TITLE III
TOWNS, CITIES, VILLAGE DISTRICTS, AND UNINCORPORATED PLACES

Chapter 33
MUNICIPAL FINANCE ACT

Section 33:1

    33:1 Definitions. –
This chapter may be referred to as the "Municipal Finance Act." The following terms, when used in this chapter, shall have the meanings set forth below, except when the context in which they are used requires a different meaning:
I. "Municipality" or "municipal corporation," town, city, school district or village district;
II. "Governing board," the selectmen of a town, the commissioners or comparable officers of a village district, and the school board of a school district;
III. "Net indebtedness," all outstanding and authorized indebtedness, heretofore or hereafter incurred by a municipality, exclusive of the following: unmatured tax anticipation notes issued according to law; or notes issued in anticipation of grants of federal or state aid or both; debts incurred for supplying the inhabitants with water or for the construction, enlargement, improvement or maintenance of water works; debts incurred to finance the cost of sewerage systems or enlargements or improvements thereof, or sewage or waste disposal works when the cost thereof is to be financed by sewer rents or sewer assessment; debt incurred pursuant to RSA 31:10; debts incurred to finance energy production projects, the reconstruction or enlargement of a municipally owned utility, or the manufacture or furnishing of light, heat, power or water for the public, or the generation, transmission or sale of energy ultimately sold to the public; debts incurred to finance small scale power facilities under RSA 374-D; debts incurred outside the statutory debt limit of the municipality under any general law or special act heretofore or hereafter enacted (unless otherwise provided in such legislation); and sinking funds and cash applicable solely to the payment of the principal of debts incurred within the debt limit;
IV. "Location," property, parcel, or address where broadband could be purchased by a customer.

Source. 1895, 43:1. PL 59:1. RL 72:1. 1953, 258:1, par. 1, eff. as of Jan. 1, 1954. RSA 33:1. 1955, 329:3. 1957, 142:3. 1961, 120:1. 1967, 38:1. 1981, 161:1, eff. Aug. 1, 1981; 545:1, eff. Aug. 29, 1981. 2018, 118:1, eff. July 29, 2018.

Section 33:2

    33:2 Repayment of Loans. – Municipalities and counties shall not issue any bonds or notes payable on demand. They shall provide for the payment of all loans issued under authority of this chapter except notes issued under authority of RSA 33:7, in annual payments which shall be so arranged that the amount of the annual payment of principal and interest in any year on account of any loan shall not be less than the amount of principal and interest payable in any subsequent year by more than 2 percent of the principal of the entire loan. The total amount of such payments shall be sufficient to extinguish the entire loan on account of which they are made at maturity. The first payment of principal on any loan shall be made not later than 2 years and the last payment not later than 30 years after the date thereof, provided, however, that no loan issued to pay for public work or improvement shall exceed the expected useful life of said public work or improvement as determined by the governing board or the city councils in the case of cities, or the county commissioners in the case of counties. Each authorized issue of notes or bonds shall be a separate loan. The amount of each payment of principal and interest on all loans shall, without vote of the municipality or county, be annually assessed and collected. Sinking funds and debt retirement funds for the payment of debt shall not hereafter be established.

Source. 1917, 129:2, 3. PL 59:3, 4. RL 72:3. 1947, 5:1. 1949, 120:1. 1953, 258:1, par. 2, eff. Jan. 1, 1954.

Section 33:2-a

    33:2-a Call Bonds. – The issuance of bonds or notes hereunder which are subject to call, at the election of the municipality, before the date fixed for final payment thereof, is authorized. The bonds or notes, in such cases, shall contain provisions setting forth the method or methods by which the option to call may be exercised, the procedure for payment in the event of call, and the legal effect of the making of the call. If such call bonds or notes are payable to bearer, they may be called, at the election of the municipality, on any date when interest thereon shall become payable, written notice of such election first having been given to the bank, banks or other institutions, if any, at which they are stated on their face to be payable, and published for 4 consecutive weeks at least once a week in one or more newspapers printed and published in Boston, Massachusetts, and in one newspaper printed and published in the state of New Hampshire and circulating in said municipality, the last such publications being at least 14 days before the date specified for payment; and thereupon, after the date so specified, interest thereon shall cease. If such call bonds or notes are payable to the registered holder, they may be called, at the election of the municipality, on any date when interest thereon shall become payable, written notice of such election first having been given to the registered holder by registered mail, postage prepaid, to such holder at his last address, as registered in the books of the municipal treasurer; and thereupon, after the date so specified, interest thereon shall cease.

Source. 1957, 103:1, eff. July 1, 1957.

Section 33:3

    33:3 Purpose of Issue of Bonds or Notes. – A municipality or county may issue its bonds or notes for the acquisition of land, for economic development, for planning relative to public facilities, for the construction, reconstruction, alteration, and enlargement or purchase of public buildings, for other public works or improvements, or for the financing of improvements, of a permanent nature including broadband infrastructure as defined in RSA 38:38, I(e), to serve any location within a municipality unserved by broadband as defined in RSA 38:38, I(c) for the purchase of departmental equipment of a lasting character, and for the payment of judgments. The issuance of such bonds or notes shall include, but not be limited to, public-private partnerships involving capital improvements, loans, financing, and guarantees. The public benefit in any public-private partnership must outweigh any benefit accruing to a private party. Bonds or notes for the purposes of economic development may be issued only after the governing body of the municipality or county has held hearings and presented the public benefit findings to the public and after such issuance has been approved by the legislative body. A municipality or county shall not issue bonds or notes to provide for the payment of expenses for current maintenance and operation except as otherwise specifically provided by law.

Source. 1917, 129:5, 6. PL 59:5, 6. RL 72:5, 6. 1953, 258:1. RSA 33:3. 1971, 34:1, eff. May 31, 1971. 1996, 55:1, eff. June 23, 1996. 2006, 225:1, eff. July 31, 2006. 2018, 118:2, eff. July 29, 2018.

Section 33:3-a

    33:3-a Use of Bond Proceeds. –
I. The proceeds of any sale of bonds or notes shall be used only for the purposes for which the loan was incurred except as otherwise authorized by this section; provided, however, that any premium received shall not be used to increase the amount to be spent for the purpose for which the loan was originally incurred. The purposes for which the loan was incurred may include the payment of principal of and interest on any temporary indebtedness incurred under RSA 33:7-a and interest on any temporary indebtedness incurred under RSA 33:7-b.
II. If after notes or bonds have been issued and no expenditure of the proceeds has been made for the purpose or purposes for which the debt was incurred, or if a balance remains after the completion of the project or projects for which the debt was authorized, a city by a vote of 2/3 of the city council or a town, school district, or village district by a vote of 2/3 of the voters present and voting at an annual meeting, a county by a 2/3 vote of all the members of the county convention, a political subdivision which has adopted official ballot voting procedures pursuant to RSA 40:13 by a vote of 3/5 of those voting, and a municipality that has adopted an official ballot town council under RSA 49-D:3, I-a by a vote of 2/3 unless the municipal charter provides for a vote of 3/5, may authorize the expenditure of the sum or sums on hand, including any premiums received, for any purpose or purposes for which bonds or serial notes may be issued for an equal or longer period of time at any time which said sum or any portion thereof remains available; provided, however, that if the sum obtained by issuance of bonds or notes, as aforesaid, or any balance thereof, including any premium, is not appropriated as aforesaid, then the same shall be used to pay the principal of the loan as it matures. Only "yes" or "no" votes shall be included in the calculation of any majority.
III. Notwithstanding the provisions hereof, no appropriation for a loan or balance thereof shall be made which will increase the amount available from borrowed money for any purpose to an amount in excess of any limit imposed by general law or special act for such purpose.

Source. 1963, 151:1. 1981, 300:4, eff. June 16, 1981. 2006, 12:1, eff. Mar. 13, 2006.

