160B-18. Referendum approval of certain debt assumption required for consolidation; effective date of consolidation.

(a) Referendum Approval of Certain Debt Assumption Required for Consolidation. - For the consolidation of a city with a county to be effective in accordance with the provisions hereof, the assumption by the consolidated city-county of all debt secured by a pledge of faith and credit of said city outstanding at the effective date of consolidation must have been approved by referendum (which referendum approval may occur at different times for different portions of said debt).

(b) Effective Date of Consolidation. - Subject to the requirement of referendum approval of certain debt assumption for consolidation as provided by subsection (a) of this section, the consolidation of a city with a county shall be effective upon the later of:

(1) Sixty days following publication of notice of the enactment of the consolidation by the General Assembly;

(2) Sixty days following publication of the statement of result of the latest referendum relating to the consolidation or to the assumption of debt secured by a pledge of faith and credit in connection with the consolidation; or

(3) Any effective date of the consolidation set by the General Assembly.

(c) Limitation of Local Acts. - No special, private, or local act, including any enactment of a consolidation of a city with a county, enacted after July 1, 1995, may be construed to modify, amend, or repeal any portion of this section unless it expressly so provides by specific reference to this section.