HF 755

as introduced - 91st Legislature (2019 - 2020) Posted on 02/04/2019 03:02pm

A bill for an act
relating to local government; establishing a fire protection district for the cities of
Cromwell and Wright; amending Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 275.066.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 275.066, is amended to read:

275.066 SPECIAL TAXING DISTRICTS; DEFINITION.

For the purposes of property taxation and property tax state aids, the term "special taxing
districts" includes the following entities:

(1) watershed districts under chapter 103D;

(2) sanitary districts under sections 442A.01 to 442A.29;

(3) regional sanitary sewer districts under sections 115.61 to 115.67;

(4) regional public library districts under section 134.201;

(5) park districts under chapter 398;

(6) regional railroad authorities under chapter 398A;

(7) hospital districts under sections 447.31 to 447.38;

(8) St. Cloud Metropolitan Transit Commission under sections 458A.01 to 458A.15;

(9) Duluth Transit Authority under sections 458A.21 to 458A.37;

(10) regional development commissions under sections 462.381 to 462.398;

(11) housing and redevelopment authorities under sections 469.001 to 469.047;

(12) port authorities under sections 469.048 to 469.068;

(13) economic development authorities under sections 469.090 to 469.1081;

(14) Metropolitan Council under sections 473.123 to 473.549;

(15) Metropolitan Airports Commission under sections 473.601 to 473.679;

(16) Metropolitan Mosquito Control Commission under sections 473.701 to 473.716;

(17) Morrison County Rural Development Financing Authority under Laws 1982, chapter
437, section 1;

(18) Croft Historical Park District under Laws 1984, chapter 502, article 13, section 6;

(19) East Lake County Medical Clinic District under Laws 1989, chapter 211, sections
1 to 6;

(20) Floodwood Area Ambulance District under Laws 1993, chapter 375, article 5,
section 39;

(21) Middle Mississippi River Watershed Management Organization under sections
103B.211 and 103B.241;

(22) emergency medical services special taxing districts under section 144F.01;

(23) a county levying under the authority of section 103B.241, 103B.245, or 103B.251;

(24) Southern St. Louis County Special Taxing District; Chris Jensen Nursing Home
under Laws 2003, First Special Session chapter 21, article 4, section 12;

(25) an airport authority created under section 360.0426; deleted text begin and
deleted text end

new text begin (26) the Cromwell Wright fire protection district established under section 2; and
new text end

deleted text begin (26) deleted text end new text begin (27) new text end any other political subdivision of the state of Minnesota, excluding counties,
school districts, cities, and towns, that has the power to adopt and certify a property tax levy
to the county auditor, as determined by the commissioner of revenue.

Sec. 2. new text begin CROMWELL WRIGHT FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Agreement. new text end

new text begin The cities of Cromwell and Wright may by action of their
city councils establish the Cromwell Wright fire protection district. The district shall provide
fire protection services throughout its territory and may exercise all the powers of the cities
that relate to fire protection anywhere within its territory. Any other contiguous town or
home rule charter or statutory city may join the district with the agreement of the cities and
towns that comprise the district at the time of its application to join. Action to join the district
may be taken by the city council or town board of the city or town.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Board. new text end

new text begin The district shall be governed by a board composed of one member
appointed by the city council or town board of each city and town in the district. A district
board member may but is not required to be a member of a city council or town board.
Except as provided in this section, members shall serve two-year terms ending the first
Monday in January and until their successors are appointed and qualified. Of the members
first appointed, as far as possible, the terms of one-half shall expire on the first Monday in
January in the first year following their appointment and one-half the first Monday in January
in the second year. The terms of those initially appointed shall be determined by lot. If an
additional member is added because an additional city or town joins the district, the member's
term shall be fixed so that, as far as possible, the terms of one-half of all the members expire
on the same date.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Executive director. new text end

new text begin The board may appoint an executive director. The executive
director shall be selected upon the basis of the applicant's training, experience, and other
qualifications and shall serve at the pleasure of the board and at a compensation to be
determined by the board. The executive director need not be a resident of the district. The
executive director may also be selected by the board to serve as either secretary or treasurer,
or both, of the board. The executive director shall attend all meetings of the board, but shall
not vote, and shall have the following powers and duties:
new text end

new text begin (1) ensure that all resolutions, rules, regulations, or orders of the board are enforced;
new text end

new text begin (2) appoint and remove, upon the basis of merit and fitness, all subordinate officers and
regular employees of the board except the secretary and the treasurer and their deputies;
new text end

new text begin (3) present to the board plans, studies, and other reports prepared for board purposes
and recommend to the board adoption of measures the director deems necessary to enforce
or carry out the powers and duties of the board or the efficient administration of the affairs
of the board;
new text end

new text begin (4) keep the board fully advised as to its financial condition and prepare and submit to
the board, and to the governing bodies of the local government units, the board's annual
budget and other financial information as the board may request;
new text end

new text begin (5) recommend to the board for adoption rules and regulations deemed necessary for
the efficient operation of the district disposal system; and
new text end

new text begin (6) perform other duties as may be prescribed by the board.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Tax. new text end

new text begin The district may impose a property tax on real property in the district in
an amount sufficient to discharge its operating expenses and debt payable in each year. The
tax shall be disregarded in the calculation of any levies or limits on levies provided by
Minnesota Statutes, chapter 275, or other law. A city or town that joins the district may not
incur expenses or debt for fire protection services for territory included in the district and
may not impose taxes for that purpose.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Public indebtedness. new text end

new text begin The district may incur debt in the manner provided for
a municipality by Minnesota Statutes, chapter 475, when necessary to accomplish a duty
charged to it.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Withdrawal. new text end

new text begin Upon two years notice, a city or town may withdraw from the
district. Its territory shall remain subject to taxation for debt incurred prior to its withdrawal
pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, chapter 475.
new text end

Sec. 3. new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE.
new text end

new text begin Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, section 645.023, subdivision 1, clause (a), section 2
takes effect without local approval the day following final enactment.
new text end