Section 324.4709 - Sewage disposal and water supply districts; contracts with municipalities; construction, improvement, enlargement, extension, operation, and financing; pledge of payment; resolution; approval by electors; issuance of bonds(1) The district may enter into contracts with any municipality located within its territorial limits providing for the acquisition, construction, improvement, enlargement, extension, operation, and financing of a sewage disposal system or water supply system. A contract shall provide for the allocation and payment of the share of the total cost to be borne by the municipality in annual installments for a period not exceeding 40 years. Each contracting municipality may pledge its full faith and credit for the payment of the obligation in the manner and times specified in the contract. The district shall make a reasonable charge for its services that it renders to the users in order to cover the retirement of outstanding indebtedness, costs of operation, maintenance, and replacement of its plants and reserves for capital improvements. If there is excess money in the treasury of the district after all of the contingencies have been met, the excess shall be rebated to the contracting municipalities in proportion to the total amount that the municipality paid for services it has received from the district. No limitation in any statute or charter shall prevent the levy and collection by each of the contracting municipalities of the full amount of taxes necessary for the payment of the contractual obligation. These funds may be raised by each contracting municipality by the use of 1 or more of the following methods: (a) The levy of special assessments on property benefited by the sewage disposal system or water supply system. The procedures relative to the levying and collection of the special assessments shall conform as near as may be to applicable charter or statutory provisions.(b) The levy and collection of rates or charges to users and beneficiaries of the service or services furnished by the sewage disposal system or water supply system.(c) From money received, or to be received, derived from the imposition of taxes by this state, unless the money for this purpose is expressly prohibited by the state constitution of 1963.(d) From any other fund or funds that may be validly used for the purpose. The contract may provide for any and all matters relating to the acquisition, construction, operation, and financing of the sewage disposal system or water supply system as are considered necessary, including authorization to the district to issue bonds secured by the full faith and credit pledges of the contracting municipalities, as authorized in this part. The contract may provide for appropriate remedies in case of default, including, but not limited to, the right of the municipalities to authorize the county treasurer or other official charged with the disbursement of funds derived from the state sales tax levy under the general sales tax act, 1933 PA 167, MCL 205.51 to 205.78, to withhold sufficient funds to make up any default or deficiency in funds.(2) A municipality desiring to enter into a contract with the district under this section shall authorize, by resolution of its governing body, the execution of the contract. The resolution shall be published in 1 or more newspapers of general circulation within the municipality, and the contract may be executed without a vote of the electors upon the expiration of 30 days after the date of the publication unless, within the 30-day period, a petition signed by not less than 10% of the registered electors residing within the limits of the municipality is filed with the clerk of the municipality requesting a referendum upon the execution of the contract. If this occurs, the contract shall not be executed until approval by the vote of a majority of the electors of the municipality qualified to vote and voting at a general or special election to be held not more than 90 days after the filing of the petition. A special election called for this purpose shall not be included in any statutory or charter limitation as to the number of special elections to be called within any period of time. Signatures on any petition shall be verified by some person under oath, as the actual signatures of the persons whose names are signed on the petition, and the clerk of the municipality has the same power to reject signatures as city clerks under section 25 of the home rule city act, 1909 PA 279, MCL 117.25. The number of registered electors in a municipality is determined by the registration books as of the date of the filing of the petition.(3) To obtain funds to acquire, construct, improve, enlarge, or extend the sewage disposal system or water supply system authorized by this part, the district, after the execution of the contract or contracts authorized by this part, upon ordinance or resolution adopted by the district, may issue its negotiable bonds secured by the full faith and credit pledges made by each contracting municipality pursuant to authorization contained in this part and the contracts entered into pursuant to this part. Except as otherwise provided in this part, bonds are subject to the revised municipal finance act, 2001 PA 34, MCL 141.2101 to 141.2821. The ordinance or resolution authorizing the issuance of the bonds shall include the terms of the contracts.1994, Act 451, Eff. 3/30/1995 ;--Am. 2002, Act 214, Imd. Eff. 4/29/2002.