Lowndes County could form an emergency response district near airport

The county board could create an emergency response district. The district would serve industrial taxpayers within its boundaries in Lowndes County. The area must be within 3.5 miles of a Golden Triangle Regional Airport boundary. A petition must be signed by taxpayers whose participation factors total at least 80% of the area's total. After public notice and a hearing, the county board must find the district serves the best interests of the area and county. The act would take effect upon passage if enacted. The board could create the district after publishing notice and holding a public hearing.

The county board would levy district taxes and assessments if the county's resolution provides for them. The charges would apply to industrial property and industrial taxpayers in the district. The district's commissioners would request a dollar amount; the county would calculate half from property value and half from taxpayer employment. Government entities and parcels classified as nonindustrial would be exempt. A parcel could become taxable if it stops qualifying for a government exemption or is reclassified as industrial. The county board would set the levies each year. Payment would be due when ordinary county property taxes are due.

A district could provide emergency services, appoint commissioners, hire staff, and borrow for facilities or equipment. These powers and appointments would apply only to a district created under the bill. The district would be run by seven commissioners. The bill gives certain companies appointment roles at first; after two years, most seats would go to taxpayers ranked by participation factor. Issuing bonds or other debt for facilities or equipment would require approval by two-thirds of commissioners present and voting and approval by the county board. These powers would begin after the district was created. The first commissioner appointments would govern for two years, followed by the appointment system based on taxpayers' participation factors.