2015 Louisiana Laws
Revised Statutes
TITLE 33 - Municipalities and Parishes
RS 33:4579.3 - Powers and duties

§4579.3. Powers and duties

The board shall have all powers necessary or convenient to effectuate the purposes of the district, including but not limited to the following rights and powers:

(1) To acquire, purchase, lease as lessee, and hold and use any property, movable or immovable, tangible or intangible, or any interest therein necessary or desirable for carrying out the purposes of the district, and to sell, lease as lessor, transfer, and dispose of any property or interest therein at any time acquired by it. Title to immovable property acquired shall be with the district.

(2) To acquire by purchase, lease, or otherwise and to construct, develop, maintain, and operate an events center and the programs and events undertaken therein.

(3) To enter into agreements with any persons, corporations, associations, or other entities, including public corporations, political subdivisions, the United States government and agencies thereof, the state or any of its agencies, or any combination thereof, for the operation or use of any or all properties and facilities of the district.

(4) To enter into contracts with any public or private entity in carrying out its corporate objectives, including but not limited to contracts for construction or acquisition of property and facilities incident to the purposes of the district.

(5) To fix, collect, and revise rates, charges, and rentals for facilities and services as necessary.

(6) To adopt bylaws for the management and regulation of its affairs and for the regulation and control of its facilities, programs, and activities.

(7) To accept gifts, grants, and donations of property and money.

(8) To cooperate with the state or any political subdivision, department, agency, or corporation of the state for the construction, operation, and maintenance of facilities designed to accomplish the purposes for which the district is created, on any basis, including the matching of funds, and by participating in projects authorized by federal or state law as the board shall see fit.

(9) To pledge all or any part of its revenues.

(10) To levy and collect annual taxes, fees, or assessments to the extent permitted by law. Ad valorem taxes may be levied at a rate not to exceed twenty-five mills. Any such tax, fee, or assessment shall be used solely for the acquisition, construction, development, maintenance, operation, and administration of the facilities of the district and shall be subject to approval by a majority of the electors of the district voting at an election called by the district and held for that purpose. The taxes, fees, or assessments when levied, shall be from year to year or for such period of years in accordance with the proposition authorizing the imposition of such taxes, fees, or assessments; however, no person and no property shall be exempt from payment of the taxes, fees, or assessments, except to the extent permitted by Article VII, Section 20 of the Constitution of Louisiana. The district, upon its own initiative, may call a special election and submit to the qualified electors of the district the question of authorizing the levy of such a tax, fee, or assessment provided that any such election shall be held only on the dates provided by R.S. 18:402(F). The district shall call such a special election when requested to do so by petition in writing signed by one-fourth of the qualified electors eligible to vote at such election. These special taxes, fees, or assessments shall be levied, assessed, and collected on the property within the district under the same methods, terms, and conditions and at the same time as parish and district taxes are levied, assessed, and collected.

(11) To levy and collect annually a fee or assessment as described in Paragraph (10) of this Section on each lot or a parcel of real estate in the district, including such lots or parcels of real estate as may be located partly outside of the limits or boundaries of the district.

(12) The district, when authorized to do so by a vote of a majority of the electors residing in the district qualified to vote and voting at an election for such purpose is authorized to issue bonds in accordance with Chapter 11 of Title 33 and Chapter 4 of Title 39 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950 and the laws in connection therewith, including R.S. 33:4579.4.

(13) To grant total or partial exemptions from any tax, fee, or assessment, subject to approval by a majority of the electors of the district voting at an election. Any such exemption shall be stated in the proposition authorizing the imposition of said tax, fee, or assessment.

(14) To establish and maintain facilities for the physical and cultural benefit of the community.

(15) To anticipate taxes authorized under Article VI, Section 32 of the Constitution of Louisiana and issue its certificates of indebtedness secured by the pledge of such taxes, to incur debt and issue bonds for the purpose herein authorized under Article VI, Sections 33 and 37 of the Constitution of Louisiana and all acts of the legislature adopted for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of said constitution.

Acts 1997, No. 1177, §1, eff. July 14, 1997.