Section 33:3-b

    33:3-b Additional Purpose. – A city or town may issue its bonds or notes for the purpose of defraying the cost of a reappraisal by professional appraisers of the real estate in such city or town for tax assessment purposes, or for the acquisition of a tax map of said city or town; said bonds or notes to mature in a period of not more than 5 years from the date of issue.

Source. 1965, 55:1, eff. June 13, 1965.

Section 33:3-c

    33:3-c Issue of Bonds for Preliminary Expenses. –
I. A municipality or county may issue its bonds or notes for the purpose of defraying the cost of preliminary or final plans and specifications or other preliminary expenses incidental to, or connected with, any proposed public work or improvement of a permanent nature consisting of the construction, reconstruction, alteration, enlargement, improvement, or the financing of the construction, reconstruction, alteration, enlargement, or improvement of the following:
(a) A public building.
(b) A water works.
(c) A sewerage system or sewage or waste treatment facility.
(d) A solid waste disposal or resource recovery facility.
(e) Broadband infrastructure as defined in RSA 38:38, I(e) constructed to serve any locations within a municipality unserved by broadband as defined in RSA 38:38, I(c).
II. Bonds or notes shall mature over a period of not more than 5 years from the date of issue unless they are issued at the same time as bonds or notes for the public work or improvement for which such expenses were incurred, in which case said bonds or notes shall mature over a period not exceeding the expected useful life of such public work or improvement. A municipality or county may issue its bonds or notes in accordance with this section for planning and other preliminary expenses relating to solid waste disposal or resource recovery facilities to serve the municipality or county, notwithstanding that the facilities may later be owned by a private entity, but only for such expenses incurred prior to any binding contractual commitment to a proposed private owner, and only if such bonds or notes do not constitute "private activity bonds" as defined in section 103(n)(7) of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended.

Source. 1969, 201:1. 1985, 417:1, eff. Sept. 1, 1985. 2006, 225:2, eff. July 31, 2006. 2018, 118:3, eff. July 29, 2018.

Section 33:3-d

    33:3-d Refunding Bonds. –
I. A municipality or county may authorize the issuance of refunding bonds in order to pay all or part of any issue of bonds called or to be called for redemption, including any redemption premium thereon, all or part of the interest coming due on or prior to the date on which the outstanding bonds are redeemed, and the costs of issuing and marketing the refunding bonds. The authorization and issuance of refunding bonds shall be subject to the same requirements and provisions of law as would then be applicable to the authorization and issuance of the bonds being redeemed, as far as apt. In a town, school district, or village district, but not in a city, such refunding bonds may be authorized by the governing body of such town, school district, or village district, notwithstanding the provisions of RSA 33:8. In this case, the authorization of refunding bonds shall not be subject to RSA 33:8-a, provided that there shall be at least one public hearing concerning any proposed refunding bond issue in excess of $100,000 held before the governing body of the town, school district, or village district. Notice of the time, place, and subject of such hearing shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the town, school district, or village district at least 7 days before the hearing is held.
II. Refunding bonds shall be payable in installments, the first of which shall be not later than the earliest stated principal maturity date of the bonds being refunded and the last of which shall be not later than the last date on which the bonds being refunded could have been made payable under that law applicable to the bonds being refunded. The installment payments of refunding bonds shall be arranged in accordance with RSA 33:2 except that any installment that is payable earlier than the date on which the first installment is required to be made payable may be in any amount. The proceeds of refunding bonds, exclusive of any premium and accrued interest and any proceeds used to pay issuing or marketing costs, shall, upon their receipt, be paid immediately to the paying agent for the bonds which are to be called and prepaid; and such paying agent shall hold such proceeds in trust until the bonds are redeemed. While such proceeds are held in trust, they may be invested for the benefit of the municipality or county as may be provided in any other applicable law of the state of New Hampshire relating to the investment or deposit of municipal or county funds; and the income derived from investment may be expended to pay the principal of and redemption premium, if any, on the refunded bonds and interest thereon until they are redeemed. Refunding bonds issued in accordance with this section shall be subject to the same statutory limit of indebtedness, if any, as the bonds refunded; provided, however, that upon the issuance of the refunding bonds, the bonds refunded shall no longer be counted in determining any limit of indebtedness of the municipality or county.

Source. 1983, 468:9. 1987, 54:1, eff. April 22, 1987. 2007, 347:3, eff. Sept. 14, 2007.

Section 33:3-e

    33:3-e Superfund Site Cleanup Bonds Authorized. – A municipality may authorize the issuance of bonds, payable within 20 years from their dates of issuance, in order to pay all response costs associated with the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended, 42 U.S.C. section 9601 et seq. ("CERCLA"), national priorities list site ("superfund site") in which the municipality is a named potentially responsible party. Response costs shall include, but not be limited to, costs incurred for investigation, design, remedial action, legal fees and costs, consulting fees and costs, and other costs associated with the superfund site. Any debt incurred for this purpose shall be outside the debt limit prescribed in this chapter. Such debt shall at no time be included in the net indebtedness of any municipality for the purposes of determining its borrowing capacity. In the sole discretion of the municipality, it may extend the benefits of this bonding authority to one or more of the other potentially responsible parties at the superfund site. If a municipality elects to extend such benefits, its governing body shall enter into agreements with such other potentially responsible parties, in such form as it shall deem appropriate, to provide for payments to the municipality to pay principal and interest and other related costs of the bonded indebtedness incurred by the municipality on behalf of the other party or parties. For the purposes of this subdivision, "governing body" means the board of selectmen in a town, the board of aldermen or council in a city or town with a town council, the school board in a school district or the village district commissioners in a village district, or when used to refer to unincorporated towns or unorganized places, or both, the county commissioners.

Source. 1992, 275:2, eff. May 18, 1992.

Section 33:3-f

    33:3-f State Guarantee. –
I. The governor and council may award an unconditional state guarantee of the principal of and interest on bonds issued under RSA 33:3-e. The full faith and credit of the state shall be pledged for any such guarantees of principal and interest. The principal amount of the bonds guaranteed under this section shall not exceed $20,000,000.
II. The total amount awarded under RSA 33:3-e and this section to any one superfund site, however, shall not exceed $10,000,000, plus interest. The governor, with the advice and consent of the council, is authorized to draw his warrant for such a sum out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the purpose of honoring any guarantee awarded under this section. The state's guarantee shall be evidenced on each guaranteed bond by an endorsement signed by the state treasurer in substantially the following form:
The state of New Hampshire hereby unconditionally guarantees the payment of the whole of the principal and interest thereon of the within bond and for the performance of such guarantee the full faith and credit of the state are pledged.
_________________
State Treasurer

III. In connection with the award of a state guarantee, the governor and council may impose such terms and conditions as they may deem appropriate concerning the bonds and such terms and conditions as they may deem appropriate concerning reimbursement to the state if any state funds are used to honor the guarantee. Such terms and conditions may be contained in an agreement between the state and the municipality, to be executed on behalf of the state by the governor and the state treasurer and on behalf of the municipality by its governing body.
IV. Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to affect in any way the ultimate liability of any party, under state or federal law, for hazardous waste cleanup costs.

Source. 1992, 275:2, eff. May 18, 1992. 2008, 49:4, eff. July 1, 2008.

