read:


             586           17A-2-514. Employment of assistants.
             587          The board of [supervisors] trustees may employ such clerks and assistants as may be
             588      necessary.
             589          Section 12. Section 17A-2-529 is amended to read:
             590           17A-2-529. Procedure for annexation -- Petition -- Appeals by persons aggrieved --
             591      Recordation and filing of order.
             592          (1) A contiguous area lying contiguous to a drainage district may be annexed to the
             593      drainage district as provided in this section.
             594          (2) Annexation proceedings may be initiated by a petition filed with the clerk of the
             595      county:
             596          (a) in which the drainage district is located, if within one county; or
             597          (b) in which the greatest portion of the drainage district is located, if within more than one
             598      county.
             599          (3) The petition under Subsection (2) shall be:
             600          (a) signed by 2/3 of the owners of real property in the area proposed to be annexed and the
             601      owners of at least 2/3 of the total land area within the area; and
             602          (b) accompanied by an accurate plat or map of the area proposed to be annexed.
             603          (4) Upon receipt of a petition under Subsection (2), the county clerk shall deliver the
             604      petition to the county legislative body.
             605          (5) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (10), at its next regular meeting after receipt of
             606      the petition the county legislative body shall fix a time and place for the hearing of the petition.
             607          (b) (i) Except as provided in Subsection (10), the county legislative body shall give notice
             608      of the hearing by:
             609          (A) serving a copy of the notice, map, and petition upon the board of [supervisors] trustees
             610      of the drainage district at least 15 days prior to the time set for the hearing; and
             611          (B) publishing the notice at least once each week for two consecutive weeks in a
             612      newspaper having general circulation in the county or counties in which such drainage district is
             613      situated.
             614          (ii) The first publication of the notice under Subsection (5)(b)(i) shall not be less than 15
             615      days nor more than 30 days prior to the date set for the hearing.
             616          (iii) The notice shall state generally the nature of the petition, the purpose of the hearing,


             617      the time and place when the county legislative body shall hear the petition, and that any owner of
             618      real property within the drainage district may appear and oppose the petition.
             619          (6) (a) At the hearing of the petition:
             620          (i) the petitioners or any interested party may appear in support of the petition;
             621          (ii) the board of [supervisors] trustees or any landowner within the drainage district may
             622      appear and oppose the petition; and
             623          (iii) the petitioners and contestants may offer any competent evidence in regard to the
             624      petition.
             625          (b) The county legislative body may adjourn the hearing from time to time not exceeding
             626      four weeks.
             627          (c) The county legislative body shall:
             628          (i) hear and determine whether the petition contains the signatures of 2/3 of the owners of
             629      real property within the area sought to be annexed and the owners of at least 2/3 of the total land
             630      area within the area sought to be annexed; and
             631          (ii) hear all competent evidence offered for or against the petition.
             632          (7) (a) If the county legislative body, after hearing all competent evidence offered for and
             633      against the petition, finds that the petition has not been signed as required in this section, or that
             634      it would be inequitable to the landowners within the drainage district to permit such annexation,
             635      the county legislative body shall dismiss the petition at the cost of the petitioners.
             636          (b) If the county legislative body finds that the petition has been signed as required in this
             637      section and that the annexation will not be inequitable to the landowners within the drainage
             638      district, the county legislative body shall so find.
             639          (c) After hearing all of the evidence offered for or against the petition, the county
             640      legislative body shall determine whether or not the area shall be annexed to the drainage district
             641      and shall so order.
             642          (d) The county legislative body's findings and order shall be conclusive upon the owners
             643      of real property within the area that they have assented to the inclusion of their property within the
             644      boundaries of the drainage district and that they have accepted all the provisions of this part.
             645          (e) (i) Except as provided in Subsection (7)(e)(ii), the county legislative body, in making
             646      an order annexing an area to the drainage district, may make such changes in the proposed new
             647      boundaries of the drainage district caused by the annexation as the county legislative body


             648      considers proper.
             649          (ii) Notwithstanding Subsection (7)(e)(i), the county legislative body may not modify the
             650      new boundaries so as to exclude any land included in the new boundaries which is susceptible to
             651      drainage by the system of drainage works applicable to the other lands annexed to the district
             652      pursuant to the petition.
             653          (8) (a) Any person aggrieved by an order of annexation may, at any time within 30 days
             654      after the entry of the order, appeal to the district court of the county in which the district is situated.
             655          (b) The procedure in an appeal shall conform to the Civil Code as nearly as may be.
             656          (9) (a) The county legislative body shall:
             657          (i) cause a copy of the order of annexation, duly certified, to be filed for record in the
             658      office of the county recorder of each county in which any portion of the annexed area is situated;
             659      and
             660          (ii) immediately file a copy of the order of annexation with the county clerk of each county
             661      in which any portion of the district lies.
             662          (b) Upon the recording and filing of the order of annexation, the area annexed shall be a
             663      part of the drainage district.
             664          (10) (a) Notwithstanding Subsections (5), (6), and (7), the county legislative body shall
             665      order the area annexed to the drainage district if:
             666          (i) the petition filed under Subsection (2) contains the signatures of all the owners of real
             667      property within the area proposed to be annexed; and
             668          (ii) the county legislative body determines that the petition is supported by the board of
             669      [supervisors] trustees of the drainage district.
             670          (b) The determination of owners under Subsection (10)(a)(i) shall be according to the last
             671      assessment roll for county taxes completed prior to the filing of the petition under Subsection (2).
             672          Section 13. Section 17A-2-530 is amended to read:
             673           17A-2-530. Viewing of annexed land by board of trustees -- Assessment for taxation
             674      -- Board of equalization -- Hearing -- Notice -- Lien for taxes.
             675          (1) The board of [supervisors] trustees shall, as soon as practicable after the recording of
             676      the order of annexation:
             677          (a) view each tract of land so annexed to the district;
             678          (b) carefully consider all the damages and benefits that each particular tract of land shall


             679      receive from the annexation to the drainage district and from the construction and maintenance of
             680      such drainage system; and
             681          (c) assess each tract of land in accordance with the benefits to be received by it, making
             682      proper allowance for damage, if there be any.
             683          (2) After the assessment under Subsection (1) is made, the secretary of the board of
             684      [supervisors] trustees shall transmit the assessment to the county legislative body.
             685          (3) (a) The county legislative body shall:
             686          (i) at its next regular meeting fix a time and place where it shall sit as a board of
             687      equalization and equalize and determine the benefits and taxes to be assessed against the land; and
             688          (ii) except as provided in Subsection (3)(b), publish a notice of the board of equalization
             689      hearing at least once each week for two consecutive weeks in a newspaper having general
             690      circulation in the county or counties where the drainage district is situated.
             691          (b) If the annexation resulted from a petition signed by all the owners of real property
             692      within the annexed area whose addresses were included in the petition, the county legislative body
             693      may, in lieu of the notice under Subsection (3)(a)(ii), give notice of the board of equalization
             694      hearing by mailing a copy of the notice to each owner of real property at the address stated in the
             695      petition.
             696          (c) (i) The first publication of the notice required under Subsection (3)(a)(ii) shall not be
             697      less than 15 days or more than 30 days prior to the date of the hearing.
             698          (ii) If the residence or post office address of an owner of the lands so annexed is known,
             699      the county clerk shall cause a copy of the notice and a copy of the proposed benefits to be sent by
             700      United States mail to the landowner at least 15 days prior to the time fixed for the hearing.
             701          (d) The notice shall state generally the purpose of the hearing and the time and place where
             702      the county legislative body shall meet as a board of equalization to hear and determine any
             703      complaint against the assessments.
             704          (4) (a) The county legislative body, at the time and place stated in the notice, shall sit as
             705      a board of equalization and shall make and determine the benefits to be assessed against each tract
             706      of annexed land.
             707          (b) The assessment of benefits shall be added to and made a part of the benefit assessment
             708      roll of the drainage district, and thereafter:
             709          (i) all such lands, easements, or interests in land shall be assessed in accordance with the


