2015 Mississippi Code
Title 57 - PLANNING, RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
Chapter 61 - MISSISSIPPI BUSINESS INVESTMENT ACT
§ 57-61-37 - Authorization for municipalities to borrow; terms; evidence of indebtedness

(1) Each municipality is hereby authorized and empowered to borrow money from the board pursuant to the terms and provisions of this chapter. Each municipality is further authorized and empowered to pay to the board such fees and charges for services hereunder as the board may prescribe.

(2) Each municipality is hereby authorized to evidence the borrowing of money from the board pursuant to this chapter by the issuance of evidences of indebtedness under the provisions of this section and to sell such evidences of indebtedness to the board to raise money for any purpose or purposes for which the board is authorized to loan money to such municipality under the terms of this chapter. Except as specifically provided in this chapter, such evidences of indebtedness shall be issued in accordance with the provisions of Sections 21-33-307, 21-33-309, 21-33-311, 21-33-313, 21-33-315, 21-33-317, 21-33-319, 21-33-321 and 21-33-323 in the case of cities or incorporated towns, and in accordance with the provisions of Sections 19-9-7, 19-9-9, 19-9-11, 19-9-13, 19-9-15, 19-9-17, 19-9-19, 19-9-21, 19-9-23, 19-9-25 and 19-9-29 in the case of counties. Bonds or other evidences of indebtedness which are issued either pursuant to this chapter, or pursuant to any other law as evidence of loans made pursuant to this chapter, shall not be deemed indebtedness within the meaning specified in Section 21-33-303 with regard to cities or incorporated towns, and in Section 19-9-5 with regard to counties. The preceding sentence shall apply to all such bonds and evidences of indebtedness outstanding as of the effective date of this provision and to all such bonds and evidences of indebtedness hereafter issued.

(3) In connection with the issuance of evidences of indebtedness under the provisions of this chapter by cities, incorporated towns and counties, the following provisions shall specifically apply:

(a) When publishing notice of intent to issue bonds as required under the terms of Section 21-33-307 or Section 19-9-11, as the case may be, the municipality shall publish such notice once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks, the first publication to be not less than twenty-one (21) days prior to the date set for authorizing such issuance and the last publication to be not more than seven (7) days prior to such date.

(b) Such evidences of indebtedness shall be secured: (i) by the revenues derived by the municipality from the ownership, operation or lease of the project or improvements funded with proceeds of the loan from the board to such municipality under the terms of this chapter or by loan repayments from the private company derived by the municipality from the loan to the private company of the proceeds of the loan from the board to such municipality under the terms of this chapter, but only to the extent, in whole or in part, pledged by the municipality, which pledge may be on a basis subordinate to other obligations or agreements of the municipality; (ii) by the sources of repayment provided for under the terms of subsections (7) and (8) of Section 57-61-15 of this chapter; (iii) and as provided by Chapter 33, Title 21, Mississippi Code of 1972, in the case of cities and incorporated towns, and Chapter 9, Title 19, Mississippi Code of 1972, in the case of counties but only in the event that the sources provided by items (i) and (ii) hereof are insufficient therefor. For the purposes of Section 27-39-321, the evidences of indebtedness issued hereunder shall be deemed to be "general obligation bonds."

(c) Such evidences of indebtedness may be sold only to the board at private sale and may be sold at such price or prices, in such manner and at such times as may be agreed to by the municipality and the board, and the municipality may pay all expenses, premiums, fees and commissions which it may deem necessary and advantageous in connection with the issuance and sale thereof and such evidences of indebtedness shall mature at such time or times not exceeding thirty (30) years and in such amounts and shall bear interest at such rate or rates as required for loans made under the provisions of this chapter and as may be agreed upon by the board and the municipality; provided, that in connection with financing a Navy home port, the municipality may obtain a letter of credit and pledge to the repayment thereof the same sources pledged to such evidences of indebtedness or negotiate and enter into a credit agreement, trust indenture or other agreement with any bank, trust company or other lending institution for the purpose of making or receiving any payments required to be made to the United States Navy to accommodate a Navy home port.

(d) The proceeds of such evidences of indebtedness shall be applied to the following: (i) the purpose for which such evidences of indebtedness were issued; (ii) the payment of all costs of issuance of such evidences of indebtedness; (iii) the payment of any fees and charges established by the board; (iv) the payment of interest on such evidences of indebtedness for a period of time not greater than the period of time estimated to be required to complete the purpose for which the evidences of indebtedness were issued or to the extent provided by resolution of the municipality and approved by the board; (v) the payment of any costs relating to obtaining or entering into a credit agreement, loan disbursement agreement, trust indenture or other agreement with any bank, trust company or other lending institution for the purpose of securing, making or receiving any payments required to be made to the United States Navy to accommodate a Navy home port.

(e) Evidences of indebtedness issued under this section may be validated in the manner and with the force and effect provided in Section 31-13-1 et seq.

(f) This section shall be deemed to provide an additional, alternate and complete method for the doing of the things authorized hereby and shall be deemed and construed to be supplemental to any provisions of any other laws and not in derogation of any such provisions. In connection with the issuance of evidences of indebtedness, a municipality shall not be required to comply with the provisions of any other law except as provided herein.