Section 33:3-g

    33:3-g Broadband Infrastructure Bonds. –
I. A municipality or communications district formed under RSA 53-G may issue bonds for the purpose of financing the development, construction, reconstruction, renovation, improvement, and acquisition of broadband infrastructure in any locations within a municipality unserved by broadband as defined in RSA 38:38, I(c). Without limiting the foregoing, broadband infrastructure may be the subject of public-private partnerships established in accordance with the provisions of RSA 33:3.
II. Bonds issued under this section shall be payable in annual payments so that the amount of annual payment of principal and interest in any year on account of any bond shall be not less than the amount of principal and interest payable in any subsequent year by more than 5 percent of the principal of the entire bond. The total amount of payments shall be sufficient to extinguish the entire bond at such bond's maturity. The first payment of principal on any bond shall be made no later than 5 years and the last payment not later than 30 years after the date issued. Each authorized issue of bonds shall be a separate and distinct loan.
III. A municipality, county, or communications district shall not issue bonds for the purpose of financing the development, construction, reconstruction, renovation, improvement, and acquisition of broadband infrastructure in any location within a municipality, county, or communications district unserved by broadband as defined in RSA 38:38, I(c) unless a request for information has been issued, at a minimum, to all providers serving the issuing community in accordance with RSA 33:3-g, IV and such providers have been given 30 days to respond to the request. The request for information shall include, but is not limited to, information identifying addresses within a municipality, county, or communications district, served by broadband as defined in RSA 38:38, I(c). A response shall meet the requirements of this paragraph if it includes, in either map or spreadsheet form, street level information identifying the first and last serviceable address. After completing, issuing, and receiving responses to such request for information, a municipality, county, or communications district may issue a request for proposals for the purpose of engaging in a public-private partnership pursuant to RSA 33:3 or RSA 33-B for the deployment of broadband infrastructure, as defined in RSA 38:38, I(e), and the provision of broadband service as defined in RSA 38:38, I(f). A municipality, county, or communications district may select a proposal based on criteria including, but not limited to, provider ability to deploy, manage, and maintain a broadband network. Requests for proposals shall include, in either map or spreadsheet form, street level information identifying the first and last serviceable address. A municipality, county, or communications district may determine that no provider has met the criteria included in the request for proposals and may issue bonds for purposes pursuant to RSA 33:3 and RSA 33-B, including but not limited to, open networks. If a broadband provider does not respond to a request for information pursuant to this paragraph, the locations served by that broadband provider shall be considered unserved, unless those locations are served by a broadband provider who responded to that municipality's request for information.
IV. The department of business and economic affairs shall maintain a list by town of all providers interested in receiving requests for information. The list shall include physical and electronic address information for interested providers and shall be updated as needed, but at least annually. For purposes of issuing requests for information pursuant to paragraph III, a municipality, county, or communications district shall reference the interested provider list maintained by the department and shall issue requests for information to all interested providers in that municipality, county, or communications district, both electronically and by United States mail.

Source. 2006, 225:3, eff. July 31, 2006. 2018, 118:4, eff. July 29, 2018. 2020, 28:1, 2, eff. Sept. 20, 2020; 28:6, eff. July 22, 2020. 2021, 198:2, Pt. III, Sec. 1, eff. Oct. 9, 2021. 2023, 79:247, eff. July 1, 2023.

Section 33:4

    33:4 Debt Limit, Counties. – Counties shall not incur net indebtedness to an amount, at any one time outstanding, exceeding 2 percent of the last assessed valuation thereof.

Source. 1917, 129:7. PL 59:7. 1933, 98:1. RL 72:7. 1951, 183:1. 1953, 258:1, par. 4. RSA 33:4. 1955, 329:1, eff. Aug. 5, 1955.

Section 33:4-a

    33:4-a Debt Limit, Municipalities. –
I. Cities shall not incur net indebtedness, except for school purposes, to an amount, at any one time outstanding, exceeding 3 percent of their valuation determined as hereinafter provided.
II. Cities shall not incur net indebtedness for school purposes to an amount at any one time outstanding, determined as hereinafter provided, exceeding 7 percent of said valuation. Any debt incurred for school purposes by a city under this or any special statute heretofore or hereafter enacted shall be excluded in determining the borrowing capacity of a city for other than school purposes under the 3 percent limitation in paragraph I.
III. Towns shall not incur net indebtedness to an amount at any one time outstanding exceeding 3 percent of their valuation determined as hereinafter provided.
IV. School districts shall not incur net indebtedness to an amount at any one time outstanding exceeding 7 percent determined as hereinafter provided.
V. Village districts shall not incur net indebtedness to an amount at any one time outstanding exceeding one percent of their valuation determined as hereinafter provided.

Source. 1955, 329:1. 1957, 120:1. 1959, 209:3, eff. Sept. 27, 1959. 1998, 72:1, eff. July 18, 1998.

Section 33:4-b

    33:4-b Debt Limit; Computation. – The debt limitations hereinbefore prescribed, except for counties, shall be based upon the applicable last locally assessed valuation of the municipality as last equalized by the commissioner of revenue administration under RSA 21-J:3, XIII and shall include the equalized value of property formerly taxed pursuant to the provisions of RSA 72:7; 72:15, I, V, VII, VIII, IX, X and XI; 72:16; 72:17; 73:26; 73:27 and 73:11 through 16 inclusive, all as amended, which was relieved from taxation by 1970, 5:3, 5:8 and 57:12, as determined under the provisions of RSA 71:11 as amended. Whenever several municipalities possessing the power to incur indebtedness cover or extend over identical territory, each such municipality shall so exercise the power to incur indebtedness under the foregoing limitations so that the aggregate net indebtedness of such municipalities shall not exceed 9.75 percent of the valuation of the taxable property as hereinbefore determined, except as provided for cooperative school districts under RSA 195:6. A written certificate signed by the commissioner of the department of revenue administration shall be conclusive evidence of the base valuation of municipalities for computing debt limits hereunder.

Source. 1955, 329:1. 1957, 120:4. 1959, 209:4. 1970, 5:6; 57:14. 1973, 544:11, I. 1991, 306:1, eff. April 1, 1992.

Section 33:4-c to 33:4-g

    33:4-c to 33:4-g Repealed by 1959, 209:5, eff. Sept. 27, 1959. –

Section 33:5

    33:5 Sewerage Systems and Sewage Treatment Works. – Municipalities which have received orders from the department of environmental services to install sewage treatment works under the provisions of RSA 485-A, or to install a sewerage system or sewage treatment works under the provisions of RSA 485:27, or under RSA 147, or acts amending such statutes enacted in the future, may incur debt by the issue of bonds or notes for the construction of such sewerage systems and treatment works outside the limit of indebtedness prescribed by RSA 33:4. Such debt shall at no time be included in the net indebtedness of the municipality for the purpose of ascertaining its borrowing capacity.

Source. 1949, 78:1. 1953, 258:1, par. 5. RSA 33:5. 1986, 202:6, I(a). 1989, 339:11, eff. Jan. 1, 1990. 1996, 228:108, eff. July 1, 1996.

Section 33:5-a

    33:5-a Water Works. – Municipalities may incur debt for supplying the inhabitants with water or for the construction, enlargement, or improvement of water works, by the issue of bonds or notes, for such purposes, as set forth in this chapter; provided, however, that such municipalities shall not incur debt for such purposes to an amount, at any one time outstanding, exceeding 10 percent of their last locally assessed valuation as last equalized by the commissioner of revenue administration determined as provided in RSA 33:4-b. Any municipality which shall have received orders from the department of environmental services under the provisions of RSA 485 requiring the alteration, enlargement, or application of any other improvement in such facilities as will ensure fitness and safety and adequate protection of the public health may incur debt thereof by the issue of bonds or notes outside the limit prescribed herein. All debt authorized by this section, inasmuch as it is all excluded from the definition of "net indebtedness" in RSA 33:1, shall at no time be included for the purpose of calculating the borrowing capacity of the municipality for other purposes. The debt limits established by this section may be exceeded by a municipality in accordance with the procedure prescribed in and subject to the provisions of RSA 33:6.

Source. 1957, 142:2. 1973, 544:8. 1986, 202:6, I(a), eff. Jan. 2, 1987. 1996, 228:13, eff. July 1, 1996.

Section 33:5-b

    33:5-b Voluntary Projects. – Any city, town, village district, or other political subdivision may vote to incur debt for the purpose of installing a sewage disposal plant including treatment works or sewerage facilities or thereof, although at the time of such vote it has not received an order from the department of environmental services directing such installation under RSA 147, RSA 485, or RSA 485-A. Any such debt shall at no time be included in the net indebtedness of said city, town, village district, or other political subdivision for the purpose of ascertaining its borrowing capacity provided the approval of the governor and council hereinafter provided for is obtained.

