New Mexico § 5-11-19 - General obligation bonds; tax levy; exception

§ 5-11-19. General obligation bonds; tax levy; exception

A. At any time after the hearing on formation of the district, the district board,

or, if before formation, the governing body may from time to time order that the question

of authorizing the issuance of general obligation bonds to provide money for public

infrastructure purposes consistent with the general plan be presented to the owners

for a determination and that a general obligation bond election be called to submit

the question to the qualified electors. The question shall include authorization for a levy, including a limitation on the

levy, of a property tax to pay debt service on the bonds. The election shall be held pursuant to the provisions of the Local Election Act

and may be held in conjunction with the formation election. B. If general obligation bonds are approved by a determination of the owners and approved

at an election, the district board may issue and sell general obligation bonds of

the district; provided that the district board shall have determined by resolution

that the principal amount of all district general obligation bonds currently outstanding

and the district general obligation bonds proposed for issuance and sale shall not

result in a total annual debt service that exceeds five-tenths percent of the allowable

base. C. Bonds may be sold in a public offering or in a negotiated sale. D. After the bonds are issued, the district board shall enter in its minutes a record

of the bonds sold and their numbers and dates and shall annually levy and cause a

property tax to be collected, at the same time and in the same manner as other property

taxes are levied and collected on all taxable property in the district, sufficient,

together with any money from the sources described in Section 5-11-17 NMSA 1978 to pay debt service on the bonds when due. Money derived from the levy of property taxes that are pledged to pay the debt service

on the bonds shall be kept separately from other funds of the district. Property tax revenues not pledged to pay debt service on bonds may be used to pay

other costs of the district, including costs of formation, administration, operation

and maintenance, services or enhanced services. A district's levy of property taxes shall constitute a lien on all taxable property

within the district, including, without limitation, all leased property or improvements

to leased land, which shall be subject to foreclosure in the same manner as other

property tax liens under the laws of this state. The lien shall include delinquencies and interest thereon at a rate not to exceed

ten percent per year, the actual costs of foreclosure and any other costs of the district

resulting from the delinquency. The proceeds of any foreclosure sale shall be deposited in the special bond fund

for payment of any obligations secured thereby. E. Subject to the determination and election provisions of this section, a district

may issue general obligation bonds at such times and in such amounts as the district

deems appropriate to carry out a project or projects in phases. F. Pursuant to this section, the district may issue and sell refunding bonds to refund

general obligation bonds of the district authorized by the Public Improvement District

Act. No determination or election is required in connection with the issuance and sale

of refunding bonds. Refunding bonds issued pursuant to this section shall have a final maturity date

no later than the final maturity date of the bonds being refunded.