             710      assessment roll; and
             711          (ii) such assessment roll of benefits and taxes shall be the basis of a lien upon the parcels
             712      of land or interest in land as thus equalized for all district purposes and indebtedness.
             713          Section 14. Section 17A-2-531 is amended to read:
             714           17A-2-531. Bids for construction -- Contracts -- Payment and performance bonds
             715      -- Retainage.
             716          (1) After adopting a plan and making an estimate of the cost of any drainage canal or
             717      canals, drains, drain ditches, and works, the board of [supervisors] trustees shall give notice by
             718      publication for at least 20 days in at least one newspaper published or having a general circulation
             719      in each of the counties comprising the district, and in any other publication they deem advisable,
             720      calling for bids for the construction of such work or of any portion of it. If less than the whole
             721      work is advertised, then the portion so advertised shall be particularly described in such notice.
             722      Such notice shall state:
             723          (a) that plans and specifications can be seen at the office of the board of [supervisors]
             724      trustees;
             725          (b) that the board of [supervisors] trustees will receive sealed proposals for the work;
             726          (c) that the contract will be let to the lowest responsible bidder; and
             727          (d) the time and place appointed for opening bids. The bids shall be opened in public, and
             728      as soon as convenient thereafter the [supervisors] trustees shall let the work, either in portions or
             729      as a whole, to the lowest responsible bidder, or they may reject any or all bids. Contracts for the
             730      purchase of material shall be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder. Any person or persons to
             731      whom a contract is awarded shall provide the board with bonds under Sections 14-1-18 and
             732      63-56-38 . The work shall be done under the direction and to the satisfaction of the engineer, and
             733      subject to the approval of the board of [supervisors] trustees. This section does not apply in the
             734      case of any contract with the United States.
             735          (2) If any payment on a contract with a private contractor for the construction of works
             736      under this section is retained or withheld, it shall be retained or withheld and released as provided
             737      in Section 13-8-5 .
             738          Section 15. Section 17A-2-532 is amended to read:
             739           17A-2-532. Debt limitation.
             740          The board of [supervisors] trustees or other officers of the district shall have no power to


             741      incur any debt or liability whatever, either by issuing bonds or otherwise, in excess of the express
             742      provisions of this part. A debt or liability incurred in excess of provisions of this part shall be and
             743      remain absolutely void, except that for the purposes of organization or for the purposes of this part
             744      the board of [supervisors] trustees may, before the collection of the first annual taxes, cause
             745      warrants of the district to issue, bearing interest not exceeding 8% per annum. The limit of the
             746      fund for such purposes shall be an amount the equivalent of an average of $1.50 per acre
             747      throughout the district, and it shall be the duty of the board of [supervisors] trustees, in the
             748      preparation of the first annual budget, to make provision for the payment of all such warrants and
             749      the interest thereon. To meet such expenses, or to cover delinquencies in any annual tax, or in
             750      anticipation of the collection of taxes, the board of [supervisors] trustees may incur indebtedness
             751      by borrowing money or otherwise, not exceeding the taxes for the current year, and as evidence
             752      of such indebtedness may issue warrants or negotiable notes of the district payable in not more
             753      than one year from date thereof, and bearing interest not exceeding 8% per annum. Any such
             754      indebtedness permitted by this section shall in no sense be the personal obligation of the board of
             755      [supervisors] trustees, but shall constitute a lien upon the lands embraced within [said] the
             756      drainage district until paid.
             757          Section 16. Section 17A-2-533 is amended to read:
             758           17A-2-533. Board to report -- Public hearing -- Removal from office for failure --
             759      Notices.
             760          (1) The board of [supervisors] trustees shall report as required in Title 17A, Chapter 1, Part
             761      5.
             762          (2) (a) After filing the report, the board of [supervisors] trustees shall:
             763          (i) call an annual meeting of the owners of land in the district; and
             764          (ii) give notice of the time and place of the meeting by posting notices in four different
             765      public places within the district at least ten days before the holding of the annual meeting.
             766          (b) The board shall:
             767          (i) hold the annual meeting at the time and place stated in the notice;
             768          (ii) present the budget and a report of the district's operation; and
             769          (iii) conduct any other business.
             770          (c) The [president] chair of the board of [supervisors] trustees shall act as [chairman] chair
             771      of the annual meeting.


             772          Section 17. Section 17A-2-534 is amended to read:
             773           17A-2-534. Public uses -- Right of entry on lands -- Prohibitions.
             774          (1) The use of any canal, ditch, or the like, created under the provisions of this part, shall
             775      be [deemed] considered a public use and for a public benefit.
             776          (2) (a) The [supervisors] trustees or their representatives from the time of their
             777      appointment may go upon the lands lying within [said] the district for the purpose of examining
             778      the same, and making surveys, and after the organization of [said] the district and payment or
             779      tender of compensation allowed, may go upon [said] those lands with their servants, teams, tools,
             780      instruments, or other equipment, for the purpose of constructing such proposed work, and may
             781      forever thereafter enter upon [said] those lands[, as aforesaid,] for the purpose of maintaining or
             782      repairing such proposed work, doing no more damage than the necessity of the occasion may
             783      require[, any].
             784          (b) Any person or persons who [shall] willfully [prevent or prohibit] prevents or prohibits
             785      any of such persons from entering such lands for the purpose [aforesaid] stated in Subsection (2)(a)
             786      shall be [deemed] considered guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction be fined any sum not
             787      exceeding $25 per day for each day's hindrance, which sum shall be paid into the county treasury
             788      for the use of [said] the district.
             789          Section 18. Section 17A-2-535 is amended to read:
             790           17A-2-535. Validation of organization proceedings -- Notice of proposed corrections,
             791      amendments, or changes in assessment of benefits -- Hearing by county legislative body of
             792      report of board of supervisors -- Board of equalization -- Increase of drainage benefits and
             793      taxes -- Lien.
             794          Whenever it [shall appear] appears to the board of [supervisors] trustees that any
             795      proceedings for the organization of a drainage district have not been strictly in compliance with
             796      law, or if any lands within the district have been erroneously assessed for benefits or taxes, or
             797      inequitably assessed for benefits or taxes, or that any assessment of damages or benefits under this
             798      part has been made in error as to description, ownership, or acreage intended to be assessed, or if
             799      it [shall appear] appears to such board of [supervisors] trustees that the assessment of benefits has
             800      been inequitably distributed among the various parcels of land, or unjustly equalized as between
             801      the various parcels of land within the district, or that any tract of land, easement or interest in land,
             802      public, or private road, railroad or railroad right-of-way, has been included in, or omitted from, any


             803      assessment roll of benefits or taxes by reason of clerical error or otherwise, or that proper notice
             804      or notices as required by law has not or have not been given, such noncompliance, error, omission
             805      or want of notice shall not invalidate such organization, neither shall any such assessments of
             806      benefits or taxes be lost to the district in case of any omission, nor shall the board of [supervisors]
             807      trustees and the county legislative body be held to have lost jurisdiction to correct such error or
             808      omission, or to readjust such assessments of benefits or to redistribute such assessment of benefits
             809      upon the various parcels of land and interest in lands within such district, and to justly equalize the
             810      same as between various parcels of land and interest in lands within the district, but the board of
             811      [supervisors] trustees of such district may report any such conditions and recommend such
             812      corrections and changes as such board of [supervisors may deem] trustees considers necessary to
             813      remedy the same; and upon receiving such report and recommendation the [said] county
             814      legislative body may make such corrections, amendments or changes in the assessment rolls of
             815      benefits and taxes, or correct any error, omission, mistake, inequality or want of sufficient notice,
             816      as may be just; provided, that when any correction, amendment or change is sought to be made,
             817      notice of such proposed correction, amendment or change in the assessment of benefits and taxes
             818      shall be given to all persons affected thereby, in the following manner:
             819          The board of [supervisors] trustees of the drainage district shall file with the clerk of the
             820      county legislative body of the county wherein the drainage district is located, a verified report
             821      containing the proposed corrections, amendments, and/or changes in the assessments of benefits
             822      and taxes with their recommendation with respect thereto, to the county legislative body. The
             823      county legislative body shall, at its first meeting thereafter, fix a time and place for a hearing on
             824      [said] the report and shall cause a notice of the hearing thereon to be published three times if in
             825      a daily newspaper, twice if in a semiweekly newspaper and once if in a weekly newspaper, not less
             826      than 15 days before [said] the hearing, and when the residence or post-office address of any
             827      landowner, whose assessment of benefits or taxes is to be corrected, amended or changed is known
             828      the clerk of the county legislative body shall cause a copy of the notice to be sent by United States
             829      mail to such landowner, not less than 15 days before the time fixed for the hearing on the report.
             830      The notice shall state generally the purpose of the hearing and the time and place where the county
             831      legislative body shall meet as a board of equalization to hear and determine any complaint made
             832      against such report, corrections, amendments and changes in the assessment roll of benefits and
             833      taxes.


