The Vermont Statutes Online

Title 24 : Municipal and County Government

Chapter 138 : Rural Economic Development Infrastructure Districts

• § 5702. Establishment; general provisions

  (a) Establishment. Upon written application by 20 or more voters within a proposed district or upon its own motion, the legislative body of a municipality may establish a rural economic development infrastructure district. The application shall describe the infrastructure to be built or acquired; the plan for financing its acquisition; the anticipated economic benefit; the source of revenues for loan, bond, or lease payments; and plans for retention and disbursement of excess revenues, if any. The application also shall clearly state that the proposed district shall not have authority to levy taxes upon the grand list and may not levy service charges or fees upon any underlying municipality except for services used by such municipality, its own officers, and employees in the operation of municipal functions. Notice of establishment of a district shall be recorded as provided in subsection (e) of this section, posted in at least three public places within the municipality for at least 30 days, and published in a newspaper of general circulation within the municipality not more than 10 days from the date of establishment by the legislative body. Following 40 days from the later of the date of establishment by the legislative body of the municipality or an affirmative vote under subdivision (d)(1) or (2) of this section, the district shall be deemed to be a body politic and corporate, capable of exercising those powers and prerogatives explicitly granted by the legislative body of the municipality in accordance with this chapter and the district’s establishment application.

  (b) Districts involving more than one municipality. Where the limits of a proposed district include two or more municipalities, or portions of two or more municipalities, the application required by this section shall be made to and considered by the legislative body of each such municipality.

  (c) Alteration of district limits. The legislative body of a municipality in which a district is located may alter the limits of a district upon application to the governing board of the district, provided the governing board gives prior written consent. A district expansion need not involve contiguous property. Notice of an alteration of the limits of a district shall be recorded as provided in subsection (e) of this section, posted in at least three public places within the municipality for at least 30 days, and published in a newspaper of general circulation within the municipality not more than 10 days from the date of the legislative body’s decision to alter the limits of a district.

  (d) Contestability.

  (1) If a petition signed by five percent of the voters of the municipality objecting to the proposed establishment or alteration of limits of a district is presented to the municipal clerk within 30 days of the date of posting and publication of the notice required by subsection (a) or (c) of this section, as applicable, the legislative body of the municipality shall cause the question of whether the municipality shall establish or alter the limits of the district to be considered at a meeting called for that purpose. The district shall be established in accordance with the application or the limits altered unless a majority of the voters of the municipality present and voting votes to disapprove such establishment or alteration of limits.

  (2) If a petition signed by five percent of the voters of the municipality objecting to a legislative body’s decision denying the establishment or the alteration of limits of a district is presented to the municipal clerk within 30 days of the legislative body’s decision, the legislative body shall cause the question of whether the municipality shall establish or alter the limits of the district to be considered at an annual or special meeting called for that purpose.

  (e) Recording. A record of the establishment of a district and any alteration of district limits made by a legislative body shall be filed with the clerk of each municipality in which the district is located, and shall be recorded with the Secretary of State. (Added 2017, No. 69, § B.1, eff. June 28, 2017.)