Authority: means the Tennessee local development authority, a public agency and instrumentality of the state, created by this chapter, or if such authority shall be abolished, the board, body, commission or agency succeeding to the principal functions thereof or to which the powers and duties granted or imposed upon the authority shall be given by law. See Tennessee Code 4-31-102
Bond: means any bond authorized and issued pursuant to this chapter. See Tennessee Code 4-31-102
Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
Interest rate: The amount paid by a borrower to a lender in exchange for the use of the lender's money for a certain period of time. Interest is paid on loans or on debt instruments, such as notes or bonds, either at regular intervals or as part of a lump sum payment when the issue matures. Source: OCC
Lien: A claim against real or personal property in satisfaction of a debt.
Loan program agreement: means a contractual arrangement by and between a local government unit and the authority pursuant to and in accordance with part 4 of this chapter providing for loans to such local government units for the purpose of paying the cost of the construction of capital projects and a contractual arrangement by and between a local government unit and the state acting by and through the department, pursuant to and in accordance with [former] title 68, chapter 211, part 4 [repealed], or title 68, chapter 221, parts 2 and 5 providing for loans to such local government unit for the purpose of paying the cost of the construction of sewage treatment works, waterworks, or energy recovery facilities and/or solid waste resource recovery facilities, as the case may be, which loans are made or are to be made from the proceeds of bonds or notes issued pursuant to this chapter. See Tennessee Code 4-31-102
Local government unit: means any county, metropolitan government, incorporated town or city, or special district of the state, water/wastewater authority or any energy authority created by an act of the general assembly. See Tennessee Code 4-31-102
Note: means any note authorized and issued pursuant to this chapter. See Tennessee Code 4-31-102
Person: includes a corporation, firm, company or association. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
Reporter: Makes a record of court proceedings and prepares a transcript, and also publishes the court's opinions or decisions (in the courts of appeals).
State-shared taxes: means taxes imposed and collected by the state pursuant to law and allocated by law to local government units, whether allocated for a particular purpose or for the general use of such local government units. See Tennessee Code 4-31-102
Tort: A civil wrong or breach of a duty to another person, as outlined by law. A very common tort is negligent operation of a motor vehicle that results in property damage and personal injury in an automobile accident.
Trustee: A person or institution holding and administering property in trust.
(1)(A) Whenever the authority is authorized by law to issue bonds or notes, the bonds and notes shall be authorized by resolution of the authority, may be in one (1) or more series, shall bear such date or dates, and shall mature at such time or times, in the case of any such note or any renewals thereof, not exceeding eight (8) years from the date of issue of such original note, and in the case of any such bond not exceeding thirty (30) years from the date of issue, as such resolution or resolutions may provide.(B) In its discretion, the authority by resolution may provide that a note or any renewal of such note may mature more than eight (8) years from the date of issue of such original note; provided, that:
(i) The local government units whose projects were financed pursuant to loan program agreements with the proceeds of such note or renewal note shall have begun repayment of principal in accordance with a payment schedule established by the authority; and(ii) The maturity of such note or any renewal note or bond refunding such notes financing such program agreements shall not exceed thirty (30) years from the date of issue of such original note.(2) The bonds and notes shall bear interest at such rate or rates, be in such denominations, be in such form, either coupon or registered, carry such registration privileges, be executed in such manner, be payable in such medium of payment at such place or places, and be subject to such terms of redemption, as such resolution or resolutions may provide.(3) The bonds and notes may be sold at public or private sale, at such price or prices as the authority shall determine.(4) With respect to all or any portion of any issue of bonds or notes issued or anticipated to be issued hereunder, the authority may authorize and enter into interest rate swap or exchange agreements, agreements establishing interest rate floors or ceilings or both, and other interest rate hedging agreements and options in respect thereto, from time to time and under such terms and conditions as the authority may determine, including, without limitation, provisions permitting the authority to pay to or receive from any person or entity for any loss of benefits under such agreement upon early termination thereof or default under such agreement.(5) The authority may enter into an agreement to sell its bonds or notes under this chapter, providing for delivery of such debt not more than five (5) years, or such greater period of time if approved by the comptroller of the treasury, from the date of execution of such agreement or in the case of refunding bonds the earlier of the first date on which the bonds being refunded can be optionally redeemed resulting in cost savings or be optionally redeemed at par.(b) Any resolution or resolutions authorizing any bonds or notes, or any series thereof, may contain the following provisions, which shall be a part of the contract with the holders thereof:
(1) Pledging all or any part of the moneys that the authority is permitted by law to pledge, and securing the payment of the bonds or notes or of any series thereof, subject to such agreements with bondholders or noteholders as may then exist;(2) Creating and establishing such funds and accounts as may be deemed necessary or advisable and setting aside reserves or sinking funds and agreeing as to the maintenance, regulation and disposition thereof;(3) Limiting the purpose to which the proceeds of sale of bonds or notes may be applied, and pledging such proceeds to secure the payment of the bonds or notes or of any series thereof;(4) Limiting the issuance of additional bonds or notes, the terms upon which additional bonds or notes may be issued and secured, and the refunding of outstanding or other bonds or notes;(5) Prescribing the procedure, if any, by which the terms of any contract with bondholders or noteholders may be amended or abrogated, the amount of bonds or notes the holders of which must consent thereto, and the manner in which such consent may be given;(6) Investing in a trustee or trustees such property, rights, powers and duties in trust as the authority may determine, which may include any or all of the rights, powers and duties of the trustee appointed by the bondholders pursuant to § 4-31-106 and limiting or abrogating the right of the bondholders to appoint a trustee or limiting the rights, powers and duties of such trustee; or(7) Setting forth any other matters, of like or different character, that in any way affect the security or protection of the bonds or notes.(c)(1) The authority by resolution may, from time to time, identify those taxes constituting state-shared taxes and, upon approval of the form and substance of such resolution by the attorney general and reporter, such identification shall be conclusive as to those taxes that constitute state-shared taxes; provided, that nothing contained in this subsection (c) shall be deemed to require the general assembly to continue to impose any tax identified as a state-shared tax or to maintain such tax at any particular level.(2) As of January 1, 1986, the identification by the authority of the following taxes as state-shared taxes is hereby ratified and confirmed:
(A) The tax on income from stocks and bonds, distributed pursuant to title 67, chapter 2;(B) The gasoline tax, distributed pursuant to title 67, chapter 3;(C) The motor vehicle fuel use tax, distributed pursuant to [former] title 67, chapter 3, part 8 [repealed];(D) The sales tax, distributed pursuant to title 67, chapter 6;(E) The mixed drink tax, distributed pursuant to title 57, chapter 4;(F) The alcoholic beverage tax, distributed pursuant to title 57, chapter 3;(G) The beer tax, distributed pursuant to title 57, chapter 5; and(H) The federal payments in lieu of taxes, distributed pursuant to title 67, chapter 9.(3) A local government unit shall not have any claim on state-shared taxes withheld as permitted under the terms of the state loan program.(d)(1) The authority, subject to such agreements with bondholders or noteholders as may then exist, shall have power to purchase notes or bonds out of any moneys available therefor at a price not exceeding:
(A) The redemption price then applicable, plus accrued interest to the next interest payment date thereon, if the notes or bonds are then redeemable; or(B) The redemption price applicable on the first date after such purchase upon which the bonds or notes become subject to redemption, plus accrued interest to such date if the notes or bonds are not then redeemable.(2) All bonds and notes so purchased shall be cancelled.(e) Neither the members of the authority nor any person executing the bonds or notes shall be liable personally on the bonds or notes or be subject to any personal liability or accountability by reason of the issuance thereof.(f) In the event any member of the authority whose signature or facsimile signature thereof shall appear on any bonds or coupons shall cease to be a member of the authority before the delivery thereof, such signature or facsimile signature nevertheless shall be valid and sufficient for all purposes, the same as if such member had remained a member of the authority until after such delivery.(g)(1) Any pledge made by the authority pursuant to this chapter or by a local government unit pursuant to a loan program agreement shall be valid and binding from the time when the pledge is made, the moneys or property so pledged and thereafter received by the authority or local government unit, as applicable, shall immediately be subject to the lien of such pledge without any physical delivery thereof or further act, and the lien of any such pledge shall be valid and binding as against all parties having claims of any kind in tort, contract or otherwise against the authority or local government unit, as applicable, irrespective of whether such parties have notice thereof.(2) Neither the resolution nor any other instrument by which a pledge is created need be recorded.(h)(1) The bonds and notes shall not be invalid for any irregularity or defect in the proceedings for the issuance or sale thereof.(2) Such bonds and notes shall contain a recital that they have been authorized and issued pursuant to the laws of the state, including particularly this chapter, which recital shall be conclusive evidence of their validity and the regularity of their issuance.(3) Bonds and notes of the authority shall not constitute a debt or a pledge of the faith and credit of the state or any local government unit, and the holders or owners of such bonds and notes shall have no right to have taxes levied by the general assembly or any local government unit or any other taxing authority within the state for the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on, such bonds and notes, but such bonds and notes shall be payable solely from the revenues and moneys pledged for their payment.(4) All such bonds and notes shall contain on the face thereof a statement to the effect that the bonds or notes are not a debt of the state or any local government unit or any other taxing authority within the state, but are payable solely from revenues and moneys pledged to the payment thereof.
