Texas Water Code - WATER § 36.0171. Tax Authority and Directors' Election for District in a Priority Groundwater Management Area

(a) For a district created under Section 36.0151, not later than the 120th day after the date all temporary directors have been appointed and have qualified, the temporary directors shall meet and order an election to be held within the boundaries of the proposed district to authorize the district to assess taxes and to elect permanent directors.

(b) In the order calling the election, the temporary directors shall designate election precincts and polling places for the election. In designating the polling places, the temporary directors shall consider the needs of all voters for conveniently located polling places.

(c) The temporary directors shall publish notice of the election at least once in at least one newspaper with general circulation within the boundaries of the proposed district. The notice must be published before the 30th day preceding the date of the election.

(d) The ballot for the election must be printed to provide for voting for or against the proposition: “The levy of a maintenance tax by the ___________________ Groundwater Conservation District at a rate not to exceed ______ cents for each $100 of assessed valuation.” The same ballot or another ballot must provide for the election of permanent directors, in accordance with Section 36.059.

(e) Immediately after the election, the presiding judge of each polling place shall deliver the returns of the election to the temporary board, and the board shall canvass the returns, declare the result, and turn over the operations of the district to the elected permanent directors. The board shall file a copy of the election result with the commission.

(f) If a majority of the votes cast at the election favor the levy of a maintenance tax, the temporary board shall declare the levy approved and shall enter the result in its minutes.

(g) If a majority of the votes cast at the election are against the levy of a maintenance tax, the temporary board shall declare the levy defeated and shall enter the result in its minutes.

(h) If the majority of the votes cast at the election are against the levy of a maintenance tax, the district shall set fees authorized by this chapter in accordance with Section 35.013(g-1) to pay for the district's regulation of groundwater in the district.