Section 36-9-13-28 - Leases; notice of approval; objections by taxpayers; petitions; notice and hearing; limitations on actions and appeals(a) If the terms and conditions of a proposed lease are approved under section 27 of this chapter, notice of the approval of the lease shall be given on behalf of the eligible entity by publication in accordance with IC 5-3-1. Ten (10) or more taxpayers in the eligible entity:(1) whose tax rate will be affected by the proposed lease; and(2) who are of the opinion that there is no necessity for the lease, or that the method of determining the lease rental is not fair and reasonable; may file a petition in the office of the county auditor within thirty (30) days after publication of notice of the approval of the lease. The petition must set forth their objections to the lease and facts showing that the lease is unnecessary or unwise, or that the method of determining the lease rental is not fair and reasonable.
(b) Upon the filing of a petition under subsection (a), the county auditor shall immediately certify a copy of it, together with any other data necessary to present the questions involved, to the department of local government finance. Not less than five (5) nor more than fifteen (15) days after receipt of the certified petition and data, the department of local government finance shall fix a time in the county for the hearing of the matter. The department of local government finance may either hold the hearing in the affected county or through electronic means. The department of local government finance shall give notice of the hearing to the eligible entity and to the first ten (10) petitioners on the petition by registered mail, at least five (5) days before the date of the hearing.(c) The decision of the department of local government finance on a petition under this section is final.(d) An action to contest the validity of the lease or to enjoin the performance of any of its terms and conditions must be instituted within thirty (30) days after publication of notice of the approval of the lease, or if an appeal has been taken to the department of local government finance, within thirty (30) days after the decision of the department.Pre-Local Government Recodification Citation: 19-8-4-12 part.
Amended by P.L. 38-2021,SEC. 101, eff. 7/1/2021.As added by Acts1981 , P.L. 309, SEC.86. Amended by Acts1981 , P.L. 45, SEC.48; P.L. 35-1990, SEC.66; P.L. 90-2002, SEC.510.