Chapter 7. Approval Of Construction Plans of California Streets And Highways Code >> Division 9. >> Part 2. >> Chapter 7.

At any time after the adoption of a plan for a project or the letting of a contract for the construction of the whole or any portion of the project, the commission may, by order entered in its minutes, call an election for the purpose of determining whether bonds should be issued for the acquisition of rights of way for and the construction of such project and for the payment of such contract.

The order shall fix the day of the election, shall describe the exact location of each project for which bonds are to be issued, shall specify the amount of the bond issue for each project, and shall state in general terms that the money raised from the sale of the bonds for each project shall be used only for the acquisition of rights-of-way for and the construction of, the project for which bonds shall have been issued. If the election is called for the payment of a contract entered into by the commission the order shall state the terms of the contract in such manner as will advise the electors of its contents. Any money raised by means of a bond issue which remains on hand after the acquisition of rights-of-way and construction have been completed, shall be expended in the betterment and maintenance of the project for which the bonds have been voted or for payment on the principal of the bonds.

Notice of the election shall be given in the manner and for the time provided for in Section 8123. The election shall be held and conducted in the same manner as provided for holding and conducting an election for approval of the formation of the district, except that the commission shall perform the duties prescribed for the board.

On the ballot at the election each project shall be submitted as a separate proposition, together with a description of the exact location of the project and a statement of the amount of bonds to be issued for the project.

After the vote has been counted and the result announced by the election officers, the ballots shall be sealed up and delivered to the secretary of the commission, with the election returns. The commission shall at its next meeting canvass the returns and enter the result upon its minutes. This entry in the minutes is conclusive evidence of the fact and regularity of all prior proceedings required by this part and of the facts stated in the entry.

If at the election two-thirds, or more, of the votes cast on a proposition are in favor of the issuance of bonds for the project described in the proposition for which bonds are proposed to be issued, the commission is authorized to and shall issue and sell the bonds as proposed in the order calling the election for such project. If the result of the election is against the issuance of bonds for any or all projects, no other election upon the same project or projects defeated in such election shall be called or held for one year after such election.

A project may be constructed with money raised by taxation instead of a bond issue if authorized by two-thirds, or more, of the votes cast at an election called for the purpose of determining if the project shall be so constructed. Elections called to authorize the construction of projects with money raised by taxation shall be called and held in the same manner as is provided for bond elections.