             834          The county legislative body at the time and place fixed in the notice shall sit as a board of
             835      equalization and it shall make and finally determine such corrections, amendments and changes
             836      in the roll of assessment of benefits and taxes, as it shall determine after such hearing, and
             837      thereafter all such lands, easements or interest in lands shall be assessed in accordance with the
             838      assessment roll as thus corrected, amended, or changed; and such changed assessment roll of
             839      benefits and taxes shall be the basis of lien upon the parcels of land or interest in land, as corrected,
             840      amended or changed, for all district indebtedness. Whenever it shall be made to appear to the board
             841      of [supervisors] trustees of the drainage district that any owner or operator of any land within the
             842      drainage district has so changed the use of such land so as to increase the benefits received by such
             843      land by reason of the construction, maintenance, and operation of the drainage system, the board
             844      of [supervisors] trustees of the drainage district shall view each tract of such land and shall
             845      carefully consider the increased benefits such tract of land is receiving from the construction,
             846      maintenance and operation of the drainage system and shall assess such tract of land in accordance
             847      with the increased benefits received by it. After such assessment is made, the secretary of the board
             848      of [supervisors] trustees shall transmit the same to the county legislative body and the county
             849      legislative body shall within 15 days after receipt thereof, cause not less than 15 days notice to be
             850      sent by mail to each landowner in the district whose benefits have thus been increased, showing
             851      the amount of the benefits as thus increased on the land owned by the landowner within the
             852      district; and stating therein the time and place where the county legislative body shall meet as a
             853      board of equalization to hear and determine complaints made against such increased assessments.
             854      At such hearing any landowner upon whose lands the benefits are thus increased may appear and
             855      oppose such increase or any part thereof. The county legislative body shall sit as a board of
             856      equalization of the increased drainage benefits and taxes, and shall equalize and determine the
             857      assessment of benefits and taxes to be made and levied upon such tract of land within the district.
             858      Such increased assessment of benefits shall be the basis of a lien upon such lands within the
             859      district for all district indebtedness and taxes.
             860          Section 19. Section 17A-2-536 is amended to read:
             861           17A-2-536. Compensation -- Conflict of interest -- Penalties.
             862          Any engineer employed under the provisions of this part shall receive such compensation
             863      as shall be fixed and determined by the board of [supervisors. Each member of the board of
             864      supervisors shall receive as compensation a sum not to exceed $6 per diem and actual expenses


             865      incurred in the performance of his duty] trustees. The salaries and all costs and expenses of the
             866      district shall be paid by the order of the board of [supervisors] trustees out of the district treasury
             867      from drainage funds collected for that purpose upon warrants drawn by the secretary and signed
             868      by the [president. No supervisor] chair. No trustee or any officer named in this part shall in any
             869      manner be financially interested directly or indirectly in any contract awarded or to be awarded by
             870      the board, or in the profits to be derived therefrom; nor shall receive any bond, gratuity or bribe;
             871      and for any violation of this provision such officer shall be [deemed] considered guilty of a felony
             872      and upon conviction therefor [he] shall forfeit [his] the officer's office and be punished by a fine
             873      not exceeding $5,000, or by imprisonment in the penitentiary for a term of not less than one or
             874      more than five years.
             875          Section 20. Section 17A-2-537 is amended to read:
             876           17A-2-537. Appointment of trustee -- Vacancy -- No more than two trustees from
             877      same county in multicounty district.
             878          (1) The county legislative body shall appoint [supervisors] trustees and fill vacancies by
             879      following the procedures and requirements of Title 17A, Chapter 1, Part 3.
             880          (2) If the lands in the drainage district are situated in different counties, not more than two
             881      of the members of the board of [supervisors] trustees shall be from any one of those counties.
             882          Section 21. Section 17A-2-540 is amended to read:
             883           17A-2-540. Right-of-way -- Highways and railroads may be assessed -- Assessment
             884      of governmental units.
             885          (1) The board of [supervisors shall have the right to] trustees may use any part of the
             886      right-of-way of any public highway, road or street, for the purpose of the work to be done,
             887      provided such use will not permanently destroy or materially impair such public highway, road or
             888      street for public use[; and if].
             889          (2) (a) If in the judgment of the board of [supervisors] trustees any public highway, road
             890      or street, or any railroad right-of-way or any part of the same is or will be [benefited] benefitted
             891      by the drainage canals and works to be constructed[,]:
             892          (i) or that have been constructed, benefits and taxes shall be assessed and equalized against
             893      such public highway, road, street, or railroad right-of-way in the same manner as against lands in
             894      private ownership within the district and such public highways, roads and streets and railroad
             895      rights of way are in all respect subject to the provisions of the drainage laws of this state; and


             896          (ii) the state, county, city or town having control of such public highway, road or street or
             897      the owner of such railroad right-of-way shall pay the taxes assessed and equalized against the same
             898      irrespective of whether or not it owns the fee simple title to the land covered by such highway,
             899      road or street, or railroad right-of-way[; provided however that].
             900          (b) Notwithstanding Subsection (2)(a), the state shall not be required to pay any such taxes
             901      for the years prior to 1955.
             902          Section 22. Section 17A-2-541 is amended to read:
             903           17A-2-541. Bridges and culverts across highways and railroads.
             904          (1) The board of [supervisors is hereby authorized and empowered to] trustees may make
             905      all necessary bridges and culverts across or under any public highway or railroad right-of-way, to
             906      enable it to construct and maintain any canal, drain, or ditch necessary to be constructed as a part
             907      of the drainage system of such district, such bridges or culverts to be paid for by the drainage
             908      district[; provided, however, that].
             909          (2) (a) Before the board exercises the power granted in Subsection (1), notice shall first
             910      be given by such board of [supervisors] trustees to railway authorities empowered to build or
             911      construct bridges and culverts, and the railway company shall be allowed 30 days to build such
             912      bridges or culverts, at its own expense, if it should so desire, according to its own plans[; provided,
             913      that such].
             914          (b) Such bridges or culverts shall be [so] constructed by railway authorities so as not to
             915      interfere with the free and unobstructed flow of water, passing through the canal or drain, and shall
             916      be placed at such points as are indicated by the drainage engineer.
             917          Section 23. Section 17A-2-543 is amended to read:
             918           17A-2-543. Contractual powers -- Bond issues -- Elections -- Limitations -- Uses.
             919          Whenever the board of [supervisors deem ] trustees considers it expedient it shall have
             920      power, for the purpose of constructing drains, drainage canals and other required improvements
             921      necessary to drain lands in [said] the district or conserve the public health or welfare, to make a
             922      contract or contracts with the United States providing for the repayment of the principal and such
             923      other sums due thereunder at such times as may be agreed upon, or to issue bonds of the district
             924      to run not less than five years nor more than 40 years, and to bear interest, payable semiannually,
             925      at a rate not exceeding 8% per annum to be called "drainage district bonds," which [said] bonds
             926      shall not be sold for less than 90% of their par value, and the proceeds of which shall be used for


