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<article heading="Article IV. Issuing Debt.">
  <section heading="Sec. 14-12. Bonds-Payment, Sinking Funds, Reserve Funds, Pledges and Other Financial Guaranties, Proceeds.">
    <paragraph indent="1">(a)    If the resolution adopted under Section 14-13 so provides, the Executive must take all necessary actions to issue bonds under this Chapter, subject to the usual and customary requirements and procedures for issuance of special district bonds.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="1">(b)    Bonds must be payable from the special fund required under Section 14-11 and any other assets or revenues of the district pledged toward their payment.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="1">(c)    If the resolution adopted under Section 14-9(c) provides for the issuance of bonds, the resolution may authorize the Executive to:</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(1)   establish sinking funds and debt service reserve funds;</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(2)   pledge other assets in and revenues from the district towards the payment of the principal and interest; or</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(3)   arrange for insurance or any other financial guaranty of the bonds.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="1">(d)    All proceeds received from any bonds issued must be applied solely towards:</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(1)   costs of the infrastructure improvements listed in the resolution adopted under Section 14-9(f)(2);</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(2)   costs of issuing bonds; and</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(3)   payment of the principal and interest on loans, money advances, or indebtedness incurred by the County for any purpose stated in this Chapter.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="0">(a)    Any amendment to County Code Chapter 14 made in Section 1 of this Act applies to any action taken after this Act take effect.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="0">(b)    Any amendment to County Code Chapter 14 made in Section 1 of this Act does not alter or affect any Council resolution adopted, or other action taken with respect to a development district, before this Act takes effect.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="0">(c)    Any amendment to County Code Chapter 14 made in Section 1 of this Act does not indicate that the previous version of a provision amended by Section 1 of this Act should be interpreted differently from the same provision as amended by Section 1 of this Act.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="0">(d)    Any notice or disclosure requirement in Section 14-17, as amended by Section 1 of this Act, applies to any sale contract signed, and any sales material or advertisement for sale disseminated, after this Act takes effect in any development district created, and in any proposed development district for which the Council adopted a resolution under Section 14-6, after January 1, 2001.</paragraph>
  </section>
  <section heading="Sec. 14-13. Resolution; Investment of Special Fund or Sinking Fund; Tax Exemption.">
    <paragraph indent="1">(a)    In order to issue bonds, the Council must adopt a resolution that:</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(1)   describes the infrastructure improvements to be financed and states that the County has complied with the procedures in this Chapter;</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(2)   specifies the maximum principal amount of bonds to be issued;</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(3)   covenants to levy special taxes, special assessments, or both, at a rate and amount sufficient in each year when any bonds are outstanding to:</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="3">(A)   provide for the payment of the principal of and interest on the bonds, and the redemption premium, if any, on the bonds;</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="3">(B)   replenish any debt service reserve fund established with respect to the bonds; and</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="3">(C)   enforce the collection of all special assessments and special taxes as provided in Section 52-36, et seq., of the County Code and Section 14-808, et seq., of the Tax Property Article of the Maryland Code, or other applicable law; and</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(4)   specifies (to the extent not already controlled by state or County law) the basis of any special assessment, special tax, fee, or charge in a development district, and any exemptions from a special assessment or special tax subject to any change in law that does not materially impair the district's ability to pay principal and interest and maintain adequate debt service reserves;</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(5)   declares that:</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="3">(A)   the construction of the infrastructure improvements financed by the bonds:</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="4">(i)   creates a public benefit, and special benefits, if applicable, to the properties assessed in the development district; and</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="4">(ii)   serves a public purpose; and</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="3">(B)   the projected special assessment, special tax, fee, or charge revenue will be sufficient to retire the bonds, taking into account the value of land in the district; and</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(6)</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="3">(A)   prohibits acceleration of assessments or taxes because of any bond default;</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="3">(B)   sets a maximum special assessment, special tax, fee, or charge applicable to each individual property in a development district; and</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="3">(C)   prohibits any increase in, or extension of the term of, the maximum special assessment, special tax, fee, or charge applicable to any individual property because of any delinquency or default by any other taxpayer.