Chap. 27.—An ACT to amend and re-enact an act entitled an act authoriz-
ing boards of supervisors to contract loans for the erection of court-
houses, clerks’ office und jails, approved February 20, 1894, as amended
by an act approved April 2, 1902, and by act approved March 12, 1908,
so as to provide for erection in case of bond issue.

Approved February 16, 1910.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That an act en-
titled an act authorizing boards of supervisors to contract loans for the
erection of courthouses, clerks’ offices and jails, approved February twen-
tieth, nineteen hundred and four, as amended by an act approved April
second, nineteen hundred and two, and by act approved March twelfth,
nineteen hundred and eight, be amended and re-enacted so as to read as
ollows:

$1. Whenever it shall be necessary for a county to erect a courthouse,
clerk’s office or jail, or poorhouses, or to repair or enlarge the same, it
shall be lawful for the board of supervisors of such county to contract a
loan for said purpose on the credit of the county: provided, that the
power shall not exist, and the loan shall not be contracted for, unless and
until the action of the board of supervisors shall be certified to the judge
of the circuit court of the said county, approved by him and also ap-
proved by the qualified voters of said county at an election held for that
purpose, as hereinafter provided.

The said approval of the judge of the circuit court shall be entered,
together with the certificate of the action of the said board, on the
records of the circuit court. |

If the judge of the circuit court approve the proposed loan and bond
issue, his approval shall be entered upon the records of the circuit court,
and he shall thereupon make an order requiring the judges of election
on a day fixed in his said order, not less than thirty days from the date of
such order, to open a poll and take the sense of the qualified voters of the
eounty and the question whether the board of supervisors shall issue
bonds for said purpose. ,

$2. The regular election officer of said county, at the time designated
in the order authorizing the vote, shall open the polls at the various vot-
ing places in said county, and shall conduct such election in such manner
as is provided by law in other elections; at such election each qualificd
voter who shall approve such issue of bonds shall deposit a ticket or
ballot on which shall be written or printed the words “for bond issue,”
and each qualified voter who shall disapprove said issue of bonds shall
deposit a ticket or ballot whereon shall be written or printed the words
“against bond issue.” The ballots shall be counted, returns made and
canvassed, as in other special elections, and the results certified by the
commissioners of election to the said circuit court. If it shall appear by
the report of the commissioners of election that a majority of the quali-
fied voters of the county voting on the question are in favor of issuing
bonds for the purpose aforesaid, the circuit court shall, at its next term,
enter an order authorizing the board of supervisors of the county to pro-
ceed at their next meeting to carry out the wishes of the voters.

§3. Upon such proceedings being had, and not otherwise, the board of
supervisors is authorized and empowered to issue the bonds of the said
county for such loans, either registered or coupons, in denominations of
one hundred dollars, or multiples thereof. ‘The said bonds shall be in
such form as the board may prescribe, shall be signed by the chairman
of the said board, countersigned by the clerk of the board, and sealed
with its seal; shall bear rate of interest not exceeding six per centum,
payable semi-annually; to be payable not exceeding thirty years after
date, and redeemable after such time as the said board may prescribe.
If coupon bonds are issued, they shall be payable to bearer, and shall have
coupons attached for the semi-annual installments of interest. No bonds
issued under this act shall be sold at less than par.

§4. The board of supervisors shall annually include in the levy upon
the property and lawful subjects of taxation in said county, as a part of
the annual county levy, a sum and tax sufficient to pay the interest on
said bonds, and in such manner as they may deem best create a sinking
fund sufficient to pay the said bonds at or before maturity.

85. Owing to the uncertain state of the law on this subject, and the
necessity for prompt action to correct this condition, an emergency is
declared to exist, and this act shall take effect from its passage.