22-29-111. Formation and initial director election.
(a) The electors shall vote on the formation of the district and for the initial directors. Votes for write-in candidates for director shall be permitted.
(b) The election shall be conducted under the direction of the county clerk and shall be at the expense of the sponsors of the proposed district. The sponsors may apply to the county for financial help under W.S. 22-29-113(c). If the proposed district is approved, and upon request of the sponsors or the county commissioners the special district shall reimburse the cost of the election.
(c) The formation of the district is approved if a majority of the votes cast on the proposition vote "for" formation.
(d) The county clerk shall conduct the election in accordance with W.S. 22-29-113 through 22-29-116.
(e) An elector casting a ballot may vote for any director candidate or other questions relating to the district, regardless of whether he voted against formation.
(f) Repealed By Laws 1998, ch. 115, § 5.
(g) If the proposition to form the district fails, the director candidacy questions are null and void.
(h) If the formation question is approved, the county clerk shall send written notice of the formation to the public funds division of the department of audit within ten (10) business days of the canvass.
(a) Subsequent director elections shall be held on the first Tuesday after the third Monday in March or on the Tuesday next following the first Monday in May or November, as determined by the district and shall accommodate staggered terms as set forth in the principal act.
(b) All qualified electors are entitled to vote for the election of directors at all district elections subsequent to the formation election, called for the purpose of electing directors.
(c) Not more than one hundred twenty (120) and not less than one hundred (100) days before the election, the secretary of the district shall publish at least once in a newspaper of general circulation in each county in which all or part of the district is situated, a proclamation setting forth the date of the election, what district officer is the filing officer, what offices are to be elected and the terms of office, the filing period for the offices and other pertinent election information.
(d) Not more than ninety (90) nor less than seventy (70) days previous to the holding of a subsequent director election, candidates for the office of trustees of special districts shall file with the secretary of the district an application for election in substantial conformance with the form set forth in W.S. 22-29-110(b). The names of all qualified candidates so filed shall be printed on the ballot.
(e) The name of all qualified candidates shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in each county in which the district is located not later than ten (10) business days prior to the date of such election.
22-29-113. General provisions relating to special district elections.
(a) In a special district election not held in conjunction with a general or statewide special election, absentee voting shall be conducted in accordance with rules promulgated by the secretary of state under W.S. 22-29-114 which shall be consistent with procedures for mail ballot elections.
(b) In a special district election the following rules shall apply:
(i) An elector casting a ballot may write in the name of any person for a director office;
(ii) The person or persons receiving the largest number of votes is elected to office;
(iii) Candidates for director offices shall not be required to file campaign finance reports under W.S. 22-25-101 through 22-25-115.
(c) All special district elections which are not conducted in conjunction with any other election, shall be at the expense of the district. Provided, however, any district may apply to the county for financial help to cover election expenses. The county commissioners, in their sole discretion, shall determine whether the county provides election financial help to special districts. For special district elections conducted in conjunction with other elections, the special district may be required to pay only those expenses which are reasonably attributable or allocable to the district's participation in the election. The expenses shall not include any fixed cost associated with an election.
(d) Each year, each special district subject to this act shall file with the county commissioners and county clerk a list of the names, addresses and terms of the current directors. The filing deadline is the last day of April.
(e) No special registration shall be held for any election authorized under this chapter. Any voter not otherwise registered who makes an affidavit evidencing his qualifications to vote is deemed registered for that election.
(f) In the event the establishment of a district shall fail by protest as provided in W.S. 22-29-109(d), no action to establish such district, or any part thereof, may again be commenced for a period of six (6) months. In the event the establishment of the district shall fail as a result of being defeated at a public election no action to establish such district, or any part thereof, may again be commenced for a period of one (1) year.
(g) No informalities in the conduct of the formation or related matters or subsequent director elections shall invalidate the formation or election results if notice is given substantially as provided in this chapter and the election is fairly conducted.
(h) The official ballot shall contain the following information:
(i) The name of the district;
(ii) The county or counties in which the district is located and the date of the election;
(iii) The number of offices to be filled, the length of term for each office, and the number and names of candidates for each office for whom each voter is entitled to vote;
(iv) Any ballot proposition upon which the electors are required to vote.
(j) The names of candidates shall appear without party designation, one (1) name to a line. Sufficient blank lines for write-in candidates shall be provided for each office.
