                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

REFERENDUM ON CONTRACTING OF DEBT BY COUNTIES IN VOLUNTARY SETTLEMENT AGREEMENTS
(§ 15.2-3401)

Before a county, under the terms of a voluntary agreement pursuant to this
chapter, contracts a debt pursuant to Article VII, § 10 (b) of the Constitution
of Virginia, the board of supervisors shall, in conformity with Article VII, §
10 (b) of the Constitution of Virginia, petition the circuit court for the
county for an order calling for a special election in the county on the question
of contracting such debt.
		The question on the ballot shall be as follows, provided that the circuit
court in its order calling for the election may substitute alternative language
necessary to specify the type of agreement or the particular debt which the
county proposes to contract under an agreement:
		&#8220;Shall (name of county) be authorized to contract a debt by entering
into a contract for the payment (describe the debt or payment) to (name of
locality to whom payments are to be made) as a part of the proposed voluntary
annexation and immunity settlement agreement between the county and (name of
other locality)?
		[ ] Yes
		[ ] No&#8221;
		The clerk of the county shall cause a notice of the referendum to be published
three times in a newspaper having general circulation in the county, with the
first notice appearing no more than 35 days before and the third notice
appearing no less than seven days before the election, and shall post a copy of
the notice at the door of the county courthouse.
		The election shall be held and the results thereof ascertained and certified
in accordance with Article 5 (§ 24.2-681 et seq.) of Chapter 6 of Title 24.2.
If a majority of the voters of the county voting in such election approve the
contracting of such debt, the county may proceed to adopt, by ordinance, the
agreement.

HISTORY: 1985, c. 66, § 15.1-1167.2; 1997, c. 587; 2023, cc. 506, 507; 2024,
cc. 225, 242.