             927      no other purpose than paying the cost of constructing such drains, drainage canals, or other like
             928      work [deemed] considered necessary to drain lands within [said] the district, or conserve the public
             929      health or welfare. Before such contract or contracts shall be made or bonds shall be issued, the
             930      board of [supervisors] trustees shall request the county legislative body to order, and the county
             931      legislative body shall at once order a special election on the question of the issuance of bonds. The
             932      persons authorized to vote in, the giving of notice, the forms of ballots, and the manner of holding
             933      the election, and canvassing the results of the election, shall be as provided in the Utah Municipal
             934      Bond Act. The expenses of such election shall be paid out of the funds belonging to [said] the
             935      drainage district. The terms and times of payment of the bonds so issued shall be fixed by the
             936      board of [supervisors. Said] trustees. The bonds shall be issued for the benefit of the district
             937      authorizing [said] the issue and shall bear the name and number of [said] the district. The board
             938      of [supervisors] trustees shall keep a record of the bonds issued and sold or otherwise disposed of,
             939      and such record will also show the lands embraced in [said] the district. In no case shall the
             940      amount of bonds exceed the benefits assessed. Each bond issued shall show expressly upon its face
             941      that it is to be paid by a tax assessed, levied, and collected on the lands within the drainage district.
             942      [Said] The board of [supervisors] trustees shall, by resolution, provide for the issuance and
             943      disposal of such bonds and for the payment of the interest thereon, the creation of a sinking fund
             944      for the ultimate redemption thereof, and for the date and manner of the redemption of [said] the
             945      bonds. [Said] The board of supervisors may sell or dispose of [said] the bonds either at public or
             946      private sale. Before making any such sale, either private or public, the board of [supervisors]
             947      trustees shall give due notice of their intention to sell or dispose of [said] the bonds, by publishing
             948      notice of sale at least once a week for four consecutive weeks in some newspaper having general
             949      circulation in the state [of Utah] and in the county where [said] the district is situated, and by
             950      publishing in any other publication they [may deem] consider advisable. The notice shall state that
             951      sealed proposals will be received by the board of [supervisors] trustees at their office, for the
             952      purchase of the bonds, until the day and hour fixed by the board of [supervisors] trustees. At the
             953      time appointed the board of [supervisors] trustees shall open the proposals, and award the purchase
             954      of the bonds to the highest responsible bidder, or may reject all bids. In case no bid is made and
             955      accepted as above provided, the board of [supervisors] trustees is hereby authorized to use [said]
             956      the bonds for the construction of any ditches, drain or drains, drainage canal or drainage canals,
             957      or any other required improvement [deemed] considered necessary to drain lands or for the public


             958      health or welfare.
             959          Section 24. Section 17A-2-544 is amended to read:
             960           17A-2-544. Bonds -- Lien on land and improvements.
             961          Whenever any such drainage district bonds [shall be] are issued, or contract with the United
             962      States made, in accordance with the provisions of this part, such bonds or contract, shall constitute
             963      a lien upon all of the lands and improvements thereon within the boundaries of the district, to the
             964      extent of the total benefits, assessed and equalized, and pledged for such purpose, and not in excess
             965      thereof, and the board of [supervisors] trustees of [said] the district shall from time to time, as by
             966      this part provided, levy a sufficient tax to pay the annual interest charge on such bonds, and in
             967      addition thereto, such an amount as a sinking fund which shall, in the course of events and
             968      ultimately, amount to a sufficient sum to redeem [said] the bonds, or in case of contract with the
             969      United States, shall levy a sufficient tax to meet all payments due, or to become due thereunder,
             970      and in addition thereto, a sufficient tax to pay the interest or penalties on any delinquent payment
             971      or payments, as provided in [said] the contract or as required by the statutes of the United States.
             972          Section 25. Section 17A-2-545 is amended to read:
             973           17A-2-545. Bond issue -- Statement attached.
             974          Each bond issue as provided for by Section 17A-2-543 , shall be signed by the [president]
             975      chair and secretary of the said board of [supervisors] trustees, and be attested by the county clerk,
             976      and [said] the clerk shall also make a certified statement thereon, affixing [his] the clerk's seal of
             977      office thereto, of the total amount of the assessment of benefits pledged for the payment of [said]
             978      the bonds and other bonds, if any, issued; the date, number, denomination, and time due of all
             979      bonds issued; when the assessment of benefits was confirmed by the county legislative body, and
             980      the number of acres of land in the district against which [said] the assessments were made.
             981          Section 26. Section 17A-2-546 is amended to read:
             982           17A-2-546. Organization of districts in cities or towns.
             983          For the purpose of organizing a drainage district, which is wholly within the limits of any
             984      incorporated city or town, a like procedure may be followed within such city or town; the petition
             985      for organization may be presented to the town board, city council or commissioners; and city or
             986      town officers, who exercise functions similar or equivalent to the functions of the respective
             987      county officers named in this part, shall exercise the same functions with respect to the
             988      organization, administration and control of such district, and shall have the same powers in all


             989      respects, as such similar or equivalent county officers, with respect to the appointment,
             990      qualification and removal of district [supervisors] trustees, the giving of notices, the holding of
             991      hearings, issuing of proclamations, fixing boundaries, calling district elections, equalizing
             992      assessments of benefits and taxes, certifying bond issues, and doing such other acts or things as
             993      will put into effect the provisions of this part in any such district within such city or town, and so
             994      as to give to any such city or town, and the officers thereof, the same powers and duties as are had
             995      and exercised by a county, and the county officers; provided that, except as varied to meet the
             996      requirements of this section, all other provisions of this part shall govern any such district
             997      organized pursuant to this section.
             998          Section 27. Section 17A-2-547 is amended to read:
             999           17A-2-547. Refunding bonds -- Time limit.
             1000          Any bond or bonds heretofore or hereafter issued by any drainage district may be refunded
             1001      at any time by such drainage district when a lower rate of interest or better terms can be obtained,
             1002      or to provide means for the payment of maturing bonds. Such refunding bonds may be issued by
             1003      resolution of the board of [supervisors] trustees without an election, and may be sold by the board
             1004      in such manner and on such terms as it may [deem] consider for the best interests of the district.
             1005      Payment of such refunding bonds shall be provided for in the same manner as the bonds so
             1006      refunded, and all statutory and other liens and rights existing under the original issue shall extend
             1007      to and apply to [said] the refunding bond; provided, that refunding bonds shall mature in not
             1008      exceeding 40 years from date of issue.
             1009          Section 28. Section 17A-2-548 is amended to read:
             1010           17A-2-548. Duties of trustees -- Equalizations.
             1011          (1) The board of [supervisors] trustees shall, as soon as may be, view each tract of land
             1012      within the district, and shall carefully consider all of the damages and benefits that each particular
             1013      tract of land will receive from the construction and maintenance of such drainage system, and
             1014      assess each tract of land in accordance with the benefits to be received by it, making proper
             1015      allowance for damage, if there be any.
             1016          (2) After such assessment is made up, the secretary of the board of [supervisors] trustees
             1017      shall transmit the same to the county legislative body and the county legislative body shall within
             1018      15 days after receipt thereof, cause not less than 15 days' notice to be sent by mail to each
             1019      landowner in the district of the amount of benefits assessed upon the land owned by him within


             1020      the district; and stating therein the time and place where the county legislative body shall meet as
             1021      a board of equalization to hear and determine complaints made against such assessments.
             1022          (3) The county legislative body shall sit as a board of equalization of drainage district
             1023      benefits and taxes, and shall equalize and finally determine the assessments of benefits and taxes
             1024      to be made and levied upon each tract of land within the district. Such assessments of benefits shall
             1025      be the basis of liens upon the lands within the district for all district indebtedness.
             1026          Section 29. Section 17A-2-549 is amended to read:
             1027           17A-2-549. Estimates for construction -- Debts -- Sinking fund -- Levy.
             1028          The board of [supervisors] trustees shall, on or before the first Monday in March of each
             1029      year, prepare a statement and estimate of the amount of money to be raised by taxation within
             1030      [said] the district for the purpose of constructing canals, drains, drain ditches, and other works, and
             1031      maintaining the same; liquidating district warrants and notes and paying interest thereon, paying
             1032      the interest on the bonded indebtedness of the district; creating a sinking fund for redeeming such
             1033      bonds; meeting all payments due or to become due under any contract between the district and the
             1034      United States; and for the purpose of maintaining and repairing drainage canals, flumes, and
             1035      conduits, bridges, culverts and other works within [said] the district; and for the management and
             1036      control of such drainage system; and shall levy the entire amount required in each year against the
             1037      lands within [said] the district in proportion to the equalized benefits and after adding [15 per cent]
             1038      15% of each amount to the respective assessments to provide for incidentals and possible
             1039      delinquencies, shall certify the same to the county assessor of the county within which such district
             1040      is located.
             1041          Section 30. Section 17A-2-550 is amended to read:
             1042           17A-2-550. Addition of delinquent taxes in case of contract with the United States.
             1043          In case of contract with the United States government, the board of [supervisors] trustees
             1044      may add to such statement and estimate as provided for in Section 17A-2-549 , a sufficient amount
             1045      to cover any deficit due the United States that may have resulted from nonpayment of delinquent
             1046      taxes or assessments for any preceding year; and provided further that in the case of contract with
             1047      the United States government it may be provided by contract between the district and the United
             1048      States, that assessments shall conform to the requirements of the federal reclamation laws now
             1049      enacted or which may hereafter be enacted, and particularly the Act of December 5, 1924, Public
             1050      Law No. 292; and that assessments may thereafter be made accordingly.