Source. 1957, 213:1. 1961, 120:2. 1986, 202:6, I(a), eff. Jan. 2, 1987. 1996, 228:13, eff. July 1, 1996.

Section 33:5-c

    33:5-c Approval. – Any such municipality which has voted to incur debt under the provisions of RSA 33:5-b shall submit a certified copy of the record of such action together with detailed plans of the proposed construction to the department of environmental services for review and approval, as hereinafter provided. After a review of the plans and such other independent investigation as is deemed necessary, if the department of environmental services determines that the proposed project is in the public interest, due consideration being given to the cost of said project in relation to the benefits which will accrue to public health or water pollution control, it shall furnish a report of its findings and recommendations including a recommendation concerning a state guarantee as provided for under RSA 485-A:7 to the governor and council for their approval.

Source. 1957, 213:1. 1965, 26:1. 1986, 202:6, I(a). 1989, 339:12, eff. Jan. 1, 1990. 1996, 228:108, eff. July 1, 1996.

Section 33:5-d

    33:5-d State Revolving Loan Funds. – The terms of repayment by a municipality of any loan from the loan fund established under RSA 486:14, or from any other state revolving loan fund established for water pollution control, solid waste disposal or treatment or other environmental improvement purposes, shall be governed by the statute and rules establishing the loan fund, notwithstanding any inconsistency with the provisions of this chapter relating to required annual installments, maximum period, or other such terms and conditions. In addition, a municipality may use proceeds of such a loan to pay interest on the loan during construction and for a period thereafter to the extent permitted by such statute or rules, and no authenticating certificate shall be required under RSA 33:11 on any bond, note or other document evidencing the loan.

Source. 1991, 179:1, eff. May 27, 1991.

Section 33:6

    33:6 Emergency Borrowing. – Upon recommendation of the commissioner of revenue administration, approved by the governor and council, municipalities and counties may, within such limits as to amount, term and rate of interest as may be prescribed by the commissioner of revenue administration, incur debt outside the debt limit prescribed by RSA 33:4 for purposes made necessary by war or other national or local disaster or emergency. Such debt shall at no time be included in the net indebtedness of the municipality or county for the purpose of determining its borrowing capacity.

Source. 1953, 258:1, par. 6. RSA 33:6. 1973, 544:8, eff. Sept. 1, 1973.

Section 33:6-a

    33:6-a Exclusion from Debt Limit. – Any municipality which has authorized the purchase and installation of parking meters under the provisions of RSA 249, and acts in amendment thereof which has incurred indebtedness or may incur indebtedness for the purchase and installation of such meters and the acquisition, construction and improvement of public parking facilities may have such indebtedness to an amount not exceeding 1/2 of one percent of its last assessed valuation computed under the provisions of RSA 33:4 excluded from the debt limit prescribed in RSA 33:4 if upon application to the commissioner of revenue administration, after hearing, the commissioner of revenue administration finds that the revenues from such sources may reasonably be expected to be adequate to retire such indebtedness and the costs connected therewith in accordance with the terms by which said indebtedness was incurred. Every such municipality shall annually in April report to the commissioner of revenue administration such information as the commissioner may require relative to the revenues from such sources, the costs of operation of such parking facilities and the amount of outstanding indebtedness for such purposes. If, at any time, the commissioner of revenue administration shall find the revenues available for retiring the debt are insufficient for the purpose, then the remaining amount of outstanding indebtedness shall be included in the limit of indebtedness prescribed by RSA 33:4.

Source. 1959, 153:1. 1973, 544:8, eff. Sept. 1, 1973.

Section 33:6-b

    33:6-b Exclusion from Debt Limit. – Municipalities, other than school districts and counties, may incur debt for energy production projects including the reconstruction or enlargement of a municipally owned utility; the manufacture or furnishing of light, heat, power or water for the public; the generation, transmission or sale of energy ultimately sold to the public; or the construction, enlargement, or improvement of small scale power facilities, as such facilities are defined in RSA 374-D:1; by the issue of bonds or notes authorized under this chapter, RSA 374-D, and as otherwise provided by law. Any debt incurred for this purpose shall be outside the debt limit prescribed in this chapter. Such debt shall at no time be included in the net indebtedness of any municipality for the purposes of determining its borrowing capacity.

Source. 1981, 161:2, eff. Aug. 1, 1981; 545:2, eff. Aug. 29, 1981.

Section 33:6-c

    33:6-c Exclusion from Debt Limit. – Any municipality which has voted to acquire land from a United States military base may incur debt by the issuance of bonds or notes beyond the limit of indebtedness as set forth in RSA 33:4-a, provided that the purpose of the acquisition is to further the economic development of the municipality. Such debt shall at no time be included in the net indebtedness of the municipality for the purpose of ascertaining its borrowing capacity.

Source. 1992, 260:10, eff. July 14, 1992.

Section 33:6-d

    33:6-d Exclusion from Debt Limit; Waste Site Cleanups. – Municipalities may incur debt for cleanup projects pursuant to RSA 147-B, excluding Superfund sites, and for the closing or cleanup of landfills and other solid waste facilities as defined in RSA 149-M by the issue of bonds or notes authorized under this chapter and RSA 149-M:30. Any debt incurred for this purpose shall be outside the debt limit prescribed in this chapter. Such debt shall at no time be included in the net indebtedness of any municipality for the purposes of determining its borrowing capacity.

Source. 1992, 279:2, eff. May 18, 1992. 1996, 251:6, eff. Aug. 9, 1996.

Section 33:6-e

    33:6-e Exclusion from Debt Limit; Solid Waste Management Districts. – The debt limit restrictions of this chapter shall not apply to a solid waste management district formed under RSA 53-B or to the debts or obligations incurred by such a district. Debts or obligations of a member municipality to such a district shall at no time be included in the net indebtedness of the municipality for the purposes of determining its borrowing capacity.

Source. 1994, 367;15, eff. Aug. 8, 1994.

Section 33:6-f

    33:6-f Exclusion from Debt Limit; Broadband Infrastructure. – Municipalities may incur debt for broadband infrastructure as defined in RSA 38:38, I(e) by the issue of bonds or notes authorized under this chapter. Any debt incurred for this purpose shall be outside the debt limit prescribed in this chapter. Such debt shall at no time be included in the net indebtedness of any municipality for the purposes of determining its borrowing capacity.

Source. 2006, 225:4, eff. July 31, 2006.

Section 33:7

    33:7 Tax Anticipation Notes. –
I.
Cities and Towns. Cities and towns may incur debt in anticipation of the taxes of the financial year in which the debt is incurred, in order to pay current maintenance and operation expenses, and may issue notes therefor to an aggregate principal amount not exceeding the total tax levy during the preceding financial year, provided that after the tax levy of the current year has been determined any city or town may borrow an amount not exceeding in the aggregate the total tax levy of the city or town for the current financial year. In order to meet necessary expenses which may arise during the period from the beginning of the financial year to the date of the annual town meeting, the treasurer of any town, with the approval of the selectmen, may issue notes, without a vote of the town therefor, to an aggregate principal amount not exceeding 30 percent of the total receipts from taxes during the preceding financial year.
II.
Village Districts. Village districts may incur debt in anticipation of taxes and other revenue of the financial year in which the debt is incurred, in order to pay current maintenance and operation expenses, and may issue notes therefor to an aggregate principal amount not exceeding the total tax levy of the district during the preceding financial year. In order to meet necessary expenses which may arise during the period from the beginning of the financial year to the date of the annual district meeting, the treasurer of any district with the approval of the governing board, may issue notes, without a vote of the district therefor, to an aggregate principal amount not exceeding 30 percent of the total tax levy during the preceding financial year.
III. All notes issued under authority of this section shall be general obligations. They may be sold at discount and shall be payable not later than one year from their date. Notes issued for a shorter period than one year may be refunded or renewed, pursuant to a vote or resolution of the governing board, or the city councils in the case of cities, by the issue of other notes maturing within the required period, provided, however, that the period from the date of issue of the original loan to the date of maturity of the refunding or renewal loan shall not be more than one year.
IV. A village district established pursuant to RSA 52:1 may apply to the town it is situated in for tax anticipation money before the tax rate has been established for the town if said district presents to the selectmen a district budget, approved at a properly constituted district meeting called for the purpose of approving a budget. Towns may advance to any village district a share of any money borrowed by the town in anticipation of taxes, not exceeding the total approved budget amount to be paid to such district. The town may charge the district a proportionate share of the interest due on that town's tax anticipation notes.
V. For tax anticipation notes only, any town or village district at an annual meeting may adopt an article authorizing indefinitely until specific rescission of such authority the issuance of tax anticipation notes. The following shall apply:
(a) Such warrant article to be voted on shall read: "Shall the town (or village district) accept the provision of RSA 33:7 providing that any town (or village district) at an annual meeting may adopt an article authorizing indefinitely, until specific rescission of such authority, the selectmen (or commissioners) to issue tax anticipation notes?"
(b) If a majority of voters voting on the question vote in the affirmative, the proposed warrant article shall be in effect in accordance with the terms of the article until such time as the town (or village district) meeting votes to rescind its vote.

