§1420.12. District status; taxing authority; procedures

A. Any district or subdistrict governed by the provisions of this Part shall be a political subdivision of the state. Pursuant to and in accordance with the Constitution of Louisiana, any such district or subdistrict may levy taxes and incur debt and issue bonds. However, except as otherwise provided by law, no such district or subdistrict shall levy or increase any tax until such tax or tax increase has been approved by a majority of the qualified electors of the district or subdistrict voting in an election held for such purpose, or a greater percentage of the qualified electors, at the discretion of the governing authority. Any such district may call an election for the purpose of voter approval of any authorized tax or incurring any authorized debt.

B.(1) A tax or tax increase levied pursuant to this Section may either be at a flat rate or as an ad valorem millage. For the purposes of this Section, a flat rate tax shall be one imposed as a fixed sum on each parcel or portion of ground or a class of property without regard to its value. The governing authority of the district may define "parcel" and "class" in the ordinance levying or increasing the flat rate tax.

(2) Any tax proposition submitted to the voters pursuant to this Part shall state the purpose and duration of the tax and the rate of a proposed ad valorem tax or the amount of a proposed flat rate tax.

Acts 1999, No. 880, §1, eff. July 2, 1999; Acts 2001, No. 382, §1, eff. June 13, 2001.