             1051          Section 31. Section 17A-2-551 is amended to read:
             1052           17A-2-551. Attendance of officials.
             1053          The county legislative body, when sitting as a board of equalization of drainage district
             1054      benefits, may require the presence of the board of [supervisors] trustees and the engineer of the
             1055      drainage district. If the drainage district be in more than one county, the [supervisor or supervisors]
             1056      trustee or trustees resident within the county may be required to attend.
             1057          Section 32. Section 17A-2-552 is amended to read:
             1058           17A-2-552. Drainage district taxes.
             1059          [It shall be the duty of the] The county assessor [to] shall place upon the assessment roll
             1060      drainage district taxes as certified by the board of [supervisors. It shall be the duty of the] trustees.
             1061      The county treasurer [to] shall collect such taxes at the same time and in the same manner that the
             1062      county taxes are collected, and pay the same to the treasurer of the board of [supervisors] trustees
             1063      as soon as moneys are received [by him. It shall be the further duty of the]. The county treasurer
             1064      shall, after the first day of December and prior to the last day of December of each year, [to] make
             1065      a written report to the treasurer of each drainage district located within the county, setting forth the
             1066      amount of taxes paid and the amount of delinquent taxes levied by the district for the current year,
             1067      and [given] giving in detail the names of delinquent landowners and the descriptions of lands upon
             1068      which such taxes are delinquent.
             1069          Section 33. Section 17A-2-553 is amended to read:
             1070           17A-2-553. Taxes considered lien -- Sale of property -- Time of redemption -- Notice
             1071      -- Penalty -- Record.
             1072          All drainage taxes levied and assessed under the provisions of this title shall attach to and
             1073      become a lien on the real property assessed from and after the second Monday in March. Drainage
             1074      taxes shall become due and delinquent at the same time, and shall be collected by the same officers
             1075      and in the same manner and at the same time as state and county taxes, and when collected shall
             1076      be paid to the treasurer of the board of [supervisors] trustees. The revenue laws of this state for
             1077      the assessment, levying and collecting of taxes on real estate for county purposes, except as herein
             1078      modified, shall be applicable for the purposes of this part, including the enforcement of penalties
             1079      and forfeiture for delinquent taxes; provided, that lands sold for delinquent district taxes shall be
             1080      sold separately for such tax and a separate certificate of sale shall issue therefor, and provided
             1081      further that the period of redemption from sale for taxes under this part, shall be four years. At the


             1082      same time and in the same manner as the county treasurer publishes the delinquent tax list for state
             1083      and county taxes in each year, the county treasurer [must] shall publish a delinquent drainage tax
             1084      list, which [must] shall contain the names of the owners, when known and a description of the
             1085      property delinquent or subject to lien of drainage district taxes with the amount of taxes due
             1086      exclusive of penalty. The county treasurer [must] shall publish with such list a notice, each year,
             1087      that unless the delinquent drainage taxes, together with the penalty, are paid before the date for tax
             1088      sales for state and county taxes the real property upon which such taxes are a lien will be sold for
             1089      taxes, penalty and costs, beginning on [said] the date, at the front door of the county courthouse.
             1090      The delinquent list shall be published three times if in a daily newspaper, twice if in a semiweekly
             1091      and once if in a weekly newspaper. On the date for tax sales for state and county taxes each year,
             1092      the county treasurer shall expose for sale, between the hours of [ten] 10 a.m. and [three] 3 p.m.
             1093      sufficient of all delinquent real estate to pay the drainage district taxes, penalty and costs for which
             1094      such real estate is liable, at public auction, at the front door of the county courthouse, and sell the
             1095      same to the highest responsible bidder for cash, and the county treasurer shall continue to sell from
             1096      day to day between such hours until the property of all delinquents is exhausted or the taxes,
             1097      penalty and costs are paid. In offering such real estate for sale the treasurer shall offer the entire
             1098      tract assessed, and the first bid received in an amount sufficient to pay the taxes and costs shall be
             1099      accepted unless a further bid in the same amount for less than the entire tract shall be received; and
             1100      the highest and best bid shall be construed to mean the bid of that bidder who will pay the full
             1101      amount of the taxes and costs for the smallest undivided portion of [said] the real estate. After
             1102      receiving a bid for the full amount of the taxes [and costs it shall not be the duty of], the treasurer
             1103      is not required to attempt to secure a higher bid, but [he] shall accept it if made. The treasurer shall
             1104      make a record of all sales of real property in a book to be kept by [him] the treasurer for that
             1105      purpose therein describing the several parcels of real property on which the taxes and costs were
             1106      paid by the purchasers, in the same order as the published list of delinquent sales contained in the
             1107      list of advertisements on file in [his] the treasurer's office. Separate columns shall also be provided
             1108      in [said] the record in which the treasurer shall enter the description of any tract sold that is less
             1109      than the entire tract on which the taxes are due, the date of sale, to whom sold, the penalty, and
             1110      costs, and the date of redemption. The purchaser shall [be required to] pay the penalty to the
             1111      county treasurer, which penalty shall in all cases accrue to the benefit of the drainage district.
             1112      When all sales have been made the county treasurer shall file the record in [his] the treasurer's


             1113      office, in looseleaf bound form. [It shall be the duty of the] The county treasurer [to] shall issue
             1114      a receipt to any person paying drainage district taxes on an undivided interest in real estate,
             1115      showing the interest on which taxes are paid, and in case any portion of the drainage district taxes
             1116      on such real estate remains unpaid, [it shall be the duty of] the treasurer [to] shall sell only such
             1117      undivided interest in [said] the real estate as belongs to the co-owners who have not paid their
             1118      portion of the taxes. In absence or default of purchaser at any such public sale of drainage district
             1119      taxes, the drainage district in which taxes are delinquent shall become the purchaser and shall
             1120      receive from the county treasurer the tax sale certificate of the real property on which drainage
             1121      district taxes are delinquent upon the same terms upon which the county receives tax sales
             1122      certificates on sales for delinquent state and county taxes and shall hold the same in the same
             1123      manner as an individual may hold real property upon which state or county taxes are delinquent,
             1124      subject to the same rights of redemption. In all respects, a drainage district shall be the beneficiary
             1125      of taxes assessed and levied by it, provided, however, that county treasurer shall retain the costs
             1126      and expense provided by law for the advertisement, sale and redemption of drainage district taxes.
             1127          Section 34. Section 17A-2-555 is amended to read:
             1128           17A-2-555. Statement of indebtedness to be procured -- Fees -- Filing -- Discharge
             1129      of lien.
             1130          (1) Any person or persons, bank or banks, corporation or corporations or other
             1131      organization or any mortgagee or other lien holder desiring to pay the unpaid equalized drainage
             1132      district benefit assessments and/or taxes against any tract, lot or parcel of land in any drainage
             1133      district may apply to the secretary of the board of [supervisors] trustees of the drainage district for
             1134      a written statement of the unpaid amount of the same together with accrued interest thereon, and
             1135      [it shall be the duty of] the secretary of such drainage district [to] shall execute and deliver to such
             1136      applicant, on payment of a fee of $1, such a statement duly certified to under [his] the secretary's
             1137      hand and the seal of the district, and the applicant shall then present and file the same with the
             1138      county treasurer of the county in which such tract, lot or parcel of land is located, and when so
             1139      filed and when payment in full of the unpaid amount of equalized drainage district benefit
             1140      assessments and taxes is paid, either in lawful money of the United States, or drainage district
             1141      bonds, notes, warrants, or matured interest coupons as herein provided, the county treasurer shall
             1142      issue and deliver to such applicant a receipt in duplicate for the amount of such payment, stating
             1143      therein the amount paid and whether paid in lawful money of the United States or in bonds, notes,