Source. 1953, 258:1, par. 7. RSA 33:7. 1957, 95:1; 98:1. 1967, 305:1. 1969, 171:1. 1979, 140:1. 1993, 176:4, eff. Aug. 8, 1993; 361:1, eff. Sept. 22, 1993. 1997, 105:3, 4, eff. Aug. 8, 1997.

Section 33:7-a

    33:7-a Temporary Loans. – If a municipality votes to issue bonds or serial notes in accordance with this chapter, or when bonds have been authorized by a county convention, and such action was in accordance with the provisions of law in all respects, the officers authorized to issue the same may, in the name of the municipality, or county, make a temporary loan or loans in anticipation of the money to be derived from the sale of such bonds or notes and may issue temporary notes therefor from time to time which are payable not later than 5 years from their respective dates of issue. Temporary notes issued for a period of less than 5 years may be renewed or paid from time to time by the issue of other notes, provided that the period from the date of an original note to the maturity of any note issued to renew or pay the same debt shall not exceed 5 years. When a temporary loan is made in anticipation of an issue of bonds or serial notes, the periods within which annual payments of an equivalent amount of the principal of such bonds or serial notes must commence and end under this chapter shall be measured from the date of the original note or notes representing such temporary loan, except that such annual payments need not commence less than one year after the date of such bonds or serial notes. No such notes shall be renewed beyond the third anniversary date of the original notes unless an amount of such notes, at least equal to the first legally payable installment of the bonds in anticipation of which said notes are issued, is paid and retired on or before said third anniversary date and, if such notes are renewed beyond the fourth anniversary date of the original notes, a like amount is paid or retired on or before said fourth anniversary date from funds other than proceeds of the obligation.

Source. 1957, 89:1. 1963, 151:2. 1965, 322:1. 1969, 172:1. 1973, 138:1; 544:11, III. 1975, 447:2. 1977, 160:1. 1983, 327:1. 1985, 143:1, eff. July 19, 1985.

Section 33:7-b

    33:7-b Anticipation of Federal or State Aid. – A municipality may contract for or accept grants of federal or state aid or both in connection with any project for which the municipality may incur indebtedness under this chapter; and, after their receipt, such grants shall be expended according to the terms under which they are received or used to pay indebtedness incurred under this chapter. Any municipality which has contracted for or accepted an offer of a grant of federal or state aid or both, and any municipality which has not contracted for or accepted such aid but which has authorized such action and which has received a certificate from the department of environmental services stating that the department of environmental services has determined that such municipality may reasonably expect to receive an amount of federal aid with respect to a sewer project, may incur indebtedness in anticipation of the receipt of such aid by issuing its note or notes payable not more than 5 years from their dates, except that notes issued for a shorter period than 5 years may be funded and refunded from time to time by the issue of other notes which shall be payable no later than 5 years after the date of issue of the original note or notes creating the indebtedness being funded or refunded. In the case of a city the authority to contract for or accept grants of federal or state aid or both shall be given by a resolution passed in the manner provided in RSA 33:9, and in the case of a town, school district or village district the authority shall be given by a vote by ballot of 2/3 of all the voters present and voting at an annual or special meeting of such corporation; and the giving of such authority shall be sufficient to authorize the appropriate officers as specified in RSA 33:8 and 9 to issue notes as provided in this section without further proceedings by the municipality. Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to authorize the appropriation of any money in a manner which is inconsistent with laws relating to appropriations of money by municipalities.

Source. 1967, 38:2. 1971, 220:1. 1983, 160:1. 1986, 202:6, I(a). 1996, 228:108, eff. July 1, 1996.

Section 33:7-c

    33:7-c Borrowing in Emergency Due to Bankruptcy. – Whenever any person, firm or corporation, who or which owns property subject to taxation under any provision of RSA 72, files a petition in bankruptcy, or is adjudicated bankrupt under any chapter of the federal bankruptcy laws, thus causing a substantial delay in or impediment to the payment or collection of property taxes assessed thereon by the city or town in which such property is located, such city or town, if the locally assessed value of such property of the bankrupt taxpayer exceeds 5 percent of the total locally assessed value of all taxable property within the city or town, may borrow money from time to time to meet any such deficit by issuance of its notes in such amount as may be approved by majority vote of its legislative body if a city, or of those present and voting at any annual or duly called special meeting, if a town. The discretion of fixing the date, maturities and denominations, interest or discount rate, the form and other details of said notes and of providing for the issuance and place of payment thereof shall be deemed delegated to the selectmen or the treasurer, unless otherwise voted by said legislative body or town meeting. The issuance of such notes and the provisions thereof shall also be subject to the approval of the commissioner of revenue administration, who may approve the same upon a finding that the proposed borrowing complies with the provisions of this section and is in the best interests of the municipality. The provisions of RSA 31:5 shall not apply to action by special town meetings under this section. Such notes may be renewed subject to the provisions of this section and subject to the approval of the commissioner of revenue administration. Indebtedness incurred under this section shall not be subject to the debt limit prescribed by RSA 33:4-a and shall be excluded from the definition of net indebtedness in RSA 33:1. All taxes recovered from the bankrupt or through the bankruptcy proceedings shall be promptly applied toward the reduction of notes issued under this section. The commissioner may, from time to time, require reports from any such municipality as to progress in retirement of such indebtedness. All notes issued under this section shall be general obligations.

Source. 1988, 104:1, eff. April 18, 1988.

Section 33:7-d

    33:7-d Tax Lien Redemption Notes. –
I. Any city or town in which the provisions of RSA 80:58-86 are in effect may incur debt in anticipation of redemption of real estate tax liens held by the city or town, in order to pay current maintenance and operation expenses or to fund cash deficits, and may issue notes therefor that are secured and made payable in accordance with this section, notwithstanding the provisions of RSA 33:7.
II. Notes issued under this section shall be general obligations but may also be secured, pursuant to a vote or a resolution of the local legislative body of the city or town, by a pledge of all or a portion of the proceeds of payments in redemption made under RSA 80:69 and RSA 80:71. Any such proceeds so pledged shall be deposited upon receipt in a segregated account to be held by the treasurer, or a corporate trustee designated by the treasurer, shall be applied without appropriation to the payment of such notes, and shall not be used for any other purpose until the notes and the interest on such notes are paid in full; provided that any earnings derived from investment of moneys in the account shall be credited to the general fund of the city or town and shall be available for appropriation for any lawful purpose. Any resolution adopted under this section may contain such covenants or restrictions with respect to maintenance, investment and disposition of the account, and any other provisions for protecting and enforcing the rights, security and remedies of the noteholders as may be, in the discretion of the city council or board of selectmen, reasonable and proper and not in violation of law. Any pledge made under this section shall be valid and binding and deemed continuously perfected from the time the pledge is made; and any proceeds so pledged and then held or thereafter acquired shall immediately be subject to the lien of that pledge. The resolution authorizing or creating the pledge need not be recorded other than in the records of the city or town clerk and no filing of the resolution need be made under RSA 382-A.
III. Notes issued under this section may be sold at a discount and shall be payable not later than 3 years from their dates. Notes issued for a shorter period may be refunded by the issue of other notes, provided that the period from the date of issue of the original notes to the date of maturity of the refunding notes shall not exceed 3 years. No notes may be issued or refunded under this section in a principal amount that would cause the total aggregate principal amount of notes outstanding under this section to exceed the total amount of real estate tax liens then held by the city or town.

