(a) By agreeing to pay such portion of the obligation to the Public Employees Retirement System over a period of not to exceed 40 years, together with an appropriate rate of interest as determined by the Public Employees Retirement Board and the board of directors of the school district.

(b) By issuing one or more series of general obligation bonds for the estimated amount of such portion of the obligation and paying it from the proceeds or interest thereon. Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, the initial authorization for the original issue of such bonds shall require approval of the electors of the district and shall otherwise conform to all requirements of law governing the issuance, sale, redemption, refunding and refinancing of bonds by the school district, the retention, segregation and use of bond proceeds and the levy of taxes for their payment.

(c) By issuing other notes, contracts or evidences of indebtedness for the estimated amount of such portion of the obligation and paying it therewith or from the proceeds or interest thereon. The interest rate on such notes, contracts or evidences of indebtedness shall be such as the board of directors of the school district finds is reasonably competitive with interest rates on bonds which could be issued pursuant to paragraph (b) of this subsection.

(d) By contracting with an insurance company authorized to write annuity contracts in this state to assume and pay the pensions of retired, active or former members of the association.

(2) Such agreement, bonds, notes, contracts or evidences of indebtedness, or any part of them, may be issued or entered into without an election, but in such case:

(a) To the extent the principal and interest on such agreement, bonds, notes, contracts or evidences of indebtedness are paid from operating taxes within the district’s permanent tax rate limit, the school district shall each year divide its operating taxes into two portions, both within the district’s permanent tax rate limit, and one of such portions shall be the amount used to pay the principal and interest on such agreement, bonds, notes, contracts or evidences of indebtedness for such year and the proceeds of such portion shall not be used for other purposes; and

(b) To the extent the principal and interest on such agreement, bonds, notes, contracts or evidences of indebtedness are paid from revenues other than operating tax proceeds, the school district need not divide its levy as provided in paragraph (a) of this subsection and the principal and interest may be paid out of such other revenues.

(3) Part or all of the agreement, bonds, notes, contracts or evidences of indebtedness authorized by this section may be issued prior to or after the execution of the contract of integration. The validity or enforceability thereof shall not be affected by the terms of the contract of integration or by whether operating taxes are properly apportioned as provided in subsection (2)(a) of this section. [Formerly 237.053; 1997 c.541 §359; 2001 c.945 §81]