Chap. 254.—An ACT providing the method by which cities and towns in this
Commonwealth may vote upon the issuance of bonds contemplated by clause
“B,” of section 127, of the Constitution.

Approved March 13, 1908.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That when it
is proposed by any city or town in this Commonwealth, now or hereafter
existing, to borrow money and issue bonds contemplated by the pro-
visions of clause “B,” section one hundred and twenty-seven of the Con-
stitution, not to be included within the otherwise authorized indebted-
ness of such municipality, it shall be the duty of the council or the
board of control, if there be one, to adopt an ordinance reciting the
expediency of borrowing money and the issuance of bonds therefor to a
specific amount by the municipality for the purpose or purposes con-
templated by the provisions of clause “B,” section one hundred and
twenty-seven of the Constitution ; which ordinance, if passed by a council,
shall be upon recorded affirmative vote of a majority of all of the mem-
bers elected to the council, or to each branch thereof, where there are
two branches; and if such ordinance be vetoed by the mayor, it may be
adopted, notwithstanding such veto, in the manner prescribed by section
one hundred and twenty-three of the Constitution. After the adoption
of such ordinance a certified copy thereof shall be forthwith presented
to the corporation or circuit court having jurisdiction over such city or
town, or to the judge thereof in vacation, which court or judge shall, by
an order entered in term time or vacation, direct the proper election
officers of such municipality to take such steps and prepare such means
as may be necessary to submit to the qualified voters of such municipality
for determining the question whether such bonds shall be issued, and
the court or judge shall make such order as may be proper to give due
publicity to such election.

Such election shall be conducted in the manner prescribed by law for
the conduct of regular elections, by the regular election officers of such
municipality. The election shall be by secret ballot, and the ballots
used shall contain the following: On one line, the words “for bond
issue,” and on another line the words “against bond issue.” Returns
of such election shall be forthwith made to the court having jurisdic-
tion over such city or fown, or to the judge thereof in vacation; and if
it shall appear that a majority of the qualified voters voting at such
election shall be against such proposed bond issue an order shall be
entered of record accordingly, and no other election for a similar pur-
pose shall be held within one year after such election. But if a ma-
jority of the qualified voters at such election shall be for such bond
issue the court or judge thereof shall enter an order accordingly, a copy
of which shall be forthwith certified by, the clerk of such court to the
council, or to the board of control, and the municipal authorities shall
be thereupon fully authorized and empowered to prepare and issue and
to sell or negotiate bonds upon the faith, credit and property of such
municipality to the amount as authorized. Such bonds may be nego-
tiated or sold for the purpose or purposes of such municipality con-
structing, purchasing, acquiring or otherwise controlling a work or
works, plant or plants, system or systems of a public utility character,
whether wholly within, or partly within and partly without, such mu-
nicipality, in such manner and upon such terms as may be determined
by the recorded affirmative vote of a majority of all of the members
elected to the council, or to each branch thereof, where there are two:
provided, that no such bonds shall be sold for less than par.

2. Nothing in this act shall repeal, amend, impair or in anywise
affect any special rights, privileges, restrictions or limitations now con-
tained in any city or town charter of this Commonwealth or in any act
or acts amendatory thereof.