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="1">(b)    To the extent not otherwise required by state law, the resolution may specify, or may authorize the Executive by executive order to specify as needed:</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(1)   the actual principal amount of the bonds to be issued;</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(2)   the actual rate or rates of interest for the bonds;</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(3)   how and on what terms the bonds must be sold;</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(4)   how, when, and where interest on the bonds must be paid;</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(5)   when the bonds may be executed, issued, and delivered;</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(6)   the form and tenor of the bonds, and the denominations in which the bonds may be issued;</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(7)   how, when, and where the principal of the bonds must be paid within the limits in this Section;</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(8)   how any or all of the bonds may be called for redemption before their stated maturity dates; or</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(9)   any other provision not inconsistent with law that is necessary or desirable to finance an infrastructure improvement.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="1">(c)   The special fund and any sinking fund or reserve fund established by the County to provide for the payment of the principal of or interest on any bonds issued by the County under this Chapter may be invested by the County fiscal officer having custody of the fund in the manner prescribed under Article 95, Section 22 of the Maryland Code.  Any fiscal officer having custody of the proceeds of the sale of any such bonds may invest the proceeds, pending their expenditure, as prescribed under Article 95, Section 22.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="1">(d)    To the extent provided in State law, the principal amount of the bonds, the interest payable on the bonds, their transfer, and any income derived from the transfer, including any profit made in the sale or transfer of the bonds, must be exempt from County taxation of any kind.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="1">(e)   The adoption of a resolution under this Section does not:</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(1)   obligate the County to issue bonds; or</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="2">(2)   confer any contract, property, or other right on any person.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="0">(a) Any amendment to County Code Chapter 14 made in Section 1 of this Act applies to any action taken after this Act take effect.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="0">(b) Any amendment to County Code Chapter 14 made in Section 1 of this Act does not alter or affect any Council resolution adopted, or other action taken with respect to a development district, before this Act takes effect.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="0">(c) Any amendment to County Code Chapter 14 made in Section 1 of this Act does not indicate that the previous version of a provision amended by Section 1 of this Act should be interpreted differently from the same provision as amended by Section 1 of this Act.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="0">(d) Any notice or disclosure requirement in Section 14-17, as amended by Section 1 of this Act, applies to any sale contract signed, and any sales material or advertisement for sale disseminated, after this Act takes effect in any development district created, and in any proposed development district for which the Council adopted a resolution under Section 14-6, after January 1, 2001.</paragraph>
  </section>
  <section heading="Sec. 14-14. Form, terms and conditions of bonds.">
    <paragraph indent="1">(a)   Any bond may be in bearer form or in coupon form or may be registrable as to principal alone or as to both principal and interest.  Each bond is a security as defined in Section 8-102 of the Commercial Law Article of the Maryland Code, whether or not it is either one of a class or series or by its terms is divisible into a class or series of instruments.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="1">(b)   Each bond must be signed manually or in facsimile by the County Executive, and the seal of the County must be affixed to the bonds and attested by the Clerk of the Council.  If any officer whose signature or countersignature appears on the coupons ceases to hold that office before the bonds are delivered, the officer's signature or countersignature is nevertheless valid and sufficient for all purposes as if the officer had remained in office until delivery.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="1">(c)   Each bond must mature not later than 30 years after issuance.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="1">(d)   All bonds must be sold in the manner, either at public or private sale, and upon the terms as the County Executive directs.  Any contract to acquire property may provide that payment must be made in bonds.  Any bond issued under this Chapter is not subject to Article 31, Sections 10 and 11 of the Maryland Code.</paragraph>
  </section>
  <section heading="Sec. 14-15. Credit of County not Pledged.">
    <paragraph indent="1">(a)   Any bond issued under this Chapter is not an indebtedness of the County within the meaning of Section 312 of the Charter.</paragraph>
    <paragraph indent="1">(b)   Any bond issued under this Chapter must not pledge the full faith and credit of the County and must state that the full faith and credit of the County is not pledged to pay its principal, interest, or premium, if any.</paragraph>
  </section>
</article>