14-14-709. Establishment of subordinate service districts.

14-14-709. Establishment of subordinate service districts. (a) Procedure Generally. A subordinate service district may be established by ordinance of the quorum court in the following manner: (1) Upon petition to the quorum court by twenty-five percent (25%) of the number of realty owners within the proposed subordinate service district, the owners of twenty-five percent (25%) of the realty in the area of the proposed subordinate service district, and the owners of twenty-five percent (25%) of the assessed value of the realty within the proposed subordinate service district, the quorum court shall set a date for a public hearing and shall give notice of the hearing on the petition to form the proposed subordinate service district. Following the public hearing, the court may either adopt an ordinance creating the subordinate service district or refuse to act further on the matter; (2) If hearings indicate that a geographic area desires exclusion from the proposed subordinate service district, the quorum court may amend the boundaries of the proposed subordinate service district to exclude the property in that area; and (3) Where an ordinance is adopted establishing a subordinate service district, the quorum court, in addition to all other requirements, shall publish notice of the adoption of the ordinance. The notice shall include a statement setting out the elector's right to protest. If within thirty (30) days of the notice, twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the number of realty owners within the proposed subordinate service district, the owners of twenty-five percent (25%) of the realty in the area of the proposed subordinate service district, and the owners of twenty-five percent (25%) of the assessed value of the realty within the proposed subordinate service district file a written protest, by individual letter or petition, then the ordinance creating the subordinate service district shall be void. (b) Ordinance Requirements. An ordinance to establish a subordinate service district shall include: (1) The name of the proposed district; (2) A map containing the boundaries of the proposed district; (3) The convenience or necessity of the proposed district; (4) The services to be provided by the proposed district; (5) The estimated cost of services to be provided and methods of financing the proposed services. Service charges adopted by a quorum court shall be equally administered on a per capita, per household, per unit of service, or a combination of these methods. Service charges adopted by the court on a per capita or per household method shall be administered equally without regard to an individual or household availing themselves of the service; and (6) The method for administering the proposed district. (c) Initiative and Referendum. All provisions of Arkansas Constitution, Amendment 7, shall apply to the establishment of county subordinate service areas.