(k) A tie vote shall be broken by lots cast by the canvassing authority.
(m) All special district elections, including mail ballot elections, shall be overseen by the county clerk in the county wherein the special district exists. If the special district exists in more than one (1) county, the county clerk of the county wherein the largest portion of the special district exists shall oversee the election. The county clerk shall determine whether the election shall be conducted by the county clerk or the special district, taking into account each special district's expertise, manpower and ability to conduct an election. "Oversee" as used in this subsection may include training, advice or assistance but does not include responsibility for the actions, conduct or outcome of the election unless the county clerk conducts the election.
22-29-114. Election procedures for elections other than mail ballot elections; canvass, recount and contests.
(a) The secretary of state, after consultation with the county clerks, shall promulgate rules setting forth election procedures for special districts to follow for the formation and succeeding elections. These rules shall apply to mail ballot elections but shall conform with W.S. 22-29-115 and 22-29-116. These rules shall include the designation of polling places, appointment of election judges, polling place hours, filing periods, filing offices, ballot preparation, appointment of a canvassing board, term commencement, other provisions relating to canvass, recount, contests and other election procedures.
(b) If the election is not held in conjunction with another election which requires the polls to be kept open for other hours, it shall not be necessary to keep the polls open at any election more than five (5) consecutive hours at any time between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. on the day of the election, as set forth in the notice of election.
(c) The entire district, or any portion thereof designated by the commissioners ordering the election, may constitute an election precinct, as set forth in the notice of election.
(d) An elector shall vote only at the polling place for the election precinct in which he resides. This subsection shall not apply to mail ballot elections.
(e) Any special district election conducted by the county clerk shall be canvassed by the county canvassing board or a canvassing board appointed by the county clerk, consisting of two (2) electors and the county clerk. If more than one (1) county is involved, the election shall be canvassed in accordance with chapter 16 of the Wyoming Election Code of 1973, as amended, by a canvassing board drawn from the membership of the appropriate county canvassing boards appointed by the appropriate county commissioners. The commissioners shall notify the county clerks of the canvassing board appointments. Any special district election not conducted by a county clerk shall be canvassed by a special district canvassing board. The special district canvassing board shall consist of the district secretary and two (2) electors appointed by the district board. Any canvass shall be conducted in accordance with chapter 16 of the Wyoming Election Code of 1973, as amended. The canvass shall be conducted within seven (7) business days of the election. The canvassing board shall have the authority to call for a special election in accordance with W.S. 22-16-122. The canvassing board shall:
(i) Cause minutes of the meeting and an abstract of the votes to be compiled showing the following information:
(A) The total number of votes cast in the election;
(B) The number of votes received by each person receiving votes at each polling place;
(C) A statement of the offices to be filled and a declaration of the winners;
(D) The result of any ballot proposition.
(ii) Sign the abstract which then constitutes the certification of the canvassing board and file the abstract with the county clerk at the conclusion of the canvassing board meeting.
(f) A candidate may request a recount of the vote in accordance with W.S. 22-16-110.
(g) Any special district election may be contested in accordance with chapter 17 of the Wyoming Election Code of 1973, as amended.
22-29-115. Mail ballot elections; definitions; general provisions.
(a) This section does not apply to a special district election held in conjunction with a primary, general or statewide special election. As used in W.S. 22-29-116:
(i) "Election official" means the county clerk for a formation election and a county clerk or district secretary for other elections;
(ii) "Mail ballot election" means an election for which voters cast ballots in a special district election by mail and in accordance with this chapter;
(iii) "Mail ballot package" means the packet of information provided by the election official to voters eligible to vote in the mail ballot election;
(iv) "Transmit" means to mail or to personally deliver.
(b) The secretary of state, after consultation with the county clerks, shall establish procedures for conducting mail ballot elections.
(c) Regardless of the number of eligible voters within the district, the county commissioners may order the formation election to be a mail ballot election.
(d) Regardless of the number of voters within its boundaries, a special district may, by rule or bylaw of its governing body, conduct by mail ballot elections to enlarge, withdraw, merge, consolidate, dissolve or such other election required by the principal act. A special district may by rule or bylaw pay the return postage of mail and absentee ballots.
(e) Upon the adoption of the rule or bylaw to conduct an election by the mail ballot procedure, each voter shall be mailed a mail ballot.
