Iowa § 388.4 - 388.4 Utility board.
Full text of Iowa Iowa Code § 388.4 — 388.4 Utility board., with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 388.4. 388.4 Utility board.
The title of a utility board must be appropriate to the city utility, city utilities, or combined utility system administered by the board. A utility board may be a party to legal action. A utility board may exercise all powers of a city in relation to the city utility, city utilities, or combined utility system it administers, with the following exceptions: 1. A board may not certify taxes to be levied, pass ordinances or amendments, or issue general obligation or special assessment bonds. 2. The title to all property of a city utility or combined utility system must be held in the name of the city, but the utility board has all the powers and authorities of the city with respect to the acquisition by purchase, condemnation, or otherwise, lease, sale, or other disposition of such property, and the management, control, and operation of the same, subject to the requirements, terms, covenants, conditions, and provisions of any resolutions authorizing the issuance of revenue bonds, pledge orders, or other obligations which are payable from the revenues of the city utility or combined utility system, and which are then outstanding. 3. A board shall make to the council a detailed annual report, including a complete financial statement. 4. Immediately following a regular or special meeting of a utility board, the secretary shall prepare a condensed statement of the proceedings of the board and cause the statement to be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the city. The statement must include a list of all claims allowed, showing the name of the person or firm making the claim, the reason for the claim, and the amount of the claim. If the reason for the claims is the same, two or more claims made by the same vendor, supplier, or claimant may be consolidated if the number of claims consolidated and the total consolidated claim amount are listed in the statement. However, the utility board shall provide at its office upon request an unconsolidated list of all claims allowed. Salary claims must show the gross amount of the claim except that salaries paid to persons regularly employed by the utility, for services regularly performed by them, must be published once annually showing the gross amount of the salary. In cities having more than one hundred fifty thousand population, the utility board shall each month prepare in pamphlet form the statement herein required for the preceding month and furnish copies to the city library, the daily newspapers of the city, the city clerk, and to persons who apply at the office of the secretary, and the pamphlet shall constitute publication as required. Failure by the secretary to make publication is a simple misdemeanor. [S13, §1056-a7, -c24; C24, §5678, 6149; C27, 31, 35, §5676-a2, 6149, 6159-a1; C39, §5676.2, 6149, 6159.1; C46, 50, §363.52, 397.34, 398.11; C54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, §368A.7, 368A.24, 397.34, 398.11; C75, 77, 79, 81, §388.4] 2006 Acts, ch 1018, §6 Fri Dec 12 20:12:37 2025 Iowa Code 2026, Section 388.4 (18, 0)
Frequently Asked Questions About Iowa § 388.4
What does Iowa Code § 388.4 cover?
Section 388.4 ("388.4 Utility board.") is part of the Iowa Code, the codified statutory law of Iowa. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.
How do I cite Iowa § 388.4?
A common citation format is "Iowa Code § 388.4" (Iowa). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.
Is this the official text of Iowa law?
No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the Iowa official source linked on this page or consult a licensed Iowa attorney.
How does Iowa § 388.4 apply to my situation?
Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in Iowa can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.
Sources & Verification
Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in Iowa.