             1144      warrants or matured interest coupons of the district, and upon presentation and filing of one copy
             1145      of such a receipt with the treasurer of the drainage district, showing payment in full of the unpaid
             1146      equalized benefit assessments and/or taxes against any such tract, lot or parcel of land, [it shall be
             1147      the duty of such] the drainage district [to] shall issue and deliver to the person or persons, bank or
             1148      banks, corporation or corporations or other organizations or to such mortgagee or lien holder
             1149      making such payment a written release and discharge releasing such tract, lot or parcel of land
             1150      from all other and further liability for the payment of any of the then existing bonded indebtedness
             1151      of the district or any bonds thereafter given to refund the same, or any notes or warrants theretofore
             1152      or that may thereafter be issued for the payment of any interest on such bonds or such refunded
             1153      bonds, and releasing and discharging [said] the land from any and all other liability for the payment
             1154      of the same or any part thereof, and releasing and discharging such tract, lot or parcel of land from
             1155      the payment of any of the unpaid equalized drainage district assessment of benefits and taxes and
             1156      from the lien of the benefit assessment roll as equalized and finally determined by the county
             1157      legislative body of the county in which such tract, lot or parcel of land is located[; and such tract,
             1158      lot or parcel of land shall not thereafter be assessed by such drainage district except for the
             1159      purposes of maintenance and supervision, provided, all assessments or taxes other than those
             1160      levied for payment of bond, interest or principal shall be payable only in lawful money of the
             1161      United States, or in warrants of the district issued within the same calendar year in which the
             1162      warrants are tendered].
             1163          (2) (a) Such tract, lot, or parcel of land may not thereafter be assessed by the drainage
             1164      district except for the purposes of maintenance and supervision.
             1165          (b) All assessments or taxes other than those levied for payment of bond, interest, or
             1166      principal shall be payable only in lawful money of the United States, or in warrants of the district
             1167      issued within the same calendar year in which the warrants are tendered.
             1168          Section 35. Section 17A-2-556 is amended to read:
             1169           17A-2-556. Form of release and discharge.
             1170          Such release and discharge shall be substantially in the following form:
             1171          Release and discharge from liability for payment of the bonded indebtedness of ____
             1172      drainage district in ____ county, Utah, and from the lien of the equalized assessment of benefits
             1173      and taxes and the benefit assessment roll.
             1174          Whereas, on the ____ day of ____, [19] 20 __, ____ (the owner, part owner, mortgagee or


             1175      other lien holders, as the case may be) paid to the county treasurer of ____ county, (in lawful
             1176      money of the United States, or bonds, notes, warrants or matured interest coupons of the district,
             1177      as the case may be) the sum of $____, being the total amount of the unpaid drainage district
             1178      equalized assessment of benefits and taxes levied and assessed against that certain tract, lot or
             1179      parcel of land located in ____ drainage district in ____ county, Utah, and particularly bounded and
             1180      described as follows, to wit: (Insert description of property) ____ and, ____.
             1181          Whereas, there is on file with the treasurer of this drainage district a receipt showing such
             1182      payment in full,
             1183          Now, Therefore, in consideration of such payment and pursuant to law, the undersigned
             1184      drainage district does by these presents release and discharge the above described tract, lot or
             1185      parcel of land from the lien of and from the payment of all of the bonded indebtedness now
             1186      existing against the same, and from the payment of any bonds now issued or that may hereafter be
             1187      issued to refund the same, or any part thereof, and from the payment of any notes or warrants of
             1188      the district heretofore issued or that may hereafter be issued in payment of interest on such
             1189      indebtedness or refunded indebtedness, and releases and discharges said tract, lot or parcel of land
             1190      from the payment of any of the unpaid equalized assessment of benefits and taxes levied or
             1191      assessed against the same and from the lien of the benefit assessment roll of said drainage district.
             1192          In Witness Whereof, the said drainage district has executed this instrument and caused its
             1193      corporate name and corporate seal to be hereunto affixed by its [president] chair and secretary this
             1194      ____ day of ____ [19] 20 __, pursuant to a resolution of its board of [supervisors] trustees.
             1195          Attest:
________________________________

             1196     
(Name of drainage district.)

             1197     
By ______________,

             1198     
President

             1199      ______________
             1200      Secretary.
             1201          [Said] The written release and discharge may be acknowledged before any officer
             1202      authorized to take acknowledgments of deeds. The form of acknowledgment shall be substantially
             1203      as follows: State of Utah, ss.
             1204      County of ____
             1205          On the ____ day of ____, A. D. [19] 20 __, personally appeared before me ____, who being


             1206      by me duly sworn, did say that he is the [president] chair of ____ drainage district which executed
             1207      the above and foregoing instrument and that [said] the instrument was signed in behalf of [said]
             1208      the drainage district by authority of a resolution of its board of [supervisors] trustees, and [said]
             1209      ____ acknowledged to me that [said] the drainage district executed the same.
             1210     
______________

             1211     
Notary Public.

             1212      My Commission expires: ____
Residing at: ____.

             1213          Section 36. Section 17A-2-560 is amended to read:
             1214           17A-2-560. Land redeemed when lien discharged -- Lien priority -- Foreclosure.
             1215          Where it appears that the lien of all bond issues outstanding in any drainage district in the
             1216      state of Utah, has been discharged and released of record with relation to any parcel or parcels of
             1217      land within any drainage district as shown by the equalized benefit assessment roll of [said] the
             1218      district by the payment in full of such equalized drainage district benefit assessment, together with
             1219      matured interest thereon, lands and improvements sold to a drainage district for delinquent
             1220      drainage district taxes or assessments may be redeemed by any person interested in the property,
             1221      either as owner or lien holder, at any time while the district holds the tax sale certificate of such
             1222      sale and prior to the execution of auditor's tax deed, by the payment of such taxes or assessments
             1223      for the delinquency for which the property is sold, together with all unpaid drainage district taxes
             1224      or assessments subsequently levied against such lands and improvements and all interest, costs and
             1225      penalties, unless in the judgment of the board of [supervisors] trustees of the drainage district and
             1226      the county legislative body of the county wherein the land is situated, the interest of the drainage
             1227      district will be best subserved by accepting a lesser sum in which case such lesser sum, to be fixed
             1228      by the county legislative body, shall be accepted.
             1229          Any party in interest as owner or lien holder redeeming property as provided herein shall
             1230      have a lien thereon in the amount so paid, with interest after such payment, which lien shall have
             1231      the same priority as the tax lien of the district and may be foreclosed by an action in the district
             1232      court in the same manner as provided by law for the foreclosure of a mortgage.
             1233          Section 37. Section 17A-2-561 is amended to read:
             1234           17A-2-561. Petition for dissolution -- Notice -- Hearings -- Objections -- Liquidation
             1235      of indebtedness.
             1236          [That any] (1) A drainage district may be dissolved by an order of the district court of the


             1237      county wherein the same is located, and if located in more than one county, then by an order of the
             1238      district court in the county wherein the major portion of the land within [said] the district is
             1239      located, upon a hearing had upon a verified petition filed with the county clerk of such county
             1240      praying for such dissolution and signed by the owners of a majority of the acreage of lands
             1241      embraced within the district.
             1242          (2) (a) Before [said] a hearing [shall] may be had, the clerk of [said] the court, upon fees
             1243      and costs being advanced therefor, shall cause notice of such hearing to be given by posting notices
             1244      in six public places in the district sought to be dissolved for a period of four weeks prior to the date
             1245      of hearing [said] the petition and by publishing a copy thereof in a newspaper of general circulation
             1246      in the county in which such district or major portion thereof is located once a week for four
             1247      successive weeks prior to such hearing. [Such]
             1248          (b) The notice under Subsection (2)(a) shall specify the district to be dissolved, the date,
             1249      time and place of the hearing of such petition, and shall provide that all persons[,] who have any
             1250      objections to the dissolution of [said] the district shall file such objections in writing in the office
             1251      of [said] the clerk of [said] the court and serve a copy thereof upon the [supervisors] trustees of
             1252      [said] the district at or prior to the date of [said] the hearing, and all persons who have any claims
             1253      against [said] the district[,] must present the same duly itemized and verified by the affidavit of
             1254      the claimant at or prior to the time of [said] the hearing or be forever barred from thereafter
             1255      asserting [said] those claims, and [said] the notice shall be signed by the clerk of [said] the court.
             1256          (3) (a) The petition shall be verified by at least three of the petitioners [and said].
             1257          (b) The verification shall set forth that the petition is signed by the owners of a majority
             1258      of the acreage within such district.
             1259          (4) No district shall be dissolved until all indebtedness of such district [shall have] has
             1260      been paid or until provision has been made for the payment thereof, either by the levying and
             1261      collecting of assessments, or by money advanced by petitioners, or by depositing a sufficient bond,
             1262      to be approved by the court, with the clerk of the court, which provides for and secures the
             1263      payment of all such indebtedness, or by other means approved by the court.
             1264          Section 38. Section 17A-2-563 is amended to read:
             1265           17A-2-563. Statement of assessment levied, collected and uncollected, and of
             1266      indebtedness filed with clerk.
             1267          Upon the filing of the petition or within 20 days thereafter, the [supervisors] trustees of


