Idaho § 31-4304 - Creation of recreation districts

§ 31-4304. Creation of recreation districts

A recreation district may be created as follows:

(a) Any person or persons may file a petition for the formation of a recreation district with the clerk. Such petition which may be in one (1) or more papers shall clearly designate the boundaries of the proposed district, shall state the name of the proposed district, shall state the maximum tax rate that would be imposed upon taxable property within the district or planned unit development recreation districts, and shall be signed by not less than twenty percent (20%) of the qualified electors resident within the boundaries of the proposed district. The boundaries of the proposed district shall include contiguous territory having market value for assessment purposes of not less than five million dollars ($5,000,000) at the last preceding county assessment and shall not include any area included within an already existing recreation district. The petition shall be accompanied by a map showing the boundaries of the proposed district.

(b) The clerk shall, within ten (10) days after the filing of such petition and map, estimate the cost of advertising and holding the election provided in this section and notify in writing the person or any one of the persons filing such petition as to the amount of such estimate. Such person or persons shall within twenty (20) days after receipt of such written notice deposit such estimated amount with the clerk in cash, or such petition shall be deemed withdrawn. If the deposit is made and the district is formed, the person or persons so depositing such sum shall be reimbursed from the first moneys collected by the district from the taxes authorized to be levied by this chapter.

(c) Within thirty (30) days after the filing of such petition together with such map and the making of such cash deposit, the county commissioners shall determine whether or not the same substantially comply with the requirements of this section. If the county commissioners find that there has not been substantial compliance with such requirements, they shall enter an order to the effect specifying the particular deficiencies, dismissing such petition and refunding such cash deposit. If the county commissioners find that there has been substantial compliance with such requirements, the county commissioners shall forthwith enter an order to that effect and calling an election, subject to the provisions of section 34-106 , Idaho Code, upon the formation of such proposed district as provided in this section.

(d) If the county commissioners order an election as provided in this section, such election shall be conducted in accordance with the general election laws of the state, including the provisions of chapter 14, title 34 , Idaho Code. The county commissioners shall establish election precincts, design and print elector’s oaths, ballots and other necessary supplies, appoint election personnel and by rule and regulation provide for the conduct and tally of such election. Each qualified elector who is a resident of the proposed district shall be entitled to vote in such election. The clerk shall give notice of such election which notice shall clearly designate the boundaries of such proposed district, shall state the name of the proposed district as designated in the petition, shall state the date of such election and the hours on such date which the polls will be open for receipt of ballots, shall set forth the qualifications of electors, and shall state that a map showing the boundaries of such district is on file in the office of the clerk. Such notice shall be published for the first time, not less than twelve (12) days prior to the election, and the second publication shall be made not less than five (5) days prior to such election in a newspaper published within the county.

(e) Immediately after such election, the judges at such election shall forward the ballots and results of such election to the clerk. The county commissioners shall canvass the vote within ten (10) days after such election. If one-half (1/2) or more of the votes cast at such election are against the formation of such district, the county commissioners shall enter an order so finding and declaring that such district shall not be formed. If more than one-half (1/2) of the votes cast at such election are in favor of forming such district, the county commissioners shall enter an order so finding, declaring such district duly organized under the name designated in such petition, and dividing such district into three (3) subdivisions, as nearly equal in population as possible, to be known as director’s subdistricts one, two and three. The county commissioners shall cause one (1) certified copy of such order to be filed in the office of the county recorder of such county. Immediately upon the entry of such order, the organization of such district shall be complete.

(f) Upon receipt of a certified copy of the order of the county commissioners, the board of county commissioners shall appoint a qualified elector from each director’s subdistrict who shall constitute the first board of such district. The appointees from director’s subdistricts one and two shall serve until the first district election thereafter held at which their successors shall be elected and the appointee from director’s subdistrict three shall serve until the second district election thereafter held at which such appointee’s successor shall be elected. The certificate of appointment shall be filed with the clerk with a copy forwarded to each appointee.

(g) When the boundaries of the proposed district lie in two (2) or more counties, the county commissioners of each county shall act separately in the election and organization of that part of the proposed district contained in their county but the county commissioners of each such county shall meet together before calling such election, subject to the provisions of section 34-106 , Idaho Code, and provide for uniform proceedings in each county and fix the boundaries of each director’s subdistrict in case such election shall carry.

(h) After such election, the validity of the proceedings hereunder shall not be affected by any defect in the petition or in the number or qualification of the signers thereof, and in no event shall any action be commenced or maintained or defense made affecting the validity of the organization of such district after six (6) months have expired from the date of entering the order declaring the formation of such district.

[31-4304, added 1970, ch. 212, sec. 4, p. 599; am. 1980, ch. 350, sec. 10, p. 898; am. 1995, ch. 118, sec. 38, p. 460; am. 2001, ch. 375, sec. 1, p. 1313; am. 2017, ch. 128, sec. 5, p. 301.]