(a) Mail ballot elections shall be overseen by the county clerk as provided in W.S. 22-29-113(m). Official ballots shall be prepared and all other preelection procedures followed as otherwise provided by law or rules promulgated by the secretary of state, except that mail ballot packets shall be prepared in accordance with the following:
(i) No later than forty-five (45) days prior to election day, the secretary of the special district shall request from the county clerk of each county in which the special district is located a list of qualified electors residing within the affected district;
(ii) No later than thirty (30) days prior to election day, the county clerk of each county in which a special district is located shall certify and submit to the election official a list of qualified electors residing within the affected district;
(iii) No sooner than twenty-five (25) days and no later than fifteen (15) days before an election, the election official shall mail to each landowner who has filed a written authorization and request for a mail ballot and to each qualified elector entitled to vote in the mail ballot election, at the last address appearing in the registration records a mail ballot packet, which shall be marked "DO NOT FORWARD-ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED," or any other similar statement which is in accordance with United States postal service regulations;
(iv) The ballot shall contain the following warning: WARNING The criminal laws regulating the conduct of elections contained in chapter 26 of the Wyoming Election Code of 1973, as amended apply with equal force to elections conducted by mail.
(v) No sooner than twenty-five (25) days and no later than 4:00 p.m. on election day, mail ballots shall be made available at the election official's office for voters entitled to vote in the election but who are not otherwise listed on the county voter registration records if otherwise authorized to vote;
(vi) A voter may obtain a replacement ballot if the ballot was destroyed, spoiled, lost, or for some other reason not received by the voter. In order to obtain a replacement ballot, the voter must sign a sworn statement specifying the reason for requesting the replacement ballot. The statement shall be presented to the election official no later than 4:00 p.m. on election day. The election official shall keep a record of each replacement ballot issued in accordance with this section together with a list of each ballot obtained pursuant to this section. An election official shall not transmit a mail ballot package under this section unless the application for the replacement ballot is received on or before election day. A replacement ballot may be transmitted directly to the applicant at the election official's office or may be mailed to the voter at the address provided in the application. Replacement ballots may be cast no later than 5:00 p.m. on election day;
(vii) Upon receipt of a ballot, the voter shall mark the ballot, sign and complete the return-verification envelope, and comply with the instructions provided with the ballot. The voter may return the marked ballot to the election official by United States mail or by depositing the ballot at the office of the official or any place designated by the official. The ballot must be returned in the return-verification envelope. The ballot shall be received at the office of the election official or the designated depository no later than 5:00 p.m. on election day;
(viii) Once the ballot is returned, an election official shall first qualify the submitted ballot by examining the verification envelope and comparing the information on the envelope to the poll list to determine whether the ballot was submitted by a voter who has not previously voted in the election. If the ballot so qualifies, and is otherwise valid, the official shall enter the name of the registered voter in the poll book, open the return-verification envelope and deposit the ballot in an official ballot box;
(ix) All deposited ballots shall be counted as provided in this act and by rules promulgated by the secretary of state. A mail ballot shall be valid and counted only if it is returned in the return-verification envelope, the affidavit on the envelope is signed and completed by the voter to whom the ballot was issued and the information on the envelope is verified in accordance with paragraph (viii) of this subsection. If the election official determines that a voter to whom a replacement ballot has been issued has voted more than once, the official shall not count any ballot cast by that voter.
(b) The election official responsible for conducting the election shall provide a minimum of one (1) polling place on the day of election which may be the election official's office or the county clerk's office and shall be open for not less than five (5) consecutive hours at any time between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. as set forth in the notice of election.
(a) A district may change its name from the name given it in the formation order of the county commissioners, or from the name under which it was otherwise organized, to a name chosen by resolution of a majority of the directors.
(b) The directors shall not adopt a resolution for a district name change without publishing notice once of the proposed name change in a newspaper of general circulation in the county.
(c) All powers, rights, duties and obligations of a district which has adopted a new name shall be continued under the new name. All references to the prior name of the district shall be considered references to the new name.
(d) A district changing its name shall immediately notify the secretary of state if the principal act requires that formation documents be filed with the secretary of state, the county treasurer, the county clerk and the county assessor of each county in which the district is situated.
All directors, whether elected or appointed, shall, within ten (10) business days after notification of election or appointment, take the oath of office provided in Wyoming constitution, article VI, section 20, before an officer authorized to administer oaths. The director shall also complete the written oath and without delay transmit a copy of the oath in writing to the respective county clerks for the first election and to the secretary of the district thereafter.
