Current through 2024 Regular Session legislation effective June 6, 2024
Section 264.350 - Street lighting system; contracts for electricity; tax levy and service charges to maintain and purchase electric energy(1) Any district, when authorized by the electors, may install, maintain and operate a system, or systems, of street, road and highway lights. Lights shall be maintained upon streets, roads, intersections or other places as, in the judgment of the board of commissioners, will furnish the best lighting service to the residents within the district.(2) The district through its board of commissioners may contract with any supplier of electricity, private or public, to furnish the electric energy for such systems.(3) The district, when authorized by the electors, may at any time thereafter levy a tax, not to exceed three-twentieths of one percent (0.0015) of real market value in any one year for the installation of the system and any extension thereof, and not to exceed one-twentieth of one percent (0.0005) of real market value in any one year for maintenance and purchase of electric energy. The tax limits provided by this subsection shall be computed as a percentage of the real market value of all taxable property within the limits of the district, computed in accordance with ORS 308.207.(4) A district may require any person to pay the cost of installing the highway lighting system adjacent to the property of the person. The district shall have the further right to include the cost of installing the system as a part of an agreement with any person for extending a water main.(5) If authorized by the electors, the cost of maintenance and purchase of energy may be charged to the water consumers on the basis of one share for each water connection, payable monthly with the bills for water charges. The district may, when authorized by the electors, change from either system of collection to the other. The funds received from the respective levies and charges to water users shall be used only for the purposes collected and no other funds of the district shall be so used.(6) Elector approval required by this section means the approval of a majority voting at a special election called by the board for the purpose of submitting the matter to the electors.Amended by 1955 c.163 §2; 1963 c.9 §9; 1969 c.666 §26; 1991 c.459 §361