Source. 1992, 173:1, eff. May 8, 1992.

Section 33:7-e

    33:7-e Lease Agreements of Equipment. – The governing body may enter into leases of equipment as required by the municipality. Appropriations to fund lease agreements with nonappropriation clauses may be approved by a simple majority vote of the legislative body. Lease agreements with nonappropriation clauses shall not be treated as debt under RSA 33:4-a. For the purposes of this section, "lease" shall include lease-purchase, sale and lease back, installment sale, or other similar agreement to acquire use or ownership of such equipment as is from time to time required by the municipality. For purposes of this section and RSA 382-A, building or facility improvements related to the installation, purpose, or operation of such equipment shall be deemed to constitute equipment and the costs of such improvements may be financed through lease agreements under this section.

Source. 1999, 35:1, eff. July 10, 1999. 2014, 60:1, eff. July 26, 2014.

Section 33:8

    33:8 Town or District Bonds or Notes. – Except as otherwise specifically provided by law, the issue of bonds or notes by any municipal corporation, except a city or a town which has adopted a charter pursuant to RSA 49-B, without a budgetary town meeting, shall be authorized by a vote by ballot of 3/5, and the issue of tax anticipation notes, by a vote of a majority, of all the voters present and voting at an annual or special meeting of such corporation, called for the purpose. The issue of notes or bonds by a municipality that has adopted an optional form of legislative body under RSA 49-D:3, I-a or RSA 49-D:3, II-a shall be authorized by either a 2/3 or 3/5 vote as adopted and provided for in the charter. If such charter does not specify which majority vote is required, then the required majority vote shall be 3/5. Only votes in the affirmative or negative shall be included in the calculation of any majority. No such action taken at any special meeting shall be valid unless a majority of all the legal voters are present and vote at such special meeting, unless the governing board of any municipality shall petition the superior court for permission to hold an emergency special meeting, which, if granted, shall give said special meeting the same authority as an annual meeting. The warrant for a special meeting shall be published once in a newspaper having a general circulation in the municipality within one week after the posting of such special meeting. The warrant for any such annual or special meeting shall be served or posted at least 14 days before the date of such special meeting. Every warrant shall be deemed to have been duly served or posted, if the return on the warrant shall so state, and it shall be certified by the officer or officers required to serve or post the same. All bonds or notes, authorized in accordance with this chapter, shall be signed by the governing board, or a majority of the governing board, and countersigned by the treasurer of the municipality, and shall have the corporate seal, if any, affixed to it. The discretion of fixing the date, maturities, denominations, the interest rate, or discount rate in the case of notes, the place of payment, the form and other details of said bonds or notes and of providing for the sale of such bonds or notes, may be delegated to the governing board or to the treasurer and shall, to the extent provision therefor shall not have been made in the vote authorizing the same, be deemed to have been delegated to the governing board. Bonding authority under this section may be limited or rescinded as provided in RSA 33:8-f.

Source. 1895, 43:3. PL 59:9. RL 72:9. 1953, 258:1, par. 8. RSA 33:8. 1969, 438:2. 1970, 18:2. 1983, 160:2. 1991, 304:1, eff. Aug. 23, 1991. 1999, 134:1, eff. Aug. 17, 1999. 2002, 246:1, eff. July 16, 2002. 2004, 254:1, eff. Aug. 14, 2004. 2009, 229:1, eff. Jan. 1, 2010. 2020, 38:19, eff. Sept. 27, 2020.

Section 33:8-a

    33:8-a Procedure for Authorizing Bonds or Notes in Excess of $100,000. –
I. There shall be at least one public hearing concerning any proposed municipal bond or note issue in excess of $100,000 held before the governing board of any municipality. Said hearing shall be held at least 15 days, but not more than 60 days prior to the meeting, or adjourned session thereof, at which the bond or note issued is to be voted upon. Notice of the time, place and subject of such hearing shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the municipality at least 7 days before it is held. Whenever possible the governing board shall determine the form of the warrant article after the public hearing.
II. All articles appearing in the warrant which propose a bond or note issue exceeding $100,000 shall appear in consecutive numerical order and shall be acted upon prior to other business except the election of officers, action on the adoption, revision, or amendment of a municipal charter, and zoning matters or as otherwise determined by the voters at the meeting. Polls shall remain open and ballots shall be accepted by the moderator on each such article, for a period of not less than one hour following the completion of discussion on each respective article. A separate ballot box shall be provided for each bond article to be voted upon pursuant to this section.
III. The provisions of this section shall not apply to cities nor to any borrowing under the authority of RSA 33:7, relative to tax anticipation notes.
IV. Upon favorable approval on the motion to reconsider the vote on a bond or note issue under paragraphs I and II, actual reconsideration of the bond issue shall not take place until the expiration of at least 7 days from the date on which the original vote on the motion was taken. Notice of time and place where such reconsideration shall take place shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the municipality at least 2 days before the reconsideration vote. Wherever required, the provisions of RSA 33:8-a shall apply.
V. Bonding authority under this section may be limited or rescinded as provided in RSA 33:8-f.

Source. 1971, 270:1. 1973, 25:1; 543:1. 1979, 43:1. 1983, 160:3, eff. Aug. 9, 1983. 2009, 229:2, eff. Jan. 1, 2010. 2014, 292:3, eff. Sept. 30, 2014.

Section 33:8-b

    33:8-b Repealed by 1973, 25:2, eff. March 2, 1973. –

Section 33:8-c

    33:8-c Alternate Procedure for Authorizing Town or Village District Bonds or Notes for Municipal Small Scale Power Facilities. –
I. By a 2/3 vote, the governing board of a town or village district may call a special meeting for the purpose of authorizing the issuance of bonds or notes for the municipal financing of small scale power facilities, as such facilities are defined in RSA 374-D:1. A special meeting held under this section shall have the same authority as that of an annual town meeting. The issuance of such bonds or notes shall be authorized by a vote of 2/3 of all the voters present and voting at the special meeting.
II. The warrant for such special meeting shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the municipality at least once a week for 2 consecutive weeks after the posting of such warrant. The warrant for such special meeting shall be served or posted at least 14 days before the date of the meeting. Every warrant shall be deemed to have been duly served or posted, if the return on the warrant shall so state, and it shall be certified by the officer or officers required to serve or post the warrant.
III. There shall be at least one public hearing concerning any such proposed municipal bond issue held before the governing board of the municipality, before a special meeting held to vote on such issue. Said hearing shall be held at least 15 days, but not more than 60 days before the special meeting at which the bonds or notes to be issued are to be voted on. Notice of the time, place, and subject of such hearing shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the municipality at least 7 days before it is held. If a hearing is held under RSA 35:8-a or RSA 32, said hearing shall be sufficient for this purpose.
IV. All bonds or notes authorized in accordance with this section shall be signed by the governing board, or a majority of the board, and countersigned by the treasurer of the issuing municipality, and shall have the corporate seal, if any, affixed to such bonds or notes. The discretion of fixing the date, maturities, denominations, the interest rate, or discount rate in the case of notes, the place of payment, the form and other details of said bonds or notes and of providing for their sale, may be delegated to the governing board or to the treasurer and shall, to the extent provision for such delegation shall not have been made in the authorizing vote, be deemed to have been delegated to the governing board.