22-29-119. District officers; meeting of board; conflict of interest.
Each year the board of directors shall as soon as they are qualified elect a president, treasurer and secretary of the district. The board of directors shall hold regular and may hold special meetings as they determine. No trustee shall be directly interested financially in any contract, work done or property purchased by the district unless he has made full public disclosure and the board has unanimously approved his financial interest. A majority of directors constitutes a quorum for the transaction of district business.
(a) A director's office shall be deemed to be vacant upon the occurrence of any one (1) of the following events prior to the expiration of the term of office:
(i) If for any reason a properly qualified person is not elected to a director's office by the voters as required at a regular election;
(ii) If a person who was duly elected or appointed fails, neglects or refuses to subscribe to an oath of office or to furnish the bond as may be required in the principal act;
(iii) If a person who was duly elected or appointed submits a written resignation to the board of directors and the resignation has been duly accepted by the board of directors;
(iv) If the person who was duly elected or appointed ceases to be qualified for the office to which he was elected;
(v) If a person who was duly elected or appointed is found guilty of a felony;
(vi) If a court of competent jurisdiction voids the election or appointment or removes the person duly elected or appointed for any cause whatsoever, but only after his right to appeal has been waived or otherwise exhausted;
(vii) If the person who was duly elected or appointed fails to attend three (3) consecutive regular meetings of the board of directors without the board of directors having entered upon its minutes an approval for at least one (1) of those absences. This provision shall not apply to instances where failure to attend the meetings was due to a temporary mental or physical disability or illness;
(viii) If the person who was duly elected or appointed dies during his term of office;
(ix) If declared vacant by the board of county commissioners upon the failure of the district board to comply with W.S. 9-1-507(a)(vii) on or before December 30 of that same calendar year, after notice is given as provided by W.S. 9-1-507(j).
(a) A vacancy in a district director office shall be filled by appointment by a majority of the remaining directors. However, if a vacancy exists in a majority of the offices of director, or if a majority of the directors cannot agree on an appointment, then notice of the vacancy shall be given to the county commission by either a district director or district member. The county commission shall fill the vacancy within thirty (30) days of being notified or by the time specified in the principal act. If the county commission finds that a vacancy exists in a majority of offices of director or that a majority of the directors cannot agree on an appointment, the county commission may fill the vacancy by acting on its own motion without notice.
(b) All appointments shall be evidenced by an appropriate entry in the minutes of the meeting at which the appointment was made.
(c) An appointee to the office of director shall serve until the office is filled following the next regular election. The term of office of an appointee shall not be extended in any manner beyond the term of office that the appointee was appointed to fill. If a vacancy exists following a regular election the vacancy shall be filled as provided in subsection
(a) of this section.
(d) The appointed person before undertaking the duties of office shall take an oath of office in accordance with W.S. 22-29-118.
(e) The term of office of an appointed director begins on the day the appointee accepts the appointment unless the letter of resignation of the prior incumbent specifies a later date, which date then shall be the beginning of the appointee's term.
(f) Any vacancy created by failure of the board to comply with W.S. 9-1-507(a)(vii) shall be filled by appointment by the board of county commissioners for the sole purpose of acting as trustee to dissolve the district without election pursuant to W.S. 22-29-401 et seq.
(a) When any voters or landowners of an area wish to join a district, they may file an enlargement petition with the county commissioners. Unless otherwise provided under this subsection, the petition for enlargement may include provisions allowing the board of district directors to be enlarged by one (1) or more positions to be filled by voters residing or located in the new area, the number of positions to be determined by the petitioners and the district directors of the existing district. Before the petition is filed with the county commissioners, it shall be approved by the directors of the affected district and by any other agency also required by the principal act to approve the petition. The petition process shall be governed by W.S. 22-29-105 through 22-29-108. An election need not be held on an enlargement petition if the petition alleges and the county commissioners find:
(i) All landowners and all voters, if any, within the new area and the board of directors of the district agree to the inclusion of the new area within the district.
(ii) Repealed by Laws 2008, Ch. 22, § 2.
(b) W.S. 22-29-109 applies to the proceeding conducted by the county commissioners and the rights, powers and duties of petitioners and other persons having an interest in the proceedings. The county commissioners shall approve or disapprove the enlargement petition.
