H.B. 353

1

UNIFORM LANGUAGE FOR BOND ELECTION BALLOTS
2 2013 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Chief Sponsor: Jeremy A. Peterson
5 Senate Sponsor: ____________
6
7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill enacts provisions governing the language of a bond election ballot.
10 Highlighted Provisions:
11 This bill:
12 . enacts provisions governing the language of a bond election ballot, including:
13 . the format in which information is printed on the ballot; and
14 . the average interest rate of the proposed bond; and
15 . makes technical corrections.
16 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
17 None
18 Other Special Clauses:
19 None
20 Utah Code Sections Affected:
21 AMENDS:
22 11-14-206, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2010, Chapter 388
23
24 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
25 Section 1. Section 11-14-206 is amended to read:
26 11-14-206. Ballots -- Submission of ballot language -- Form and contents.
27 (1) At least 75 days before the election, the governing body shall prepare and submit to

28 the election officer:
29 (a) a ballot title for the bond proposition that includes the name of the local political
30 subdivision issuing the bonds and the word "bond"; and
31 (b) a ballot proposition that meets the requirements of Subsection (2).
32 [(2) (a) The ballot proposition shall include:]
33 [(i) the maximum principal amount of the bonds;]
34 [(ii) the maximum number of years from the issuance of the bonds to final maturity;]
35 [(iii) the general purpose for which the bonds are to be issued; and]
36 (2) (a) The election officer shall ensure that the ballot proposition is formatted and
37 printed in substantially the following form with the applicable information in an easily legible
38 font:

39	(Name of local political subdivision proposing bond) Proposed Bond
40	Maximum Proposed Principal Amount Not to Exceed	Maximum Proposed Number of Years from Issuance Until Maturity	Maximum Proposed Interest Rate Average over life of bonds	General Purpose for Which Proposed Bonds Are Being Issued
41	$_______	_______ years	_______%	(General purpose description)
42	(If the bonds are bonds described in Subsection (2)(b), the information in Subsection (2)(b) here)
43	(If the information in Subsection (2)(d) is included, the information here)
44	Are you for or against the bond proposition? . - For the Issuance of Bonds . - Against the Issuance of Bonds

45 [(iv) if] (b) If issuance of the bonds will require the increase of the property tax
46 imposed upon the average value of a residence by an amount that is greater than or equal to $15
47 per year, the following information in substantially the following form placed where indicated
48 in the form prescribed in Subsection (2)(a):

49 "PROPERTY TAX COST OF BONDS:
50 If the bonds are issued as planned, an annual property tax to pay debt service on the
51 bonds will be required over a period of ____ years in the estimated amount of $____ on a
52 (insert the average value of a residence in the taxing entity rounded to the nearest thousand
53 dollars) residence and in the estimated amount of $____ on a business property having the
54 same value.
55 [If applicable] If there are other outstanding bonds, an otherwise scheduled tax
56 decrease may not occur if these bonds are issued.
57 The foregoing information is only an estimate and is not a limit on the amount of taxes
58 that the governing body may be required to levy in order to pay debt service on the bonds. The
59 governing body is obligated to levy taxes to the extent provided by law in order to pay the
60 bonds."
61 [(b)] (c) The general purpose of the bonds may be stated in general terms and need not
62 specify the particular projects for which the bonds are to be issued or the specific amount of
63 bond proceeds to be expended for each project.
64 [(c)] (d) If the bonds are to be payable in part from tax proceeds and in part from the
65 operating revenues of the local political subdivision, or from any combination of tax proceeds
66 and operating revenues, the bond proposition may indicate those payment sources, but need not
67 specify how the bonds are to be divided between those sources of payment.
68 [(d) (i) The bond proposition shall be followed by the words, "For the issuance of
69 bonds" and "Against the issuance of bonds," with appropriate boxes in which the voter may
70 indicate his choice.]
71 [(ii)] (e) Nothing in [Subsection (2)(d)(i)] this section prohibits the addition of
72 descriptive information about the bonds.
73 (3) If a bond proposition is submitted to a vote on the same day as any other election
74 held in the local political subdivision calling the bond election, the bond proposition may be
75 combined with the candidate ballot in a manner consistent with Section 20A-6-301 ,
76 20A-6-303 , or 20A-6-402 .
77 (4) The ballot form shall comply with the requirements of Title 20A, Chapter 6, Ballot
78 Form.

Legislative Review Note
as of 2-20-13 8:44 AM

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel

[Bill Documents]