2015 Mississippi Code
Title 31 - PUBLIC BUSINESS, BONDS AND OBLIGATIONS
Chapter 25 - MISSISSIPPI DEVELOPMENT BANK ACT
Article 1 - GENERAL PROVISIONS
§ 31-25-27 - Powers of local governmental units to contract with bank; issuance of securities; pledges for repayment; personal liability of local governmental officials; validation of securities; waiver of defenses; fraudulent acts; agreements with regard to powers of State Tax Commission; certain local governmental units required to make certifications to Mississippi Development Bank before issuance of bonds; local governmental units authorized to borrow money from any United States government loan guarantee program

(1) Each local governmental unit is hereby authorized and empowered to contract with the bank with respect to the bank's purchase of such local governmental unit's securities and such contract shall contain such terms and conditions as may be prescribed by the bank. Each local governmental unit is authorized and empowered to pay to the bank such fees and charges for services as the bank may prescribe.

(2) Each local governmental unit is hereby authorized to issue securities under the provisions of this act and to sell such securities to the bank to raise money for any purpose or purposes set forth in Sections 21-27-23, 21-33-301, 21-33-325, 21-33-325.1, 21-33-326, 31-27-5, 17-17-301 et seq. and any other state law authorizing the issuance of local governmental unit debt, and for the purpose of refunding any securities issued under the provisions of this act or under the provisions of Section 21-27-11 et seq., or Section 21-33-301 et seq., or Section 31-27-1 et seq. Such securities may be issued in accordance with Sections 21-33-301, 21-33-303, 21-33-307, 21-33-309, 21-33-311, 21-33-313, 21-33-325, 21-33-325.1 and 21-33-326, or Sections 21-27-23 through 21-27-43 and Sections 21-27-47 through 21-27-71, or Sections 31-27-1 through 31-27-25, or Sections 17-5-3 through 17-5-11, or Sections 49-17-101 through 49-17-123, or Sections 17-17-301 through 17-17-349 or any other state law authorizing issuance of local governmental unit debt, as the case may be, unless otherwise specifically provided in this act; provided, however, the securities of any local governmental unit may be issued with such terms and provisions as may be necessary and appropriate in order to comply with the provisions of any loan agreement described in Section 49-17-87. Whenever securities shall be issued under this subsection, the governing authority may also pledge to the payment of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such securities the revenues of any project to be constructed, improved or purchased with the proceeds thereof. Whenever any project is a part of a system or combined system, then all or any portion of the revenues of such system or combined system may be pledged to secure repayment of such securities as determined by the bank.

(3) Each local governmental unit is hereby authorized to issue securities to the bank to raise money for any purpose or purposes set forth in Section 19-9-1, 19-9-27 or 19-9-28 and for the purpose of refunding any securities issued under the provisions of this act or under the provisions of Section 19-9-1 et seq. Such securities may be issued in accordance with Sections 19-9-1, 19-9-3, 19-9-5, 19-9-7, 19-9-9, 19-9-11, 19-9-13, 19-9-15, 19-9-17, 19-9-27 and 19-9-28, or Sections 17-5-3 through 17-5-11, or Sections 49-17-101 through 49-17-123, as the case may be, unless otherwise specifically provided in this act; provided, however, the securities of any local governmental unit may be issued with such terms and provisions as may be necessary and appropriate in order to comply with the provisions of any loan agreement described in Section 49-17-87. Whenever securities shall be issued under this subsection, the board of supervisors of the county may also pledge to the payment of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such securities the revenues of any project to be constructed, improved, repaired or purchased with the proceeds thereof. Whenever any project is a part of a system or combined system, then all or any portion of the revenues of such system or combined system may be pledged to secure repayment of such securities as determined by the bank.

(4) In addition, any local governmental unit is hereby authorized to issue securities to the bank to raise money for any purpose or purposes otherwise authorized by state law and for the purpose of refunding any securities issued under the provisions of this act or as otherwise authorized by state law including Section 49-17-83 et seq. Such securities may be issued in accordance with any other applicable provision of state law related to the issuance of securities including Section 49-17-83 et seq. Whenever securities shall be issued under this subsection, the governing body of such local governmental unit may also pledge to the payment of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such securities the revenues of any project to be constructed, improved or purchased with the proceeds thereof. Whenever any project is a part of a system or combined system, then all or any portion of the revenues of such system or combined system may be pledged to secure repayment of such securities as determined by the bank.

(5) Securities issued by a local governmental unit under the provisions of this act:

(a) May be sold only to the bank 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 bank and the local governmental unit, and the governing body of the local governmental unit may pay all expenses, premiums, fees and commissions which it may deem necessary and advantageous in connection with the issuance and sale thereof;

(b) Shall be secured as provided by Chapter 27, Title 21, Mississippi Code of 1972; Chapter 33, Title 21, Mississippi Code of 1972; or Chapter 9, Title 19, Mississippi Code of 1972, or other provisions of state law, and as provided in this act; and it is the intention of the Legislature that any pledge of earnings, revenues or other monies made by the local governmental unit shall be valid and binding from the time the pledge is made; that the earnings, revenues or other monies so pledged and thereafter received by the local governmental unit shall immediately be subject to the lien of such pledge without any physical delivery thereof or further act, and that the lien of any such pledge shall be valid and binding as against all parties having claims of any kind in tort, contract or otherwise against the local governmental unit irrespective of whether such parties have notice thereof; and neither the resolution nor any other instrument by which a pledge is created need be recorded;

(c) Neither the officers or members of the governing body of the local governmental unit nor any person executing the bonds shall be personally liable on the bonds or be subject to any personal liability or accountability by reason of the issuance thereof;

(d) Shall be issued for the purposes set forth in this act and shall include terms and conditions which meet the state law authorizing the issuance of such local governmental unit debt and/or such terms and conditions consistent with the requirements for issuance of Mississippi Development Bank Bonds under Section 31-25-37.

