12-365. Same; unified city-county powers, duties, limitations; bonded debt; sales tax; special service districts; voting area; changes in form of government. (a) If the voters approve a plan which provides for the unification of the city and county, such unified city-county shall be subject to the provisions of this section.

(b) The unified city-county shall be subject to the cash-basis and budget laws of the state of Kansas.

(c) Except as provided in subsection (e), and in any other statute which specifically exempts bonds from the statutory limitations on bonded indebtedness, the limitation on bonded indebtedness of the unified city-county under this act shall be 30% of the assessed value of all tangible taxable property within such county on the preceding August 25.

(d) The following shall not be included in computing the total bonded indebtedness of the unified city-county for the purposes of determining the limitations on bonded indebtedness:

(1) Bonds issued for the purpose of refunding outstanding debt, including outstanding bonds and matured coupons thereof, or judgments thereon.

(2) Bonds issued pursuant to the provisions of article 46 of chapter 19 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated, and amendments thereto.

(3) Bonds issued for the purpose of financing the construction or remodeling of a courthouse, jail or law enforcement center facility, which bonds are payable from the proceeds of a retailers' sales tax.

(4) Bonds issued for the purpose of acquiring, enlarging, extending or improving any storm or sanitary sewer system.

(5) Bonds issued for the purpose of acquiring, enlarging, extending or improving any municipal utility.

(6) Bonds issued to pay the cost of improvements to intersections of streets and alleys or that portion of any street immediately in front of city or school district property.

(e) Any bonded indebtedness and interest thereon incurred by the city or county prior to unification shall remain an obligation of the property subject to taxation for the payment thereof prior to such unification.

(f) Upon the effective date of the unification of the city and county, any retailers' sales tax levied by the city or county in accordance with K.S.A. 12-187 et seq., and amendment thereto, prior to such date shall remain in full force and effect, except that part of the rate attributable to the former city of Tribune shall not apply to retail sales in any other city located in the county.

(g) Upon the effective date of the unification of the city and county, the territory of the unified city-county shall include:

(1) All of the territory of the county for purposes of exercising the powers, duties and functions of a county.

(2) (A) Except as provided by paragraph (B), all of the territory of the county, except the territory of cities located in the county other than the former city of Tribune and the unincorporated area of the county, for purposes of exercising the powers, duties and functions of a city; or

(B) all the territory of the county located within the incorporated areas of the county, for the purpose of exercising the powers, duties and functions of a city. The provisions of this paragraph shall apply only if the final plan provides for the unification of the city of Horace with the county and a majority of the qualified electors of the county and a majority of the qualified electors of the city of Horace voting on the plan vote in favor thereof.

(h) For the purposes of section 1 of article 5 of the constitution of the state of Kansas, the "voting area" for the governing body of the unified city-county shall include all the territory within the county.

(i) Except for the unified city-county and unless otherwise provided by law, other political subdivisions of the county shall not be affected by unification of the city and county. Such other political subdivisions shall continue in existence and operation.

(j) Unless otherwise provided by law, the unified city-county shall be eligible for the distribution of any funds from the state and federal government as if no unification had occurred. Except as provided in this subsection, the population and assessed valuation of the territory of the unified city-county shall be considered its population and assessed valuation for purposes of the distribution of moneys from the state or federal government.

(k) The unified city-county shall be a county. The governing body of the unified city-county shall be considered county commissioners for the purposes of section 2 of article 4 of the constitution of the state of Kansas and shall have all the powers, functions and duties of a county and may exercise home rule powers in the manner and subject to the limitations provided by K.S.A. 19-101a, and amendments thereto, and other laws of this state.

The governing body of the unified city-county shall be responsible for any duties or functions imposed by the constitution of the state of Kansas and other laws of this state upon any county office abolished by the unification plan. Such duties may be delegated by the governing body or as provided in the unification plan.

(l) Unless otherwise provided in the unification plan, the unified city-county shall be a city of the third class and the governing body of the unified city-county shall have all the powers, functions and duties of a city of the third class. The governing body of the unified city-county may exercise home rule powers in the manner and subject to the limitations provided by article 12 of section 5 of the constitution of the state of Kansas and other laws of this state.

(m) The governing body of the unified city-county may create special service districts within the city-county and may levy taxes for services provided in such districts.

(n) Changes in the form of government approved by the voters in accordance with the unification plan are hereby declared to be legislative matters and subject to initiative and referendum in accordance with K.S.A. 12-3013 et seq., and amendments thereto.

History: L. 2006, ch. 187, § 6; L. 2007, ch. 1, § 3; Feb. 22.