Sec. 305.001. JOINT CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF BUILDINGS BY CERTAIN COUNTIES AND MUNICIPALITIES. (a) This section applies only to a municipality with 2,000 or more inhabitants that is located more than 10 miles from the county seat of the county in which the municipality is located, and to the county in which the municipality is located.

(b) The county and the municipality may jointly own, construct, equip, enlarge, and maintain a building in the municipality, to be used by the justice of the peace, for county branch offices, for a county library, and for a city hall. The county and the municipality must hold in joint ownership the title to the land on which the building stands.

(c) The cost of construction of the building shall be paid from current income and funds on hand, as provided in the budgets or the tax levies of the county and municipality. Annual expenses for the operation and maintenance of the building shall be budgeted by the county and the municipality.

(d) The county and the municipality shall specify in a contract between them:

(1) the amount or proportionate share of the cost of construction and equipment that each party shall contribute;

(2) the party with authority to award contracts, or the fact that awards are to be made by action of both parties;

(3) the account in which funds contributed under Subdivision (1) shall be deposited; and

(4) the procedure by which disbursements from that account shall be authorized.

(e) The contract may provide for:

(1) the appointment of a committee or board to operate and maintain the building;

(2) the delegation of operation and maintenance responsibility to either of the parties; or

(3) the division of annual operation and maintenance expenses between the parties.

Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.