(6) Each local governmental unit issuing securities under the provisions of this act is hereby authorized and empowered in connection with the issuance of such securities to enter into any covenants, agreements as to defaults and agreements as to remedies of the bank for defaults with respect to such local governmental unit's operation, revenues, assets, monies, funds or property as may be prescribed by the bank.

(7) The proceeds of securities shall be deposited in one or more special funds established by resolution of the local governmental unit issuing the same and shall be applied to the following: (a) the purpose for which the securities were issued; (b) the payment of all costs of issuance of the securities; (c) the payments of any fees and charges established by the bank; (d) the payment of interest on the securities for a period of time not greater than the period of time estimated to be required to complete the purpose for which the securities were issued; all to the extent provided by resolution of the governing body of the local governmental unit and approved by the bank. Such special fund shall be held by commercial banks qualified to act as depositories therefor.

(8) In the event the bank determines to issue bonds and in connection therewith to exercise the powers provided in subsection (7) of Section 31-25-37, and if the requirements of subsection (2), (3) or (4), as the case may be, of this section have been satisfied, a local governmental unit is authorized to issue its securities as provided in this section.

(9) Securities issued under this act may be validated in the manner and with the force and effect provided in Section 31-13-1 et seq.

(10) This act shall be deemed to provide an additional, alternative and complete method for the doing of the things authorized hereby and shall be deemed and construed to be supplemental to any power conferred by other laws on local governmental units and not in derogation of any such powers.

(11) Any person who attempts to or obtains financial aid for a local governmental unit hereunder or who attempts to or sells securities of a governmental unit to the bank by false or misleading information or who shall by fraud attempt to obtain monies from the bank or its approval for the payment of monies or shall fraudulently attempt to or does prevent the collection of any monies due to the bank shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a felony for each offense.

(12) Upon the sale and issuance of any securities to the bank by any governmental unit, such governmental unit shall be held and be deemed to have agreed that in the event of the failure of such governmental unit to pay the interest on or the principal of any of such securities owned or held by the bank as and when due and payable, such governmental unit shall have waived any and all defenses to such nonpayment, and the bank upon such nonpayment shall thereupon constitute a holder or owner of such securities as being in default, and the bank may then and thereupon avail itself of all remedies, rights and provisions of law applicable in such circumstance, including, without limitation, any remedies or rights theretofore agreed to by the local governmental unit, and that all of the securities of the issue of securities of such governmental unit as to which there has been such nonpayment, shall for all of the purposes of this section be held and be deemed to have become due and payable and to be unpaid. The bank is hereby authorized and empowered to carry out the provisions of this section and to exercise all of the rights and remedies and provisions of law herein provided or referred to.

(13) Any local governmental unit which borrows from the bank is hereby authorized and empowered to agree in writing with the bank that, as provided in this subsection, the State Tax Commission or any state agency, department or commission created pursuant to state law shall (a) withhold all or any part (as agreed by the local governmental unit) of any monies which such local governmental unit is entitled to receive from time to time pursuant to any law and which is in the possession of the State Tax Commission, or any state agency, department or commission created pursuant to state law and (b) pay the same over to the bank to satisfy any delinquent payments on any securities issued by such local governmental unit under the provisions of this act and any other delinquent payments due and owing the bank by such local governmental unit, all as the same shall occur. In the event the bank shall file a copy of such written agreement, together with a statement of delinquency, with the State Tax Commission, or any state agency, department or commission created pursuant to state law then the State Tax Commission or any state agency, department or commission created pursuant to state law shall immediately make the withholdings provided in such agreement from the amounts due the local governmental unit and shall continue to pay the same over to the bank until all such delinquencies are satisfied.

(14) (a) Except as otherwise provided in Section 31-25-28 (7), (8) and (9), if the state or any agency thereof, the institutions of higher learning of the state or any education building corporation established for institutions of higher learning, borrows funds from the bank under Section 31-25-28 or sells its securities to the bank pursuant to this act, then such local governmental unit shall certify the following to the bank prior to the issuance of bonds:

(i) The legal authority for such local governmental unit to borrow funds; and

(ii) That such local governmental unit does not intend to request an additional appropriation from the Legislature to pay debt service on the loan or for such security.

(b) If the state or any agency thereof, the institutions of higher learning of the state or any education building corporation established for institutions of higher learning, does not make the certification required under paragraph (a) (ii) of this subsection, then such local governmental unit shall not borrow funds from the bank under Section 31-25-28 or sell its securities to the bank pursuant to this act unless an appropriation by the Legislature authorizes the payment of debt service for the first year of the loan or for such security.

(15) Any local governmental unit may borrow money from the bank loaned under any loan guaranty program of any department or agency of the United States, including the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Utility Services Water and Waste Disposal Guaranteed Loan Program and Community Programs Guaranteed Loan Program or any such successor guaranty programs.

(16) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, each local governmental unit is authorized and empowered to contract with the bank for the exercise by the bank of any and all of the bank's powers as set out in this act with respect to the proceeds of such local governmental unit's securities or certificates of participation issued by such local governmental unit pursuant to any state law authorizing the issuance of local governmental unit debt.

(17) Subsections (15) and (16) of this section shall be deemed to provide all necessary authority for the doing of the things authorized thereby and shall be liberally construed to accomplish the purposes and authorizations therein stated.