Duty of bond trustees to borrow money to pay interest on bonds until collection of first assessment; may issue notes; notes and bonds lien against lands; committee may issue notes.
F.S. 157.12
in effectWhenever any drainage district has been constituted and district drainage bonds issued by the board of county commissioners, as provided in this chapter, the bond trustees shall borrow such money as shall be found necessary to pay the semiannual installments of interest on said bonds until the collection of the first assessment levied against the lands in the drainage district, and said trustees may issue their negotiable notes, bearing interest at not more than 8 percent per annum, as evidence of and security for such loan as they may procure, and should there not be money to the credit of said drainage fund to pay any future installment of interest at the maturity thereof, the same shall be provided by the trustees in like manner; and the owner and holder of any such note or notes shall have by virtue thereof a lien against the lands in the drainage district, and the moneys raised by the assessments levied thereon for the payment of said note or notes. Bonds issued under this chapter shall be a lien upon the lands embraced within such drainage district, and such lien shall be prior in dignity to all others except taxes. Should the committee, provided for in s. 157.03, find it necessary to raise money to meet any expense incurred in the discharge of its duties before funds shall be provided by issue and sale of bonds, as herein stipulated, then and in that event the said committee, with the approval of the board of county commissioners, may issue negotiable promissory notes for such amount as shall be found necessary, said notes to bear interest not to exceed 8 percent per annum, and the owner and holder thereof shall have a like lien and be afforded like protection as herein provided for the holder of notes issued by the bond trustees.
Source: FL Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2025/Chapter157/AllFetched: 7/8/2026