2016 Mississippi Code
Title 51 - Waters, Water Resources, Water Districts, Drainage, and Flood Control
Chapter 41 - Public Water Authorities
§ 51-41-21. Issuance of bonds

(1) The water authority is authorized at any time, and from time to time, to issue its bonds for the purpose of acquiring, constructing, improving, enlarging, completing and equipping one or more projects.

(2) Before the water authority's proposed issuance of bonds, the water authority shall publish one (1) time in a newspaper of general circulation in the affected county or counties, notice of the proposed issuance of bonds, the approximate principal amount of bonds contemplated to be sold, a general description of the project contemplated to be constructed with bond proceeds and the date of a public meeting at which members of the public may obtain further information regarding the sale of the bonds and the development of the project. The notice shall be published at least ten (10) days before the date of the hearing. The water authority chairman, or his or her designee, shall be responsible for conducting the hearing and shall require all public comments that might pertain to the proposed issuance of bonds by the water authority. Upon compliance with the provisions of this section, no other notice, hearing or approval by any other entity or governmental unit shall be required as a condition to the issuance by the water authority of its contemplated bonds.

(3) The principal of, and the interest, if any, on any bonds shall be payable out of the revenues derived from the projects with respect to which the bonds are issued, or from any other source available to the water authority.

(4) None of the bonds of the water authority shall ever constitute an obligation or debt of the state, the municipality or county in which the water authority operates, the Secretary of State, or any officer or director of the water authority, or a charge against the credit or taxing powers of the state.

(5) As the water authority determines, bonds of the water authority may:

(a) Be issued at any time and from time to time;

(b) Be in such form and denominations;

(c) Have such date or dates;

(d) Mature at such time or times and in such amount or amounts, provided that no bonds may mature more than forty (40) years after the date of issuance;

(e) Bear interest, if applicable, payable at such times and such rate or rates as may be established by the board;

(f) Be payable at such place or places within or without the State of Mississippi;

(g) Be subject to such terms of redemption in advance of maturity at such prices, including such premiums; and

(h) Contain such other terms and provisions as may be appropriate or necessary in the discretion of the water authority.

(6) Bonds of the water authority may be sold at either public or private sale in such manner, and from time to time, as may be determined by the board to be most advantageous. The water authority may pay all expenses, premiums and commissions that the board may deem necessary or advantageous in connection with the authorization, sale and issuance of its bonds.

(7) All bonds shall contain a recital that they are issued under the provisions of this chapter, which recital shall be conclusive that they have been duly authorized under the provisions of this chapter.

(8) All bonds issued under the provisions of this chapter shall be and are declared to be negotiable instruments within the meaning of the negotiable instruments law of the state and shall be in registered form.

(9) All bonds issued by a water authority may be validated upon the direction of the board under Sections 31-13-1 through 31-13-11. The validation hearing shall be held in the county in which the principal office of the water authority is located.