(A) A member of a joint agency may contract with the joint agency for the collection, transfer, and/or disposal of solid waste, the recovery of resources, including energy, from solid waste, the processing of solid waste or resources in order to facilitate disposal or recovery, or the sale of recovered resources. The contract may provide that the contracting member is obligated to make the payments required by the contract whether or not a project is completed, operable, or operating, and that the payments under the contract are not subject to any reduction, whether by offset or otherwise, and are not conditioned upon the performance or nonperformance of the joint agency or any other member of the joint agency under the contract or any other instrument. A contract between a joint agency and its members also may provide that if one or more of the members defaults in the payment of obligations to the joint agency, the remaining members are required to satisfy proportionately the obligations of the defaulting member and are entitled proportionately to the benefits to be provided by the joint agency to the defaulting member to the extent of the payments made.

(B) For the purposes of this chapter, a contract authorized under subsection (A) may extend for a period not exceeding fifty years from the date a project is estimated to be placed in normal continuous operation and is not affected by the governing body ceasing to be a member of the joint agency. The execution and effectiveness of the contract is not subject to authorization or approval by the State or an agency, commission, instrumentality, or political subdivision of the State. A contract to which a county is a party must be approved by ordinance requiring three readings.

(C) Payments by a member under a contract with a joint agency may be made from the revenues derived by the member from fees and charges assessed by the member for the collection, transfer, and/or disposal of solid waste and from any other lawful source, and an obligation under the contract does not constitute a legal or equitable pledge, charge, lien, or encumbrance upon property of the governing body or upon any of its income, receipts, or revenues, except the revenues, if any, derived by the member from fees and charges assessed by the member for the collection, transfer, and/or disposal of solid waste and neither the faith and credit nor the taxing power of the member may be pledged for the payment of an obligation under the contract. A member shall fix, charge, and collect fees and charges for the collection, transfer, and/or disposal of solid waste and other services furnished or supplied by the member and the joint agency which, together with monies from other lawful sources available for payment must be sufficient to provide revenues adequate to meet its obligations under the contract and to pay all other amounts payable from or constituting a charge and lien upon the revenues derived from the collection of the fees and charges, including amounts sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on any other obligations heretofore or hereafter issued by the member for purposes related to the collection, transfer, and/or disposal of solid waste.

(D) A governing body which is a member of a joint agency may furnish the joint agency with money derived from its fees and charges assessed for the collection, transfer, and/or disposal of solid waste by the governing body and from any other lawful source and provide the joint agency with personnel, equipment, and property, both real and personal. A governing body also may provide services to a joint agency.

(E) A member may contract for, advance, or contribute funds to a joint agency as may be agreed upon by the joint agency and the member, and the joint agency shall, if so agreed, repay the advances or contributions from proceeds of bonds, from operating revenues, or from other funds of the joint agency together with interest thereon as may be agreed upon by the member and joint agency.

(F) The powers granted under this section are in addition to the powers of governing bodies and joint agencies provided by law.

HISTORY: 1996 Act No. 313, Section 1.