N.D. Cent. Code § 40-22-16

Current through 2024 Legislative Session
Section 40-22-16 - Sewer or water improvements and parking lots in municipalities may be paid for by service charges

A municipality constructing a sewer or water improvement or a parking lot under the special assessment method may resolve in the resolution or ordinance required by section 40-22-08 in the case of a sewer or water improvement, or in the resolution required by section 40-22-15 in the case of a parking lot, that a portion of the cost of the improvement shall be raised by service charges for the use of the improvement, and of the utility or parking system of which it forms a part. If the municipality so resolves, it may determine, in its resolutions, ordinances, and other proceedings relating to the levying of special assessments and the issuing of warrants to pay the cost of such improvement, that a specified portion or all of such cost shall be assessed specially against any property specially benefited and may cause to be assessed only the portion so determined. In such event the entire remainder of such cost, including interest as well as principal of any warrants issued, over and above the amount of special assessments actually collected and received from time to time in the fund of the improvement district, plus any general taxes pledged in accordance with section 40-24-10 and similarly collected and received, shall be paid from the net revenues derived from said service charges; provided, that nothing herein shall affect the power and duty of the governing body to levy a tax for the payment of a deficiency in the improvement district fund at the times and under the conditions set forth in section 40-26-08. All of the applicable provisions of this title relating to special assessments shall be applicable to such improvements except as to the portion of the cost thereof resolved or ordained to be paid by service charges. The governing body of the municipality shall provide for the establishment, imposition, and collection of service charges for the services furnished by such improvement and the utility or parking system of which it forms a part, and in connection therewith it shall have all the rights and powers respecting such service charges as it would have with respect to like matters if such improvement were made in accordance with chapter 40-35. The net revenues derived from the imposition and collection of such service charges, or such portion thereof as shall be determined by the governing body in said resolutions and ordinances, shall be paid into the appropriate improvement district funds created pursuant to section 40-24-18. Such revenues when collected shall be used and applied in the same manner as moneys paid into such funds from the collection of special assessments. In its resolutions and ordinances, the governing body of any municipality issuing warrants to finance any such improvement may establish an assessment reserve in the fund of the improvement district, to which it may appropriate net revenues of the utility or system from time to time received in excess of amounts required, with special assessments and taxes then on hand, to meet the principal and interest next due on such warrants. Prior to November first of any year, the governing body may by resolution determine the proportion which the amount then on hand in said assessment reserve, and irrevocably appropriated to the payment of said warrant, bears to the aggregate amount of the installment of the special assessments and taxes levied for the improvement which is payable in the following year, including interest thereon, and the governing body may direct the county auditor to reduce, by not more than a proportionate amount, the total of such installment and interest which would otherwise be placed upon the tax list of the municipality for the current year, against each lot and tract of land assessed or taxed for the improvement. If such installment of the special assessment on any property has been prepaid, the governing body may direct the city auditor to refund, out of the assessment reserve, to the owner of the property at the time of such refund as indicated in the records of the recorder of the county, a sum not exceeding a similar proportion of the principal amount of such installment, excluding interest.

N.D.C.C. § 40-22-16