(c) Except as provided under subsection (a) of this section, if the enlargement petition is approved, there shall be an election which shall be conducted under this act. At the enlargement election, there shall also be elected temporary directors whose terms shall expire at the next regular district director election. At the first regular election following the enlargement election, the total number of directors shall be as stated in the principal act.
(a) A district may merge with another district even if formed under different principal acts, if the merger is first approved by the county commissioners and approved by the voters of each district. The districts included in the merger shall be considered joined to and absorbed into the surviving district.
(b) If the merger is approved, the district directors and officers of the merging districts shall transfer to the directors of the surviving district all funds, property, contracts and records of the merging districts. Upon the effective date of the merger:
(i) The surviving district shall succeed to all the property, contracts, rights and powers of the merging districts, and shall constitute and be a regularly organized district as if originally organized in the manner provided by the principal act;
(ii) Uncollected taxes, assessments or charges levied by the merging districts shall become the property of the surviving district and upon collection shall be credited to the account of the surviving district; and
(iii) The surviving district shall become liable for all the obligations, legal and contractual, of the merging districts.
(a) Two (2) or more districts even if formed under different principal acts may consolidate and form a new district if the consolidation is first approved by the county commissioners and approved by the voters. The districts included in the consolidation shall be considered joined into a single new district.
(b) If the consolidation is approved, the district directors and officers of the consolidating districts shall transfer to the directors of the successor district all funds, property, contracts and records of the consolidating districts. Upon the effective date of the consolidation:
(i) The successor district shall succeed to all the property, contracts, rights and powers of the consolidating districts, and shall constitute and be a regularly organized district as if originally organized in the manner provided by the principal act;
(ii) Uncollected taxes, assessments or charges levied by the consolidating districts shall become the property of the successor district and upon collection shall be credited to the account of the successor district; and
(iii) The successor district shall become liable for all the obligations, legal or contractual, of the consolidating districts.
22-29-304. Initiation of merger and consolidation; election.
(a) The voters of two (2) or more districts may initiate proceedings to merge or consolidate districts by filing a petition with the directors of the districts to be merged or consolidated. The petition shall be circulated and jointly verified in accordance with W.S. 22-29-105 and 22-29-108 by the secretaries of the districts involved. The petition shall state the name of the surviving or successor district. If two (2) or more districts planning to merge or consolidate have been formed under two (2) different principal acts, the petition shall also state under what principal act the merged or consolidated district shall operate. The principal act under which the merged or consolidated district shall operate may be different than the principal acts governing the original districts. In addition, the petition of merger or consolidation shall set forth provisions pertaining to the composition of the board of the new district until the next district election. The board of the new district may be composed of members of the combined boards. At the next regular district election members shall elect a new board. Thereafter the merged or consolidated board shall operate with the number of directors applicable under the principal act.
(b) Upon the district secretary certifying the petition, the directors of the districts shall order an election which shall be conducted in accordance with W.S. 22-29-113 through 22-29-117 and 22-29-305.
(c) Merger or consolidation may also be initiated by resolution adopted by the directors of two (2) or more districts. The resolution shall contain all the matters required to be stated in a petition to merge or consolidate. Upon the adoption of these resolutions, the directors of the district shall order an election which shall be conducted as provided in subsection (b) of this section.
22-29-305. Specific provisions relating to enlargement, merger and consolidation elections.
(a) The elections effecting enlargement, merger or consolidation shall be governed by the following specific rules:
(i) For enlargement elections, the voters of both the existing district and the area to be added shall be entitled to vote;
(ii) For merger and consolidation elections, the voters of all the affected districts shall be entitled to vote;
(iii) If a majority of those voting in each district on the proposition favor the proposition, then it shall pass;
(iv) For enlargement elections, if the voters of the existing district have approved by election a mill levy to finance the operation of the district, then the voters of the area to be added shall also be required at the enlargement election to approve the same mill levy. If a majority of the voters in the area to be added voting on the proposition fails to approve the mill levy, then the enlargement, whether or not approved under paragraph (iii) of this subsection, shall fail. This paragraph shall not apply to an enlargement in which no election is required under W.S. 22-29-301(a);
(v) For merger and consolidation elections, if the voters of an existing district have approved by election a mill levy to finance the operations of the district and the other district has no mill levy or a lower mill levy, the voters of that other district shall also be required at the merger or consolidation election to approve a mill levy at the same level as the existing district or increase an existing mill levy to the same level as the existing district. If a majority of the voters in the other district voting on the proposition fails to approve or increase the mill levy as required, then the merger or consolidation, whether or not approved under paragraph (iii) of this subsection, shall fail.
