Waterworks Systems Warrants.

Ala. Code tit. 11, tit. 1, ch. 9, art. 2

in effect

Ala. Code § 11-9-20 Definitions.

11-9-20. Definitions. Wherever used in this article, unless a different meaning clearly appears in the context, the following terms shall be given the respective interpretations specified in this section: (1) COUNTY. Each county in the state. (2) GOVERNING BODY. The county commission of a county. (3) MUNICIPALITY. A municipal corporation in the state. (4) STATE. The State of Alabama. (5) WATERWORKS SYSTEM. Facilities for the gathering, collecting, impounding, treatment, transmission and distribution or any of them of water for domestic use or for industrial use or both, together with all appurtenances to any such facilities and all property used or useful in connection with such facilities, including franchises. (Acts 1973, No. 1128, p. 1901, §2.)

Ala. Code § 11-9-21 Legislative Intent; Construction of Article.

11-9-21. Legislative Intent; Construction of Article. It is the intention of the Legislature by the passage of this article to authorize each county in the state to finance the acquisition by such county through purchase, construction or otherwise of one or more waterworks systems by the sale and issuance of interest-bearing warrants of such county for payment of costs of acquiring such system or systems. This article shall be liberally construed in conformity with the said intention. (Acts 1973, No. 1128, p. 1901, §1.)

Ala. Code § 11-9-22 Authority for Issuance; Form, Terms, Denominations, Etc.; Sale and Disposition of Proceeds; Pledge for Payment of Principal and Interest Generally.

11-9-22. Authority for Issuance; Form, Terms, Denominations, Etc.; Sale and Disposition of Proceeds; Pledge for Payment of Principal and Interest Generally. Each county shall have the power from time to time to sell and issue interest-bearing warrants of such county for the purpose of paying costs to that county of acquiring and providing one or more waterworks systems for the purpose of rendering water service in any part of the county; provided, that the county shall not render water service within any municipality except pursuant to franchise granted to the county by such municipality. Any warrants issued under the provisions of this article may be in such denomination or denominations, may have such maturity or maturities not exceeding 30 years from their date, may bear interest from their date at such rate or rates payable at such times, may be payable at such place or places within or without the state, may be sold at such time or times and in such manner, whether publicly or privately, may be executed in such manner and may contain such terms not in conflict with the provisions of this article, all as the governing body of such county may provide in the proceedings wherein the warrants are authorized to be issued. All such warrants shall evidence general obligation indebtedness of the county by which they are issued and the full faith and credit of the county shall be irrevocably pledged for the payment of the principal thereof and interest thereon. The proceeds derived from the sale of any such warrants shall be used solely for the purpose for which they are authorized to be issued, including the payment of any expenses incurred in connection with the issuance thereof. (Acts 1973, No. 1128, p. 1901, §3.)

Ala. Code § 11-9-23 Special Pledges for Payment of Principal and Interest.

11-9-23. Special Pledges for Payment of Principal and Interest. The county commission of the county issuing any such warrants may, in its discretion, assign and specially pledge for the payment of the principal of and interest on such warrants so much as may be necessary for said payment of any one or more of the following (or any part thereof): (1) The proceeds from the general annual ad valorem tax of one half of one percent which the county is authorized to levy without reference to the purpose thereof under the provisions of Section 215 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901; (2) The proceeds from any other tax (including any ad valorem tax and any privilege, license or excise tax) that at the time of the issuance of the said warrants may lawfully be used by the county for payment of such principal and interest; and, (3) The revenues derived by the county from any waterworks system of the county. To the extent necessary and sufficient for making the payments in respect of which such pledge is made, any tax or revenues pledged pursuant to the provisions of this section shall constitute a trust fund or funds which shall be impressed with a lien in favor of the holders of the warrants to the payment of which such sums are pledged. In the event that more than one pledge should be made with respect to any tax or revenues the pledge of which is herein authorized in this section, then such pledges shall take precedence in the order in which they are made unless the proceedings making such pledge shall expressly provide that such pledge shall be on a parity with or subordinate to a subsequent pledge thereof. All warrants for which the pledge authorized in this section may be made shall constitute preferred claims against that portion of the said tax or taxes or revenues so pledged (subject to any prior lawful pledges thereof in existence at the time of the issuance of the warrants, whether made under the provisions of this or any other statute) and shall have preference over claims incurred by the county for operation and maintenance of any waterworks system of the county and any other claims for any other purpose whatsoever. (Acts 1973, No. 1128, p. 1901, §4.)

Ala. Code § 11-9-24 Issuance of Refunding Warrants.

11-9-24. Issuance of Refunding Warrants. Each such county may in like manner from time to time issue refunding warrants, either by sale or by exchange, for the purpose of refunding a like or greater principal amount of warrants then outstanding which were issued under the provisions of this article and the interest thereon and paying any premium necessary to be paid to retire the outstanding warrants refunded thereby. The provisions of this article applicable to the warrants so refunded shall likewise be applicable to such refunding warrants. (Acts 1973, No. 1128, p. 1901, §5.)

Ala. Code § 11-9-25 Investment of Trust Funds in Warrants.

11-9-25. Investment of Trust Funds in Warrants. Unless otherwise directed by the court having jurisdiction thereof or by the document that is the source of authority, a trustee, executor, administrator, guardian or one acting in any other fiduciary capacity may, in addition to any other investment powers, invest trust funds in warrants issued under the provisions of this article. (Acts 1973, No. 1128, p. 1901, §6.)

Ala. Code § 11-9-26 Issuance of Warrants Deemed to Constitute Audit and Allowance of Claim.

11-9-26. Issuance of Warrants Deemed to Constitute Audit and Allowance of Claim. The issuance of warrants and any interest coupons applicable thereto pursuant to the provisions of this article and in accordance with the authorization of the county commission of the county issuing such warrants shall be deemed to constitute an audit and allowance by such county commission of a claim, in the aggregate principal amount of such warrants and interest coupons, against the county and against any tax proceeds and any revenues or either thereof pledged for payment of such warrants pursuant to the provisions of this article. No proof of registration or other audit or allowance of such claim shall be required and such warrants and interest coupons shall, from and after the date of their lawful issuance, be deemed to be allowed claims against the county by which they were issued and against any tax proceeds and revenues or either so pledged therefor. (Acts 1973, No. 1128, p. 1901, §7.)

Ala. Code § 11-9-27 Exemptions from Usury or Interest Rate Statutes.

11-9-27. Exemptions from Usury or Interest Rate Statutes. Any warrants issued by a county under the provisions of this article for the purpose of paying costs of acquiring and providing waterworks systems are hereby exempted from the laws of the State of Alabama governing usury or prescribing or limiting interest rates, including, without limitation, the provisions of chapter 8 of Title 8 of this Code. (Acts 1975, No. 1131, §1.)

Ala. Code § 11-9-28 Provisions of Article Controlling; Applicability of Provisions of Section 11-8-10.

11-9-28. Provisions of Article Controlling; Applicability of Provisions of Section 11-8-10. Insofar as the provisions of this article may be inconsistent with the provisions of any other law, the provisions of this article shall control, it being hereby specifically declared that the provisions of section 11-8-10 shall not be applicable to the warrants issued under the provisions of this article. (Acts 1973, No. 1128, p. 1901, §8.)

Source: Alabama Legislature (alison.legislature.state.al.us)URL: https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/code-of-alabamaFetched: 10/20/2026