Terms Used In Louisiana Constitution Art. 6 Sec. 33

  • Escrow: Money given to a third party to be held for payment until certain conditions are met.
  • General obligation bonds: means those bonds, the principal and interest of which are secured by and payable from ad valorem taxes levied without limitation as to rate or amount. See Louisiana Constitution Art. 6 Sec. 44
  • Governing authority: means the body which exercises the legislative functions of the political subdivision. See Louisiana Constitution Art. 6 Sec. 44
  • Obligation: An order placed, contract awarded, service received, or similar transaction during a given period that will require payments during the same or a future period.
  • Political subdivision: means a parish, municipality, and any other unit of local government, including a school board and a special district, authorized by law to perform governmental functions. See Louisiana Constitution Art. 6 Sec. 44
  • Statute: A law passed by a legislature.

Section 33.(A)  Authorization.  Subject to approval by the State Bond Commission or its successor, general obligation bonds may be issued only after authorization by a majority of the electors voting on the proposition at an election in the political subdivision issuing the bonds.  Bonds to refund outstanding indebtedness at the same or at a lower effective rate of interest, even though payable solely from ad valorem taxes, need not be authorized at an election if the indebtedness refunded is paid or cancelled at the time of the delivery of the refunding bonds, or if money, or securities made eligible for such purpose by law, are deposited in escrow in an adequate amount, with interest, to be utilized solely to retire the refunded indebtedness or bonds and to pay interest thereon and redemption premiums, if any, to the time of retirement.  

(B)  Full Faith and Credit.  The full faith and credit of a political subdivision is hereby pledged to the payment of general obligation bonds issued by it under this constitution or the statute or proceedings pursuant to which they are issued.  The governing authority of the issuing political subdivision shall levy and collect or cause to be levied and collected on all taxable property in the political subdivision ad valorem taxes sufficient to pay principal and interest and redemption premiums, if any, on such bonds as they mature.