22-29-306. Rights of creditors after change of organization; enforcement.
(a) No change of organization, or any term or condition thereof, shall impair the rights of any bondholder or other creditor of a district. Every bondholder or other creditor may enforce all the rights of the bondholder or other creditor in the same manner and to the same extent as if the change of organization, term or condition had not been made. Any of these rights may also be enforced against agencies, and their respective officers, as follows:
(i) Upon enlargement of the territory, against the district to or from which the territory is enlarged;
(ii) Upon dissolution of a district, against the successor city, county or district or against a city, county or district receiving distribution of all or any part of the remaining assets of the dissolved district;
(iii) Upon merger of two (2) or more districts, against the surviving district;
(iv) Upon consolidation of two (2) or more districts, against the successor district.
22-29-307. Change in boundaries of districts; exclusion of property from district.
Any owner of property that is subject to assessment and payment of tax by a special district, but who is precluded by applicable state or federal law, rule or regulation from using the services provided by the district, may file with the board of county commissioners a petition praying that such lands be excluded from assessment by said district. Petitions shall describe the property which the petitioners desire to have excluded. Such petition must be accompanied by a deposit of money sufficient to pay all costs of the exclusion proceedings. The county commissioners shall cause a notice of filing of such petition to be published, which notice shall state the filing of such petition, the name of petitioners, description of the property mentioned in said petition, and the prayer of said petitioners; and it shall notify all persons interested to appear at the office of said board at the time named in said notice, showing cause in writing, if any they have, why said petition should not be granted. The board at the time and place mentioned in the notice, or at the times to which the hearing of said petition may be adjourned, shall proceed to hear the petition and all objections thereto, presented in writing by any person showing cause why the prayer of the petition should not be granted. The filing by such petition shall be deemed and taken as an assent by each and all such petitioners to the exclusion from the district of the property mentioned in the petition or any part thereof. The exclusion shall be allowed if an owner of assessed property is precluded by applicable state or federal law, rule, or regulation from using the services provided by the district. This section shall be applicable only to petitions filed in accordance with the provisions of this section on or before March 31, 1999.
(a) Dissolution of a district may be initiated:
(i) By a petition signed by not less than twenty-five percent (25%) of the voters owning not less than twenty-five percent (25%) of the assessed valuation of property within the district, requesting dissolution of the district, filed with the county commissioners. The petition process shall be governed by W.S. 22-29-105 through 22-29-108;
(ii) By resolution of the district directors filed with the county commissioners when the district directors determine that it is in the best interest of the inhabitants of the district that the district be dissolved and liquidated;
(iii) By resolution of the county commissioners if:
(A) Either:
(I) The district at the time of the regular district election has not elected district directors as required by the principal act; or
(II) The territory within the district is uninhabited; and
(B) The county commissioners determine that it is in the best interest of the people of the county that the district be dissolved and liquidated.
(iv) Within five (5) business days after a petition is filed or a resolution of a county commission is adopted under this section, a copy shall be filed with the district secretary, if any, or with any other district officer who can with reasonable diligence be located;
(v) If there are no qualified district director members, the county commissioners shall act as or appoint a board of trustees to act in behalf of the district.
(b) Subject to subsection (c) of this section, dissolution of a district shall be initiated by resolution of the board of county commissioners if the director of the department of audit has notified the board of county commissioners of the district's failure to comply with the reporting requirements of W.S. 9-1-507, and the district has failed to comply with W.S. 9-1-507(a)(vii) by December 30 of that same calendar year. The board of county commissioners shall declare the board of directors vacant under W.S. 22-29-201, and shall fill the board by appointment under W.S. 22-29-202 for the purpose of dissolving the district.