Source. 1981, 545:3, eff. Aug. 29, 1981.

Section 33:8-d

    33:8-d Procedures for Authorizing Bonds or Notes in Municipalities Adopting Charters Pursuant to RSA 49-B, Without a Budgetary Town Meeting. –
I. The town council of any town which has adopted a charter pursuant to RSA 49-B, and which has chosen the procedures as set forth in this section, shall have the authority to issue bonds or notes, as follows:
(a) At least one public hearing shall be held at least 15 days, but not more than 60 days, prior to the vote on the bond issue or note. Notice of the time, place and subject matter of such hearings shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the municipality at least 7 days before the hearing is held and posted in at least 2 public places in the municipality.
(b) The issuance of any bonds or notes shall appear as an agenda item on the public agenda of the town council meeting at which any vote is scheduled to be taken and any action taken on such item shall be by a recorded roll call vote.
(c) A 2/3 majority vote of the town council shall be required to authorize the issuance of bonds or notes.
(d) The authority of the town council to issue bonds or notes pursuant to this paragraph is limited to an amount not in excess of 10 percent of the town's operating budget for the most recently concluded fiscal year.
II. In the event that a proposed bond issue or note is in excess of 10 percent of the town's operating budget for the most recently concluded fiscal year, a referendum shall be held on said issuance, as follows:
(a) The town council shall, after notice and public hearing at a regularly scheduled council meeting, order a referendum on the issuance to be held on the Tuesday not less than 60 nor more than 67 days from the regular meeting at which the order is passed.
(b) The town council shall hold at least one additional public hearing on the proposed bond or note after the issuance of its order for a referendum. The hearing shall be held at least 30 days, but not more than 60 days, prior to the referendum.
(c) The same notice requirements for public hearings on issuance of bonds or notes by vote of the town council shall apply to public hearings on bonds or notes to be authorized by referendum.
(d) An additional public hearing shall be held if the proposed bond or note issue is substantively altered by the town council after public hearing. Subsequent public hearings shall be held at least 14 days after the prior public hearing and shall comply with the same notice requirements.
(e) An official copy of the final bond or note proposal shall be placed on file with the town clerk and made available to the public 7 days before the referendum and displayed at the voting place on the day of the referendum.
(f) The town clerk shall prepare an official ballot which shall include the following question:
"Are you in favor of appropriating the sum of $ __________ for the purpose of __________ , with said sum to be in addition to any federal, state or private funds made available therefor, and of authorizing the issuance of not more than $ __________ of bonds or notes in accordance with the provisions of the municipal finance act, RSA Chapter 33?"
When submitting the question under this section to the voters, there shall be 2 squares printed after the question, one with the word "yes" beside it and another with the word "no" beside it.
(g) If a 2/3 majority of the voters present and voting on the issuance of bonds or notes shall vote in the affirmative, the appropriation and issuance of bonds or notes in the amounts so stated in the question shall be declared to have been adopted.
III. The issuance of tax anticipation notes shall be authorized by a majority vote of the town council.
IV. This section shall not apply to towns which have adopted a charter calling for a budgetary town meeting pursuant to RSA 49-D:3, III. The issuance of bonds or notes in such towns shall be governed by RSA 33:7, 33:8 and 33:8-a.

Source. 1991, 304:2. 1993, 176:5. 1994, 87:1, eff. July 5, 1994.

Section 33:8-e

    33:8-e Town Council Authority to Issue Bonds and Notes. – Any town which has adopted a charter pursuant to RSA 49-B and which does not have a budgetary town meeting, may choose in its charter to allow the town council to follow the procedures set out in RSA 33:8-d or RSA 33:9 for the issuance of bonds and notes.

Source. 1994, 87:2, eff. July 5, 1994.

Section 33:8-f

    33:8-f Procedures to Limit or Rescind Bonding Authority for Bonds or Notes. –
I. In any vote to approve bonding authority, a town may limit the length of time the bond authorization remains valid. If, after the expiration of any such period, no bond or note has been issued, the bonding authority shall be considered for all purposes as rescinded.
II. A town may vote at an annual meeting to rescind an authorized but unissued bond or note following the same procedures as would be required to adopt such bond or note, provided that:
(a) A vote to rescind shall not take place less than 5 years after the vote to authorize the bond or note;
(b) The vote to rescind must pass by the same majority required, at the time of the rescission vote, to adopt a bond or note; and
(c) Notwithstanding RSA 33:8-a, II, a warrant article proposing the rescission of a bond or note in excess of $100,000 need not be acted upon prior to other business.

Source. 2009, 229:3, eff. Jan. 1, 2010.

Section 33:9

    33:9 City Bonds. – The issue of bonds or tax anticipation notes by a city shall be authorized by a resolution of the city councils, passed by at least 2/3 of all the members of each branch thereof. All such bonds and notes shall be signed by a mayor and countersigned by the city treasurer, and shall have the city seal affixed thereto. The discretion of fixing the date, maturities, denominations, place of payment, interest rate, or discount rate in the case of notes, the form and other details of said bonds or notes, and of providing for the sale thereof, may be delegated to the city treasurer and shall, to the extent provision therefor shall not have been made in the vote authorizing the same, be deemed to have been delegated to the treasurer with approval of the mayor.

Source. 1895, 43:4. PL 59:11. RL 72:11. 1953, 258:1, par. 9, eff. Jan. 1, 1954.

Section 33:10

    33:10 County Bonds. – County bonds shall be authorized and issued as provided in RSA 25 and 28, provided that a public hearing is held which shall be advertised at least 7 days before said public hearing, in some daily newspaper having a wide circulation in the county, giving the time and place of the hearing; and provided that not more than 14 days after said public hearing the county convention shall approve such bond issue by at least 2/3 of the county convention present and voting and provided further that a majority of the whole convention shall be present.

Source. PL 59:12. RL 72:12. 1953, 258:1, par. 10. RSA 33:10. 1957, 109:1, eff. July 7, 1957.

Section 33:11

    33:11 Authentication of Bonds. – All bonds issued under authority of this chapter shall bear an authenticating certificate signed by an authorized officer of a bank or trust company doing business in the state of New Hampshire or in the commonwealth of Massachusetts, or by the commissioner of revenue administration, or by a notary public or justice of the peace. The authenticating certificate endorsed upon such bond shall identify such bond as being one of the particular issues described therein, shall certify the genuineness of the signatures and the seal, if any, thereto affixed and shall state the name of the attorney or attorneys who rendered an opinion approving the legality of such issue. A signed copy of such legal opinion shall be furnished to the commissioner of revenue administration within 10 days after the bonds are delivered to the purchaser thereof. The provisions of this section shall not apply to bonds or notes issued to secure a principal sum of $17,000 or less when the bonds or notes are payable over a period not exceeding 5 years from the date of issue.

Source. 1953, 258:1, par. 11. RSA 33:11. 1973, 544:11, II. 1994, 167:1, eff. Jan. 1, 1995.

Section 33:11-a

    33:11-a Agreements Relating to Registered Bonds and Notes. – In connection with the issuance by a municipality or county of original or replacement bonds or notes in registered form, the treasurer of the municipality or county, with the approval of the officer or officers authorized to sign such bonds or notes, is authorized to contract for and engage the services of any bank, trust company, banking institution or financial institution within or without the state to perform authentication, registration, transfer, exchange, record and paying agent functions, including, without limitation, the preparation, signing and issuance of checks in payment of such bonds or notes, the preparation and maintenance of records, reports and accounts and the performance of such related duties as may be necessary or desirable in connection with such bonds or notes. The treasurer, with such approval, may also enter into agreements with banks, trust companies, banking institutions and financial institutions to act as custodian or financial intermediary in connection with the establishment and maintenance by others of a central depository system for the transfer of interests in such bonds or notes. Any agreement entered into under this section shall include provisions for indemnifying the municipality or county for losses sustained by it on account of the negligence of a designated bank, trust company, banking institution or financial institution or on account of the failure of such designated bank, trust company, banking institution or financial institution to perform faithfully its duties and obligations under the agreement. Such agreement may include additional provisions necessary or desirable to protect the municipality or county and may provide for the limitation of liabilities of the parties, indemnification or payment of liquidated damages.

