(a) Nonelectoral debt.--Except as provided in subsections (c), (d) and (e) and as otherwise specifically provided in this subpart, a local government unit shall not incur any new nonelectoral debt if the aggregate net principal amount of the new nonelectoral debt, together with all other net nonelectoral debt outstanding, would cause the total net nonelectoral debt of the local government unit to exceed any of the following:

(1) One hundred percent of its borrowing base in the case of a school district of the first class.

(2) Three hundred percent of its borrowing base in the case of a county.

(3) Two hundred fifty percent of its borrowing base in the case of any other local government unit.

(b) Nonelectoral debt plus lease rental debt.--Except as provided in subsections (c), (d) and (e) or as otherwise specifically provided in this subpart, in the exercise of legislative control over the budgets and expenditures of local government units and of the purposes for which tax moneys and general revenues of local government units may be expended, a local government unit shall not incur any new lease rental debt or nonelectoral debt if the aggregate net principal amount of the new debt, together with any other net nonelectoral debt and net lease rental debt then outstanding, would cause the outstanding total of net nonelectoral debt plus net lease rental debt of the local government unit to exceed any of the following:

(1) Two hundred percent of the borrowing base in the case of a school district of the first class.

(2) Four hundred percent of its borrowing base in the case of a county.

(3) Three hundred fifty percent of its borrowing base in the case of all other local government units.

(c) Self-liquidating or subsidized debt.--The limitations and prohibitions of subsections (a) and (b), referred to as the "regular debt limits," shall not apply to electoral debt; to debt excluded in computing net amounts of nonelectoral debt or of lease rental debt, as self-liquidating or because subsidized, when the exclusion is made pursuant to sections 8024 (relating to exclusion of subsidized debt from net nonelectoral debt or net lease rental debt), 8025 (relating to exclusion of self-liquidating debt evidenced by revenue bonds or notes to determine net nonelectoral debt) and 8026 (relating to exclusion of other self-liquidating debt to determine net nonelectoral debt or net lease rental debt); nor to debt incurred to fund an unfunded actuarial accrued liability except to the extent that bonds or notes issued to fund an unfunded actuarial accrued liability shall be limited to the principal amount necessary, after deduction of costs of issuance, underwriter's discount and original issue discount, to fund the unfunded actuarial accrued liability.

(d) Additional nonelectoral or lease rental debt.--Additional nonelectoral or additional lease rental debt or both in the aggregate amount of 100% of the borrowing base may be incurred by a county which has assumed countywide responsibility or, where the county has not assumed countywide responsibility, by a local government unit which has assumed responsibility for its and its adjacent areas for hospitals and other public health services, air and water pollution control, flood control, environmental protection, water distribution and supply systems, sewage and refuse collection and disposal systems, education at any level, highways, public transportation or port operations. The additional debt limit may be so utilized only to provide funds for and towards the cost of capital facilities for any or any combination of the foregoing purposes. Debt, other than electoral debt, at any time incurred for such purposes or any of them may be assigned by ordinance to this additional debt limit if the remaining borrowing capacity within the regular limits is insufficient to finance other projects deemed necessary by the governing body of the local government unit.

(e) Emergency debt.--If replacement of assets is required as a result of fire, flood, storm, war, riot, civil commotion or other catastrophe, or the replacement or any improvements are required for the prevention of dangers to health or safety, or if funds are required for the payment of tort liability not covered by insurance, or if funds are required to be used for and towards the costs of mandated installations of health, safety, antipollution, environmental protection and control facilities or of complying with other mandated Federal or State programs, a local government unit lacking sufficient remaining borrowing capacity as nonelectoral or lease rental debt or being otherwise prohibited by section 8045 (relating to effect of defeat of question) from incurring debt for the purpose, upon petition to the court of common pleas alleging the catastrophe, or the danger to health and safety, or the mandated nature of the program and the estimated costs of the proposed facilities, and upon proof thereof to the satisfaction of the court, shall be authorized, notwithstanding section 8045 or the insufficiency of nonelectoral or lease rental borrowing capacity, to incur debt, as either lease rental or nonelectoral debt, up to an additional 50% of its borrowing base if the increase is found by the court to have been made necessary under this subsection by reason of the causes set forth in the petition. The increase, together with all outstanding other additional emergency debt which may have been previously authorized under this subsection excluding any allocated to the additional debt limit under subsection (d), shall not exceed 50% of the borrowing base. Public notice of the intention to file such a petition and of the purpose for which the additional emergency debt is to be incurred shall be given by advertisement in at least one and not more than two newspapers of general circulation and in the legal journal not less than five nor more than 20 days before the filing thereof. The additional emergency debt may be incurred only for the purposes and upon the terms approved by the court. The amount of the debt initially in excess of the regular debt limits shall not thereafter be included in computing net amounts of nonelectoral or lease rental debt.

(f) Limitations on incurring of debt by school districts.--Except for purposes of refinancing existing debt under this subpart and notwithstanding the other provisions of this section, no school district of the first class A through fourth classes shall incur any new nonelectoral debt or lease rental debt if the aggregate net principal amount of such new debt together with any other net nonelectoral debt and lease rental debt then outstanding would cause the outstanding total of net nonelectoral debt plus net lease rental debt of the school district to exceed 225% of the school district's borrowing base as defined in section 8002 (relating to definitions). This section shall apply regardless of whether there is an election by the school district under section 8703 (relating to adoption of referendum).

(May 5, 1998, P.L.301, No.50, eff. 60 days)

1998 Amendment. Act 50 added subsec. (f).

Cross References. Section 8022 is referred to in sections 8008, 8027, 8028, 8029, 8045, 8109, 8130, 8244, 8249 of this title.