(c) A board of county commissioners may, by resolution, reinstate a district or cease dissolution procedures required under subsection (b) of this section in accordance with the following:
(i) The district shall become compliant with the requirements of W.S. 9-1-507 by not later than April 1 of the year following the calendar year in which the district fails to comply with the annual reporting requirement under W.S. 9-1-507;
(ii) Before a district is reinstated or before dissolution procedures are ceased under this subsection, the district shall provide a corrective action plan to the board of county commissioners, which shall approve the plan submitted by the district before proceeding under this subsection;
(iii) No reinstatement of a district or cessation of dissolution procedures shall occur unless the department of audit certifies to the board of county commissioners in writing that the district has become compliant with the reporting requirements of W.S. 9-1-507;
(iv) A district reinstated under this subsection shall be deemed to have never been dissolved;
(v) The board of county commissioners may:
(A) Allow the district to proceed with the board of directors appointed under subsection (b) of this section; or
(B) Upon reinstatement, declare the board of directors vacant under W.S. 22-29-201. Upon a declaration of vacancy under this subparagraph, the board of county commissioners shall fill the board by appointment under W.S. 22-29-202.
22-29-402. Findings of fact by district directors.
(a) When dissolution proceedings have been initiated, the district directors shall make findings of fact which shall include:
(i) The amount of each outstanding bond, coupon and other indebtedness, with a general description of the indebtedness and the name of the holder and owner of each, if known;
(ii) A description of each parcel of real property and interest in real property and, if the property was acquired for delinquent taxes or assessments, the amount of those taxes and assessments on each parcel of property;
(iii) Uncollected taxes, assessments and charges levied by the district and the amount upon each lot or tract of land;
(iv) A description of the personal property and of all other assets of the district;
(v) The estimated cost of dissolution.
(b) The district directors shall propose a plan of dissolution and liquidation.
(c) Within thirty (30) days after initiation of the dissolution proceeding, the findings of fact and the proposed plan of dissolution and liquidation shall be filed in the office of the county clerk and shall be available for inspection by any interested person.
The plan of dissolution and liquidation may include provisions for transfer and conveyance of all assets of the district to any other district or to the county or counties where the district is located which have the authority and agree to assume the outstanding indebtedness of the dissolving district, if any, and to continue to furnish similar services to the inhabitants of the district.
22-29-404. Election on dissolution; consent of creditors; content of notice.
(a) Within ten (10) business days after the district directors file the plan of dissolution and liquidation required by W.S. 22-29-402, the district directors shall call an election to be held not less than ninety (90) days nor more than one hundred twenty (120) days after the filing of the plan of dissolution or liquidation for the purpose of submitting to the voters of the district the question of whether the district shall be dissolved, its indebtedness liquidated and its assets disposed of in accordance with the plan proposed. No election shall be called until the consent of all known holders of valid indebtedness against the district is obtained or provision is made in the plan for payment of the nonconsenting holders. The notice of the election shall contain a brief summary of the plan of dissolution and liquidation and state that the plan of dissolution is available for examination at the office of the county clerk.
(b) This election shall be conducted in accordance with W.S. 22-29-113 through 22-29-117.
22-29-405. Trustees for dissolved district; records to county clerk; limitation on further elections.
(a) Upon canvassing the vote after the election, if it appears that a majority or more of the votes on the proposition approve dissolution, the district directors shall declare the district dissolved. The directors shall thereupon constitute a board of trustees under the supervision of county commissioners, who shall pay the debts or procure releases thereof and dispose of the property of the district. If the dissolved district was located wholly within the limits of one (1) county, the board of the dissolving district may designate the county commissioners as the board of trustees for the purpose of winding up the affairs of the district. If a majority of the votes cast on the proposition is against dissolution, the district directors shall declare the proposal defeated and cause the result of the vote to be made a part of the records of the district. In either case, the results of the election shall be certified to the county commissioners immediately after the canvass of the vote.
(b) If dissolution is approved after the affairs of the district have been fully settled all books and records of the district shall be deposited by the board of trustees in the office of the county clerk of the county in which the greatest area of the district was located. At the same time, the board of trustees shall execute under oath and file with the county commissioners a statement that the district has been dissolved and its affairs liquidated. From the date of the statement, the corporate existence of the district is terminated for all purposes.
(c) If a majority of the votes cast on the proposition are against dissolution, no further election for dissolution shall be called by the directors, upon petition or upon a resolution of the commissioners, prior to the expiration of one (1) year from the date of the election on dissolution.
(a) The board of trustees may convey to another district all assets of the dissolving district:
(i) If the other district assumes all debts and obligations of the dissolving district and undertakes to continue to furnish the service provided by the dissolving district pursuant to the plan of dissolution and liquidation; and
(ii) If the written consent of all the known holders of valid indebtedness against the district has been obtained, or provision has been made in the plan for payment of the nonconsenting holders.
