A.R.S. tit. 48 ch. 7 — Arizona Revised Statutes Title 48 Chapter 7 — County Television Improvement Districts

48-1101. Authorization to establish districts A. The board of supervisors of a county which meets the requirements of this subsection may establish a television improvement district for the purpose of acquiring, constructing, improving, extending, maintaining and operating television translator and relay facilities to service the communities of the county. A district may be established if the county: 1. Between January 1, 1975 and January 1, 1983 received payments made by the United States or its agencies or instrumentalities in lieu of taxes from the proceeds of hydroelectric power developments pursuant to an act of Congress. 2. Utilized such monies during that period for the purpose of acquiring, operating and maintaining television translator facilities in the county. B. A television improvement district organized under this article is a political subdivision of this state and its property is immune from taxation. 48-1102. Procedure for formation of district A. The board of supervisors of a county which qualifies under section 48-1101 may, on its own initiative, adopt a resolution setting forth: 1. The name of the proposed television improvement district. 2. The boundaries of the proposed district, which shall be coterminous with the boundaries of the county. 3. The necessity for the district, including a statement that the public interest, convenience and necessity will be promoted by establishing the district. 4. A general statement of the television translator and relay facilities which are proposed to be operated and services to be provided by the district. 5. Such other matters as the board may deem necessary. B. The resolution shall set a date for a hearing on the resolution, not less than twenty-one nor more than forty days from the date of the resolution. The notice of the hearing shall contain substantially all the information contained in the resolution and shall be published once each week for at least three consecutive weeks before the hearing in a newspaper of general circulation in the county and shall be posted at least three weeks before the hearing in at least three public places in the county. The board shall meet at the time and place fixed for the hearing. At the hearing the board shall hear all persons who wish to appear in favor of or against establishment of the district. C. If, after the hearing, it appears to the board that the public interest, convenience and necessity will be served by establishing the district, the board shall declare its findings and order the formation of the television improvement district under the designated corporate name. The board shall file a certified copy of the proceedings with the county recorder. D. Any party aggrieved by the action of the board under this section may bring an action in the superior court in the county in which the district is located to set aside the action of the board. The action must be instituted not more than thirty-five days after entry of the order forming the district and shall be heard in a trial de novo. E. The board of supervisors may pay the necessary costs incurred in connection with the formation of the district from any funds available for such purpose. 48-1103. Board of directors; powers and duties; fund A. The board of supervisors shall serve as the board of directors of the district. The directors are not entitled to compensation for their services as such but are entitled to reimbursement for their necessary expenses in attending district meetings and traveling in and out of state when necessary to carry on the affairs of the district. B. The board of directors may on behalf of the district: 1. Sue and be sued, enter into all contracts, including intergovernmental agreements pursuant to chapter 7, article 3 of this title, necessary and required for the construction, acquisition and maintenance of facilities and operation of the district and generally do all things which it may consider necessary and in the interests of the district. 2. Adopt administrative rules and such other rules as may be necessary to operate a television translator and relay system within the district. 3. Appoint a treasurer, who may be the county treasurer, and an attorney, who may be the county attorney. 4. Employ a general manager, chief engineer and other employees it may consider desirable and necessary to carry out the purposes of the district. Any work required by the district may be performed by regular county employees upon assignment by the board of supervisors, except that such employees shall not be assigned to construction projects with an estimated cost of five thousand dollars or more. 5. Acquire, construct, hold, maintain and sell, lease or otherwise dispose of property in the name of the district as necessary to operate and execute any authorized function of the district. 6. Accept grants, gifts and donations of money or property from any source. C. The board shall: 1. Keep a proper record of all proceedings of the board, which shall be open to public inspection. 2. Pay the necessary and incidental expenses of the district. All monies received by the district shall be deposited in a special fund established by the county treasurer to be expended by the board to effectuate the provisions and purposes of this article. Monies not immediately required for purposes of this article may be invested by the treasurer in the same manner as other public monies. The district funds are subject to annual or other audits as provided by law. 48-1104. Financial statement; levy and collection of taxes A. On or before July 1 each year the board of directors shall prepare a full and complete statement of the financial affairs of the district for the preceding fiscal year and an estimate of the amount of money necessary to be raised to defray district expenses during the next fiscal year. The estimate shall be fully itemized and take into account any deficit or surplus from the preceding fiscal year. B. The board shall certify the estimate, and at the time county taxes are levied the board of supervisors shall levy a tax sufficient to raise the amount of the estimate. The taxes shall be assessed, levied and collected in the same manner as county taxes. 48-1105. Division of county in which district is organized; dissolution of district A. In the case of a division of a county in which a television improvement district is organized: 1. If the new county does not contain any area not previously included in the district, the district shall be deemed divided and continue with the new county's board of supervisors acting as the board of directors of the new district within its respective county. The old district's monies and liabilities shall be apportioned according to the proportion of the assessed valuation of the old district remaining in the new district. 2. If the new county includes any area not previously included in the district: (a) The old district's monies shall be apportioned according to the proportion of the assessed valuation of the old district remaining in the new county. (b) Within six months of the new county's organization the new county's board of directors shall by resolution determine whether to dissolve the district pursuant to subsection B of this section or to establish a new countywide district pursuant to and subject to the procedural requirements of section 48-1102. B. A television improvement district may be dissolved by its board of directors by utilizing the procedures prescribed by section 48-1102 if the board determines that the district is no longer necessary to promote the public interest, convenience and necessity. Title to the assets and any monies and liabilities of the district shall be transferred to the county in which the district is organized. 48-1106. Reimbursement for county services Services provided by a county to a county television improvement district are subject to reimbursement pursuant to section 11-251.06.