Source. 1983, 365:1, eff. June 19, 1983.

Section 33:12

    33:12 Register. – The treasurer of every municipal corporation shall keep a register, in such form as may be prescribed by the commissioner of revenue administration, which shall state the denomination, number and date of every bond or note issued by the municipality, the time when and the place where the principal thereof and interest, if any, thereon are payable and such other information as the commissioner of revenue administration may prescribe. The commissioner of revenue administration shall inspect the register provided for herein whenever it shall make any audit of the accounts of a municipal corporation.

Source. 1895, 43:6. PL 59:19. RL 72:19. 1953, 258:1, par. 12. RSA 33:12. 1973, 544:8, eff. Sept. 1, 1973.

Section 33:13

    33:13 Repealed by 1957, 95:2, eff. Jan. 1, 1958. –

Section 33:14

    33:14 Report of Borrowing. – The treasurer of any municipal corporation, within 10 days after the delivery of an issue of bonds or notes authorized by this chapter to the purchaser thereof, shall submit to the commissioner of revenue administration a report setting forth the details of the issue in such form as the commissioner may prescribe. Failure to make said report, however, shall not affect the validity of any issue of bonds or notes.

Source. 1953, 258:1, par. 14. RSA 33:14. 1973, 544:8, eff. Sept. 1, 1973.

Section 33:15

    33:15 Regularity Presumed. – All bonds or notes purporting to be issued under authority of this chapter, and executed as hereinbefore provided, shall, in favor of bona fide holders, be conclusively presumed to have been duly and regularly authorized and issued in accordance with the provisions herein contained, and no such holder thereof shall be obliged to see the propriety of the purpose of the issue, to the regularity of any of the proceedings relating thereto, or to the application of the proceeds thereof. Said bonds or notes shall be negotiable in all respects and to the same extent as other securities negotiable by the law merchant except as herein otherwise provided. Any of such bonds or notes, if properly executed by officers of the municipality in office on the date of execution, shall be valid and binding according to their terms notwithstanding that before the delivery thereof and payment therefor such officers shall have ceased to be officers of the municipality.

Source. 1895, 43:7. PL 59:21. RL 72:21. 1953, 258:1, par. 15, eff. Jan. 1, 1954.

Section 33:16

    33:16 Tax Exemption. – All bonds and notes, and the interest thereon, heretofore or hereafter issued by municipal corporations and counties under the provisions of this chapter or of any general or special act, heretofore or hereafter enacted, shall be exempt from taxation in the state of New Hampshire. For the purpose of this section the amount of the discount on any notes which are sold at discount shall be deemed to be interest paid in advance.

Source. 1953, 258:1, par. 16, eff. Jan. 1, 1954.

Section 33:17

    33:17 Construction of Other Legislation. – Any special act, heretofore or hereafter enacted shall be construed so as not to lessen the amount of indebtedness which the municipality affected would be authorized to incur under the terms of this chapter, unless such act expressly provides for such limitation.

Source. 1931, 115:1. RL 72:22. 1953, 258:1, par. 17, eff. Jan. 1, 1954.

Section 33:18

    33:18 Saving Clause. –
I. Nothing contained herein shall impair the validity of any debt properly issued by a municipality or county under authority of any general or special act so repealed hereby.
II. Chapter 9, Laws of 1953, [RSA ch. 204 ], shall not be deemed repealed by this act.

Source. 1953, 258:2, eff. Jan. 1, 1954.

Section 33:19

    33:19 Validity and Enforceability of Certain Obligations and Indebtedness. – Any obligation and indebtedness incurred under this chapter prior to January 1, 1999 and any obligation and indebtedness incurred under this chapter on or after January 1, 1999 which mature on or before March 31, 2000 shall be a valid and enforceable obligation and debt of the municipality that approved such obligation and indebtedness in the manner required by this chapter, notwithstanding the fact that all or any portion of the tax revenues that the municipality expects to use to repay such indebtedness or obligation is, or can reasonably be expected, to be derived from tax revenues from levies for the school portion of the municipality's tax rate. No member of any municipal legislative body or governing body, and no officer of any municipality, shall have any official or personal liability as a result of executing and delivering, on behalf of such municipality, any such obligation or debt authorized in said manner.

Source. 1999, 2:1, eff. Feb. 3, 1999.

Section 33:20

    33:20 Redevelopment Districts in Unincorporated Places and Redevelopment District Bonds. – In an unincorporated place, the county commissioners, with the approval of a majority of the county convention present and voting, may: (i) separately from, and in addition to, bonds guaranteed pursuant to RSA 162-I:9-a, authorize the issuance of bonds by the county, the source for repayment of which shall be limited to assessment revenues generated by redevelopment districts created under this section, and shall not be a general obligation of the county and not included in net indebtedness as defined in RSA 33:1, III; and (ii) establish redevelopment districts to ensure that assessment revenues generated hereunder from revitalization projects are sufficient to repay such bonds. The boundaries of the redevelopment district shall be configured so that it includes, but is not limited to, all of the property available to be developed, redeveloped, or revitalized through the issuance of such bonds, or otherwise benefiting from the improvements financed, in whole or in part, with the proceeds of any bonds issued by the county hereunder or bonds issued by the business finance authority and guaranteed pursuant to RSA 162-I:9-a. Every owner of each lot or parcel located within the redevelopment district shall be subject to an assessment. The amount of the assessment shall be sufficient to provide for repayment of the debt service related to the bond. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, including RSA 28:24, the manner of sale and terms of any bonds to be issued by the county, and the amount of the assessment, payment terms and method for collection, shall be established in a financing plan prepared by the project developer or developers and adopted by the county commissioners. The financing plan shall include the delegation of collection responsibilities to the county. The county commissioners may enter into such agreements as they deem necessary to ensure repayment and to implement the financing plan and including without limitation such terms and conditions as is deemed necessary to provide for the segregation and pledge of the assessments to secure repayment of the bonds. The assessment shall be used solely to pay debt service related to the bond and pay the county's expenses of establishing and administering the redevelopment district and issuing the bonds. The incremental increase in value of any project located in a redevelopment district shall be exempt from all property taxes and shall not be considered in the apportionment of county taxes to the unincorporated place, for so long as any bonds issued under this section or guaranteed pursuant to RSA 162-I:9-a, I remain outstanding. The equalization and apportionment provisions of RSA 21-J shall be applied in a manner consistent with the foregoing sentence. Any unpaid assessment under this chapter shall constitute a lien pursuant to RSA 80 on the assessed property. Collection and enforcement of assessments under this section shall be in accordance with RSA 80. The county commissioners may negotiate a payment in lieu of taxes agreement with the project developer or developers in the redevelopment district who shall also pay all fees for an independent bond counsel. In order to establish a redevelopment district, issue bonds, and adopt a financing plan hereunder, the county commissioners must find that such actions will likely create, revive, or preserve employment opportunities or increase the social or economic prosperity of the county, any of which would be in the public interest. The county commissioners may negotiate with the project developer or developers to arrange for administration of the redevelopment district, including without limitation fire protection and public safety services, and to provide funding for said administration and services through assessments on available valuation of property within the redevelopment district, fees to property owners, direct payment by a developer or developers, or other means. Under no circumstances shall the county or the unincorporated place, as issuer of a bond under this section, have any obligation of any kind to repay any of the principal or interest of the bond. In this section, "redevelopment district" in an unincorporated place means an eligible facility in an unincorporated place designated as a redevelopment district by the county commissioners.

Source. 2019, 32:1, eff. May 15, 2019. 2022, 16:4, eff. Apr. 11, 2022.