(a) Any surplus funds remaining to the credit of the district, after payment of the indebtedness of the district, shall be transferred to the county treasurer. If the assets of the district are insufficient to pay the indebtedness, the board of trustees shall levy taxes, within the limits of the authority of the district, for the liquidation of the indebtedness.
(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, if the property of a district is located within the corporate limits of a city, the property shall, upon dissolution of the district, vest in the city in which located and the property of the district lying outside the corporate limits of any city shall vest in the county until the formation of a city embracing the territory, at which time it shall vest in the city.
(c) In each year that the county receives surplus funds to the credit of the district under subsection (a) of this section, any funds in the account of the district on June 30, in excess of six thousand dollars ($6,000.00) retained by the county for administration, shall be certified to the county assessor and shall be disposed of as provided under one (1) of the following procedures, as selected by the county assessor:
(i) The funds may be offset against that portion of the levies of taxing units levied against the property values of property within the dissolved district. If the funds are offset as provided under this paragraph, the funds shall be distributed to each taxing unit in the amount of that taxing unit's offset;
(ii) The amount may be credited to each property appearing on the tax roll for the year for which the credit applies within the dissolved district on the basis of current assessed value. If the surplus funds are distributed under this paragraph, the surplus funds shall be deposited in the unsegregated tax collections account established and distributed in the same manner as other funds in that account.
(a) The election required by W.S. 22-29-404 shall be dispensed with and the county commissioners shall declare the district dissolved if the county commissioners find that:
(i) Dissolution is in the interest of the people of the county; and
(ii) At least one (1) of the following:
(A) The territory within the affected district is uninhabited;
(B) The district has failed regularly to elect district board members in accordance with the principal act of the district; or
(C) That the district is not active and that there is no need for the district.
(b) The election required by W.S. 22-29-404 shall be dispensed with and the board of county commissioners shall declare the district dissolved if the director of the department of audit has notified the board of county commissioners of the district's failure to comply with the reporting requirements of W.S. 9-1-507, and the district has failed to comply with W.S. 9-1-507(a)(vii) by December 30 of that same calendar year.
(a) As used in this section:
(i) "Political action committee" means any group of two (2) or more persons organized and associated for the purpose of raising, collecting or spending money for the support or opposition to any special district ballot proposition;
(ii) "Special district ballot proposition" means any election conducted under a principal act or this act, but excluding director elections.
(b) A political action committee shall file a statement of formation within ten (10) business days after formation. The chairman and treasurer of a committee shall be separate individuals. The statement of formation shall list the name and mailing address of the committee, name and address of the committee chairman and treasurer, date the committee was formed and the purpose of the committee. The statement of formation shall be filed in the office of the county clerk of the county or counties in which the district is located or is to be located.
(c) No organization of any kind including a corporation, partnership, trade union, professional association or civic, fraternal or religious group or other profit or nonprofit entity except a political action committee, directly or indirectly through any officer, member, director or employee, shall contribute funds, other items of value or election assistance to aid or promote the interests, success or defeat of any special district ballot proposition. No person shall solicit or receive a payment or contribution from an organization prohibited from making contributions under this subsection.
(d) The secretary of state shall prescribe and furnish the forms for reporting contributions and expenditures for special district ballot proposition elections together with written instructions for completing the form and a warning that violators are subject to civil and criminal charges. The forms along with instructions and warning shall be distributed to the county clerk and shall be given by the county clerk to each political action committee upon formation.
(e) Every political action committee shall file a fully itemized statement of contributions and expenditures within ten (10) business days after any special district ballot proposition election. The statement shall set forth the full and complete record of contributions including cash, goods or services and of actual and promised expenditures, including all identifiable expenses as set forth in W.S. 22-25-103. The date of each contribution of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) or more, any expenditure or obligation, the name of the person from whom received or to whom paid and the purpose of each expenditure or obligation shall be listed. All contributions under twenty-five dollars ($25.00) shall be reported but need not be itemized. Should the accumulation of contributions from an individual exceed the twenty-five dollar ($25.00) threshold, all contributions from that individual shall be itemized.
(f) It is unlawful for a political action committee to pay for campaign literature or campaign advertising without displaying or speaking a disclosure in accordance with W.S. 22-25-110.
22-29-601. Violation of special district elections act.
The knowing and willful violation of any provision of the special district elections act is a misdemeanor offense punishable by not more than six (6) months in jail, a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00), or both.