             1268      [said] the drainage district shall file with the clerk of the court in which [said] a petition under
             1269      Section 17A-2-561 is filed a detailed statement of the annual assessments levied for each year
             1270      since the organization of the district and the payments made thereon by each landowner and the
             1271      amounts unpaid and outstanding against all lands within [said] the district and also a statement of
             1272      the indebtedness of [said] the drainage district as [same] it appears upon the books of the district,
             1273      with the names of the creditors, the nature, date and amount of their respective claims [also], and
             1274      a statement of the district bonded and other indebtedness of such drainage district at the time of
             1275      the filing of such petition.
             1276          Section 39. Section 17A-2-566 is amended to read:
             1277           17A-2-566. Payment discharges lien, excepting liens for prior assessments.
             1278          Upon the final determination by the court of the amount or portion of the district's
             1279      indebtedness, costs, and expenses to be paid by any given acreage or tract of ground and upon the
             1280      payment of the amount so determined in accordance with such determination and within the time
             1281      and in the manner hereinafter specified the court shall enter a decree discharging [said] the land
             1282      from all lien, tax, assessment, and obligation imposed upon [said] the land by reason of the
             1283      organization of [said] the district and the assessments levied by [said] the district. Nothing in this
             1284      part however shall be construed in the absence of such payment so as to impair or release any lien
             1285      the district may have acquired or to which it may be entitled against any land within the district
             1286      by reason of assessments heretofore made and all rights to enforce such liens as such rights now
             1287      exist are expressly preserved and maintained and nothing in this part shall be construed so as to
             1288      prevent the [supervisors] trustees of [said] the district from carrying out their duties in the same
             1289      for nonpayment of assessments of any land within the district upon which the drainage district
             1290      assessments have not been paid.
             1291          Section 40. Section 17A-2-609 is amended to read:
             1292           17A-2-609. Trustees -- Election or appointment -- Countywide fire protection district
             1293      -- Other provisions applicable.
             1294          (1) [Except as provided in Subsection (b), there shall be three] Members of a fire
             1295      protection district [commissioners for each district] board of trustees shall be appointed or elected
             1296      according to the procedures and requirements of Title 17A, Chapter 1, Part 3.
             1297          (2) (a) As used in this Subsection (2), a "countywide fire protection district" means a fire
             1298      protection district that includes all of the county except first and second class cities.


             1299          (b) If a complete county organizes into a countywide fire protection district, the county
             1300      legislative body of that county is the fire protection district [commission] board of trustees for as
             1301      long as the county remains a countywide fire protection district.
             1302          [(c) The fire commissioners shall serve without compensation, but shall receive necessary
             1303      expenses in attending meetings and other district business.]
             1304          (3) (a) The provisions of Title 17B, Chapter 2, Part 4, Board of Trustees, apply to each fire
             1305      protection district to the same extent as if the fire protection district were a local district under Title
             1306      17B, Chapter 2, Local Districts.
             1307          (b) (i) If a change in the number of board of trustees members is necessary to comply with
             1308      the requirements of Subsection 17B-2-402 (1), the board of trustees may by majority vote,
             1309      notwithstanding Subsection 17B-2-402 (3), change the number of board members to the next odd
             1310      number higher or lower than the number of current board members.
             1311          (ii) If a change under Subsection (3)(b)(i) decreases the number of board members, the
             1312      change may not take effect until the expiration of the term of the member whose term next expires.
             1313          (c) If a change in the length or expiration date of the term of a board of trustees member
             1314      is necessary to comply with the requirements of Subsection 17B-2-403 (2), the change may not take
             1315      effect until the expiration of the term of the member whose term length or expiration date is to be
             1316      changed.
             1317          Section 41. Section 17A-2-610 is amended to read:
             1318           17A-2-610. Separate meetings -- County clerk may be secretary.
             1319          [The fire commissioners shall organize as a board and shall elect a chairman from their
             1320      number and shall appoint a secretary and a treasurer. In the event]
             1321          (1) If the county legislative body [become] becomes the fire protection district
             1322      [commissioners] board of trustees as provided for in Section 17A-2-609 , meetings as [fire
             1323      protection commissioners] the board of trustees shall be held separate and apart from meetings as
             1324      the county legislative body.
             1325          (2) The board of [fire commissioners] trustees, at its discretion, may provide that until
             1326      further order of the board, the county clerk shall be ex officio secretary of the board and may
             1327      similarly provide that the county treasurer shall be ex officio treasurer of the board. [If the board
             1328      appoints its own secretary and treasurer, it may combine the two offices. The county legislative
             1329      body shall require all officers and employees who shall be charged with the handling of funds of


             1330      the district to furnish good and sufficient surety bonds, or the board in its discretion may provide
             1331      for a blanket surety bond covering all such officers and employees. All such bonds shall be at the
             1332      expense of the district.]
             1333          Section 42. Section 17A-2-613 is amended to read:
             1334           17A-2-613. Office of the board of trustees -- Principal places of business of district.
             1335          The office of the [fire commissioners] board of trustees and principal places of business
             1336      of the district shall be within [said] the district or at some place within the county in which the
             1337      district is situated and as near as possible to [said] the district. [The board shall hold regular
             1338      monthly meetings at their office on such day as they, by resolution previously adopted, shall
             1339      determine, and may adjourn such meetings as may be required for the proper transaction of
             1340      business. Special meetings of the board may be called at any time by a majority of the
             1341      commissioners or by the secretary and the chairman of the board. Any fire commissioner not
             1342      joining in the call of a special meeting shall be entitled to a three day written notice by mail of the
             1343      same, specifying generally the business proposed to be transacted at said special meeting, but,
             1344      when at any special meeting of the board all members are present, lack of previous notice thereof
             1345      shall not invalidate the proceedings. All meetings of the fire commissioners shall be public and
             1346      a majority shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. All records of the board shall
             1347      be open to the inspection of any person at any reasonable time. The board shall have the power
             1348      and it shall be the duty of the board to adopt a seal of the district, to manage and conduct business
             1349      affairs of the district, to make and execute all necessary contracts, to employ any necessary service
             1350      and to establish and promulgate reasonable rules and regulations for the government of the district
             1351      and for the performance of its functions and generally to perform all such acts as may be necessary
             1352      fully to carry out the objects of the creation of the district.]
             1353          Section 43. Section 17A-2-614 is amended to read:
             1354           17A-2-614. Annexation of contiguous territory -- Procedure -- Petition -- Special
             1355      election.
             1356          (1) Territory contiguous with a fire protection district may be annexed to the district as
             1357      provided in this section.
             1358          (2) (a) Annexation is initiated by filing a petition signed by 25% or more of the owners of
             1359      real property within the territory proposed to be annexed.
             1360          (b) The petition shall be filed with the [fire commissioners] board of trustees of the fire


             1361      protection district.
             1362          (c) If the [fire commissioners concur] board of trustees concurs with the petition, [they]
             1363      it shall then file the petition with the county legislative body.
             1364          (3) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (3)(b), the proceedings by the county legislative
             1365      body shall be the same as for the organization of a district under this part, except that the special
             1366      election shall be held only within the boundaries of the territory proposed to be annexed to the fire
             1367      protection district.
             1368          (b) Notwithstanding Subsection (3)(a), if a petition filed under Subsection (2)(a) has been
             1369      signed by all the owners of real property within the territory proposed to be annexed:
             1370          (i) the hearing requirements of Sections 17A-2-603 and 17A-2-604 and the election
             1371      requirements of Section 17A-2-605 and 17A-2-606 do not apply; and
             1372          (ii) immediately upon receipt of the petition from the fire protection district commissioners
             1373      under Subsection (2)(c), the county legislative body shall by resolution declare the territory to be
             1374      annexed to the fire protection district.
             1375          Section 44. Section 17A-2-615 is amended to read:
             1376           17A-2-615. Association to encourage uniformity and coordination of programs --
             1377      Contracts between two or more fire protection districts.
             1378          [Any fire protection district organized under this part shall, in addition to the powers stated
             1379      in Section 17A-2-611 , have authority:]
             1380          (1) [To] In addition to the powers stated in Section 17A-2-611 , a fire protection district
             1381      organized under this part may contract with any fire protection district, or with any town, city or
             1382      municipal corporation or governmental agency or private person or persons to consolidate or
             1383      cooperate for mutual fire fighting protection and prevention purposes; or, for mutual fire fighting,
             1384      protection and prevention purposes only, may annex or become annexed to any city or town or
             1385      governmental agency already provided with fire fighting and protection equipment and fire
             1386      protection service upon terms which may be mutually agreed upon. Any city, town, municipal
             1387      corporation or governmental agency may contract with a fire protection district established and
             1388      maintained under the provisions of this part for the purpose of affording such district fire fighting
             1389      and protection equipment and service or fire prevention facilities, and in so contracting the district,
             1390      city, town, municipal corporation or other governmental agency shall be deemed for all purposes
             1391      to act within its governmental capacity. Any fire protection district established and maintained


