Iowa Code Title IX. Local Government [Chs. 331-420] § 357E.11A. Bonds and indebtedness--combined districts

1. A combined district may borrow money for its corporate purposes, but shall not become indebted in any manner or for any purpose to an amount in the aggregate exceeding five percent on the value of the taxable property within the district, to be ascertained by the last state and county tax lists previous to the incurring of the indebtedness. Indebtedness within this limit shall not include the indebtedness of any other municipal corporation located wholly or partly within the boundaries of the district.

2. A combined district shall have the same powers to issue bonds that cities have under the laws of this state, including but not limited to chapter 76, section 384.4, and sections 384.23 through 384.94. The bonds shall be made payable at the place and be of the form as the board of trustees shall by resolution designate. In the application of the laws to this section, the words used in the laws referring to municipal corporations or to cities shall be held to include combined districts organized under this chapter; the words “council” or “city council” shall be held to include the board of trustees of a combined district; the words “mayor” and “clerk” shall be held to include the president and clerk of a board of trustees; and like construction shall be given to any other words in the laws where required to permit the exercise of the powers by combined districts under this section.

3. Except for the issuance of refunding bonds, an indebtedness shall not be incurred under this section until authorized by an election. The election shall be held and notice given in the same manner as provided in section 357E.8, except that a proposition to authorize indebtedness is approved if sixty percent of those voting on the proposition vote in favor of the proposition. Subject to section 39.2, subsection 4, a proposition for the authorization of indebtedness may be submitted to the voters at the same election as the election under section 357E.8.