When the governing body of the municipality determines that there is a cash surplus in the municipal utilities fund over and above any amount necessary to provide adequately for the operation, maintenance, repair, enlargement, alteration, improvement, and extension of the plant or plants, it may invest the surplus or transfer it or a portion thereof as follows:

Terms Used In North Dakota Code 40-33-12

  • Fiscal year: The fiscal year is the accounting period for the government. For the federal government, this begins on October 1 and ends on September 30. The fiscal year is designated by the calendar year in which it ends; for example, fiscal year 2006 begins on October 1, 2005 and ends on September 30, 2006.
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49
  • United States: includes the District of Columbia and the territories. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49
  • year: means twelve consecutive months. See North Dakota Code 1-01-33

1.    All or any part of the surplus may be invested by the governing body in interest-bearing bonds of the United States government, the state of North Dakota, or any bonds or special improvement district warrants of the municipality in which the municipal plant is located, and all the principal and interest on the warrants and bonds, when repaid, shall be placed back in the municipal utilities fund; or

2.    The governing body may transfer from the surplus in the fund to the general fund of the municipality or to any other fund of the municipality a total sum of not more than twenty percent of the gross receipts of the municipal utilities for the fiscal year of the municipality during which the transfer or transfers are made. In addition the governing body, upon adoption of a resolution declaring it necessary and upon approval of a majority of the votes cast on the question at a regular city election, may transfer to the general fund of the municipality or to any other fund of the municipality from the surplus in the municipal utilities fund at the end of any fiscal year. The resolution and ballot shall state the specific amount or percentage to be transferred as hereinbefore provided.