             1392      under the provisions of this part, or any city, town, municipal corporation or other governmental
             1393      agency is hereby authorized to contract with any person, firm or corporation for the purpose of
             1394      affording fire fighting, protection or fire prevention facilities to such person, firm or corporation
             1395      and such contractual relation shall be deemed for all purposes to be within the governmental power
             1396      of such fire protection district, city, town, municipal corporation, or other governmental agency;
             1397          (2) [Fire] In addition to the powers stated in Section 17A-2-611, fire protection districts
             1398      situated in different counties may contract to operate jointly in carrying out the objects of their
             1399      creation. Contracts for joint operation may provide for joint ownership of property and equipment,
             1400      and may authorize a joint board of [fire commissioners] trustees of the contracting districts to
             1401      manage the affairs of the joint operations; to employ and discharge the necessary agents and
             1402      employees and fix their respective wages and salaries; to provide and designate a suitable place
             1403      within [said] the districts or at some place in which any of the contracting districts is situated as
             1404      near as possible to said districts, as a regular meeting place for the joint board; to incur the
             1405      necessary expenses and direct the payment therefor from the funds of the contracting districts in
             1406      such proportions as the joint boards shall determine; and to do all things as may in the judgment
             1407      of the joint board, be required to carry out the joint operations of the contracting districts.
             1408          The joint board shall consist of the members of the boards of the contracting districts and
             1409      a majority of the membership of each district board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction
             1410      of the business of the joint board. The members of the boards of [fire commissioners] trustees of
             1411      the contracting districts shall organize a joint board annually in January after the second Monday
             1412      thereof, elect a [chairman] chair and appoint a secretary for the ensuing year. Any member of the
             1413      board of any contracting district may act as secretary of the joint board or the joint board may
             1414      appoint such other person as the joint board may determine. The joint board shall prepare the
             1415      annual budget for the joint operation of the contracting districts and shall determine the share of
             1416      revenues for the joint operation to be raised by each district and the share of the expense of joint
             1417      operation to be paid by each district in the ensuing year, and the secretary of the joint board shall
             1418      certify and deliver within the time required by Section 17A-2-617 hereof, a copy of such annual
             1419      budget to the county clerk of each county involved and to each of the contracting districts, showing
             1420      the part of the budget to be raised by each contracting district, each contracting district shall then
             1421      include that part of the budget to be raised by such district within the budget prepared and
             1422      submitted to the county legislative body in accordance with Section 17A-2-617 .


             1423          Contracts for joint operation of fire districts, as herein authorized, shall run from year to
             1424      year and as of January 1st may be terminated by written notice of the board of [fire commissioners
             1425      or] trustees of any contracting district to the other contracting district or districts on or before July
             1426      1st and the contract for joint operations shall terminate on January 1st following: Provided, that
             1427      all obligations of the joint operations must be paid or definitely arranged for before contract
             1428      termination and no notice of termination shall relieve any contracting district of its unpaid
             1429      obligation incurred under the contract for joint operation[;].
             1430          (3) To encourage uniformity and coordination of fire protection district operation
             1431      programs, the [fire commissioners] board of trustees of two or more fire protection districts may
             1432      form an association thereof for the purpose of securing data and information of value in fighting
             1433      and in preventing fires; hold and attend meetings thereof; and promote more economical and
             1434      efficient operation of the associated fire protection districts. The [directors] trustees of fire
             1435      protection districts so associated shall adopt articles of association, select a [chairman] chair and
             1436      secretary and such other officers as they may determine, and may employ and discharge such
             1437      agents and employees as the officers [deem] consider convenient to carry out the purposes of the
             1438      association.
             1439          (4) Two or more fire protection districts may contract with each other and such a district
             1440      may contract with a city or county or the state supervisor of forestry or any association approved
             1441      by [him] the supervisor for the joint leasing, ownership, maintenance and operation of all necessary
             1442      and proper apparatus, facilities, machinery, and equipment for the elimination of fire hazards and
             1443      for the protection of life and property against fire within the contracting districts, and of real
             1444      property, improvements and fixtures thereon suitable and convenient for the housing, repairing and
             1445      caring for, such apparatus, facilities, machinery and equipment, and may contribute their agreed
             1446      proportion of the cost and expense thereof.
             1447          Such contracts shall be executed by the [commissioners] board of trustees of the
             1448      contracting districts and, when the contract is between such districts, the terms and conditions
             1449      thereof shall be carried out by the boards of [commissioners] trustees acting jointly.
             1450          Section 45. Section 17A-2-617 is amended to read:
             1451           17A-2-617. Annual budget -- Levy, extension, and collection of taxes.
             1452          Before June 15 of each year the [commissioners] board of trustees of each fire protection
             1453      district shall prepare and adopt a budget for the next ensuing calendar year, and certify such budget


             1454      to the county clerk specifying the amount of such budget to be raised by taxes. [It shall be the duty
             1455      of the] The county legislative body [to] shall review such budget, [to] determine the tax levy rate
             1456      for such district, and in levying general county taxes, [to] levy a tax at such rate for district
             1457      purposes on all taxable property in the district. Such taxes shall be extended and collected in the
             1458      manner provided by law for the collection of general county taxes and the proceeds thereof shall
             1459      as collected be turned over to the treasurer of the district. All laws applicable to the imposition,
             1460      collection and enforcement of general county taxes, including those pertaining to the allowance
             1461      of collection fees, to the imposition of penalties for delinquencies and to the sale of property for
             1462      nonpayment of taxes, shall be applicable to the taxes so levied for the district. The official in
             1463      charge of the tax and assessment rolls of the county shall keep the rolls in such a manner as to
             1464      show separately the property on the rolls which lies within the boundaries of each district created
             1465      under the provisions of this part.
             1466          Section 46. Section 17A-2-618 is amended to read:
             1467           17A-2-618. Bonds -- Duty of board of trustees -- Levy of taxes for payment of bonds.
             1468          The [commissioners] board of trustees of each district which has issued bonds under the
             1469      provisions of this part shall certify annually to the county legislative body the amount of the
             1470      bonded indebtedness unpaid, the amount of principal and interest to be paid during the current
             1471      year, and the county legislative body shall levy annually, until principal and interest have been
             1472      fully paid, taxes on all taxable property in the district, fully sufficient to assure the prompt payment
             1473      of principal and interest as each falls due. The taxes to be levied by the county legislative body for
             1474      any district, other than those levied for the payment of principal and of interest on the bonds of the
             1475      district, may not in any year exceed .0008 per dollar of taxable value of taxable property in the
             1476      district.
             1477          Section 47. Section 17A-2-619 is amended to read:
             1478           17A-2-619. Indebtedness not to exceed estimated expendable revenue.
             1479          It shall be unlawful for fire protection district [commissioners] board of trustees to incur
             1480      any indebtedness in excess of the estimated expendable revenue for the ensuing year except as
             1481      otherwise provided [herein] in this part.
             1482          Section 48. Section 17A-2-622 is amended to read:
             1483           17A-2-622. Election regarding issuance of bonds.
             1484          (1) After a fire protection district has been created, a petition may be presented to the fire


             1485      protection district [commissioners] board of trustees requesting [such commissioners] the board
             1486      to order an election to determine whether the bonds of the district shall be issued to the amount
             1487      and for the purpose or purposes stated in the petition. Such petition shall comply in all respects
             1488      to the requirements of Section 17A-2-602 hereof, except shall be made to the fire protection
             1489      district [commissioners] board of trustees. After the filing of [said] the petition, the board of
             1490      trustees' procedure [of said commissioners] in respect to publication of notice, contents of notice,
             1491      hearing and determination of petition, continuance, objections, determination of amount of bonds
             1492      shall comply, as nearly as