Jones v. Board of Supervisors
Jones v. Board of Supervisors
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the court.
The board of supervisors of Newton county, upon the petition of citizens of district No. 4, adopted chapter 176,
“That before creating such a road district the board of supervisors shall give notice either by publication in a newspaper published in the county or by posting notices in three pxiblic places in such proposed district, or both, for thirty days, of the proposed creation of such road district, and if twenty-five per cent, of the qualified electors of such district petition against this creation, then such district shall not be created unless at an election, ordered by the board of supervisors for the purpose, a majority of the qualified voters of such district, votingi in such election, vote in favor of the creation of such district”
Section 14 of the same .act provides:
“Road districts heretofore organized under other laws which have not issued bonds may be placed by the board of supervisors under this act and be subject to all its provisions.”
Objections were made to the entry of this order by certain taxpayers who presented, and had signed, their bill
Chapter 176 purports to amend chapter 145 of the Laws of 1912, which in turn is amendatory to chapter .149 of the Laws of 1910. We are not called upon to comment upon all the essential differences in the provisions-of chapter 176 and those of chapter 174, Laws of 1912. Chapter 176 is in the nature of a local improvement act, authorizing the qualified electors of a supervisor’s district to issue long-term bonds, and to have the highway commission created by the act, under the supervision of the board of supervisors, to construct permanent and lasting highways with the proceeds. This plan contemplates the construction of permanent highways altogether-on borrowed money. The highway commissioners are instructed with all expenditures. Provisions are made for an annual tax to maintain the roads and to pay the principal and interest of these bonds. The act does not repeal any road laws, but, on the contrary, provides how the general road laws of the county shall apply, prescribes the duties of road hands, and other details not. necessary to be specified herein.
Chapter 174, on the contrary provides a plan for constructing and maintaining roads by an annual and especially high tax levy; long-term bonds are not provided' for. By this plan, the taxpayers of this and perhaps a succeeding generation do not impose upon themselves a tremendous bond issue, pledging the revenues and credit of the future. Chapter 174 has no general provision for retiring bonds or paying principal and interest thereof. At the same time, it authorizes a higher annual tax levy than chapter 176. Section 14 authorizes road districts “which have not issued bonds” to come under the provisions of this chapter. It is our judgment that the inclusion of this class of districts excludes all others, and! that the legislature did not intend for road districts or
There is another serious difficulty that really stands at the threshold of this case. Section 1 of chapter 174 expressly provides that a road district shall not be created under the provisions of this act without thirty days’ notice of the intention of the board of supervisors; to create such district; and if twenty-five per cent, of the qualified- electors petition against the creation, then such district cannot be created until a majority of the qualified voters so declare in an election held for that purpose. The order of the board in the instant case was passed without any such notice or election; the people of the district were not consulted. The bonds provided by chapter 176 cannot be executed, and the road district outlined by chapter 174 cannot be created, without the will of the qualified electors of the district. The people in adopting the provisions of chapter 176 did not, of
Reversed, and judgment here for appellants.
Reversed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Jones v. Board of Supervisors of Newton County
- Cited By
- 5 cases
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- 1. Highways. Districts. Change of organisation. Notice. Statutes. A road district which has come under Laws 1914, chapter 176, for construction of roads by issuance of bonds and has made an issue which is outstanding, cannot also come under chapter 174, Laws 1914, for construction of roads by the proceeds of taxes, since section 14, Laws 1914, only authorizes the placing under that act districts “which have not issued bonds.” 2. Same. Section 1, chapter 174, expressly provide^, that a road district shall not be created under the provisions of that act withont thirty days notice of the intention of the board of supervisors to create such district and if twenty-five per cent of the qualified electors, petition against the creation, then such district cannot be created, until a majority of the qualified voters so declare in an election held for that purpose and an order of the board . establishing such district, gassed without any such notice or election is void.