274-B - Consolidation of the district and its extensions.

§  274-b.  Consolidation  of  the  district  and  its  extensions.  1.  Determination and notice  of  public  hearing.  Whenever  the  board  of  supervisors  calls  a  public  hearing  on  the extension of a district,  pursuant to section two hundred seventy-four of this article, or calls a  public hearing on the consolidation of two or more  districts,  pursuant  to  section  two hundred seventy-four-a of this article, then such board  may, in its discretion, include in the order or resolution calling  such  public  hearing,  a determination that all the expenses of the district,  including all extensions heretofore or hereafter established, shall be a  charge against the entire area of the district as extended.  Any  notice  of  public hearing published shall, in addition to all other information  required  by  sections  two  hundred  seventy-four   and   two   hundred  seventy-four-a of this article, include a statement of the determination  made pursuant to this subdivision.    2. Method of assessment. a. When the board makes the determination set  forth  in  subdivision  one  of this section in a proceeding to extend a  district  which  finances  the  costs  of  operation,  maintenance   and  improvements  on  a  benefit  basis,  the  district shall continue to be  financed on a benefit basis.    b. When the board makes the determination set forth in subdivision one  of this section in a proceeding to extend a district which finances  the  costs  of operation, maintenance and improvements on an ad valorem basis  with or without zones of assessment, the district shall remain on an  ad  valorem basis.    c. When the board makes the determination set forth in subdivision one  of   this   section  in  a  proceeding  to  consolidate  districts,  the  consolidated district shall be  assessed  as  provided  in  section  two  hundred seventy-four-a of this article.    3. Determinations after hearing. After the public hearing, in addition  to  those determinations required by section two hundred seventy-four or  two hundred seventy-four-a of this article, the  board  shall  determine  whether  it  is  in  the  public  interest to assess all expenses of the  district, including all extensions heretofore or hereafter  established,  as a charge against the entire area of the district as extended.    4.  Permissive referendum. Any resolution which, in addition to making  the determinations required by section two hundred seventy-four  or  two  hundred  seventy-four-a of this article, determines that all expenses of  a district, including all extensions thereto,  heretofore  or  hereafter  established,  shall  be  assessed as a charge against the entire area of  the district as extended shall, notwithstanding any other  provision  of  this chapter, be subject to permissive referendum as follows:    a.  In  a  proceeding  to  extend a district pursuant to this article,  notice of adoption, petition and referendum  shall  be  as  provided  in  section  two  hundred  seventy-four  of  this  article,  except that the  notices and ballot shall include the further determination made pursuant  to this section.    b. In a proceeding to consolidate districts pursuant  to  section  two  hundred seventy-four-a of this article, the notice of adoption, petition  and  referendum  shall  be  as provided in such section, except that the  notices and ballot shall include the further determination made pursuant  to this section.    5. Effect. a. In a proceeding to extend a district pursuant to section  two hundred seventy-four of this article, the extension  shall,  subject  to  the  provisions  of  subdivision  four  of  this  section, be deemed  established as provided in such section two  hundred  seventy-four,  and  the  consolidated assessment roll shall be prepared for the next year in  which assessments are levied against the extended district.b. In a proceeding to consolidate districts pursuant  to  section  two  hundred seventy-four-a of this article, the determinations made pursuant  to  this  section  shall  take  effect at the same time provided for the  consolidation in such section.