Chap. 74.—An ACT to provide for the holding of elections in the school districts
of Henrico county, Virginia, on the question of the issuance of bonds for the
urpose of acquiring buildings and building sites, and erecting or repairing and
furnishing school buildings in such districts; to provide for the issuance and
sale of said bonds in accordance with said elections; and to provide for the
levying of a tax for the purpose of paying the interest on said bonds and to
create a sinking fund for the payment of the principal thereof at ears

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Approved February 29, 1924.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That when-
ever the county school board of Henrico county shall, by resolution duly
spread upon the minutes of the proceedings of such board, declares that
an additional schoolhouse or schoolhouses are necessary to provide ad-
ditional public school facilities for the children of school age in any
school district in said county, and the school funds will not be suf-
ficient to provide such additional school building or buildings, and to
furnish the same, the county school board may, when authorized by a
vote of a majority of the qualified voters of such district voting, as here-
inafter provided, borrow money for the purpose of purchasing build-
ings or building sites and of erecting or repairing a schoolhouse or
houses thereon and of furnishing the same, and may issue either regis-
tered or coupon bonds for the sums of money so borrowed; the said
bonds to be payable at a period not exceeding thirty years after their
date, and to be made redeemable at the option of such school board at
such time after their date as may be specified in the bonds, and such
bonds shall bear interest at a rate not exceeding six per centum per
annum, payable either annually or semi-annually as the school board
may prescribe; but no such bonds shall be sold for less than their par
value. a :

2. The said bonds shall be of such form and denomination as the
county school board of Henrico county, by resolution spread upon the
minutes of the board, may prescribe, and shall be signed by the chair-
man and attested by the clerk of the board, and they shall be a lien
upon all the property in such district for the payment of the principal
thereof, and the interest to accrue thereon.

3. The proceeds realized from the sale of any bonds issued under
the provisions of this act shall not be used for any other purpose than
that of purchasing buildings, building sites, and erecting or repairing
school buildings and furnishing the same as may be set forth in the pe-
tition for the election; provided, however, that the county school board
shall have authority by and with the approval of the circuit court to
employ counsel to represent and advise them concerning any matters
that may arise in connection with such bonds, and to pay such counsel
a reasonable fee therefor, out of the funds derived from the sale of such

nds.

4. When a resolution of the county school board shall be certified
to the circuit court of the county, or the judge thereof in vacation, or
upon a petition of one-fourth of the duly qualified voters of the school
district proposing to issue such bonds, together with the location of the
schoolhouse or houses to be erected, repaired or purchased, with the
general plans, specifications, and estimated cost thereof, approved by
the division school superintendent, the said court, or judge thereof in
vacation, shall order a special election to be held in such district at such
time and after such notice (which shall not be less than two weeks), as
the court may prescribe by order entered upon its minutes, to pass
upon the question whether such bonds shall be issued or not, for the
amount recommended by the school board, or requested in such peti-
tion. And the clerk of the court shall give the notice required by the
court of such special election by publication in some newspaper of the
county, and by having the same posted by the sheriff of the county in
at least ten conspicuous points in said school district, which said notice
shall state the amount of bonds to be issued, the purpose of the pro-
posed issue thereof, and the estimated cost of the school building or
buildings. The clerk and sheriff of the county shall each receive for
their services hereunder two dollars, to be paid out of the county
treasury.

5. The electoral board shall prepare the tickets and shall provide
all other necessary détails for such special election, and the board of
supervisors shall pay the expenses thereof out of the funds of the county,
and any such election shall be conducted and held in like manner as
regular elections, and the laws of the State applying to general elections
shall apply to such special election, except as otherwise provided in this
act, and the judges and clerks of the regular elections in said district
shall be the judges and clerks in such special election, and shall receive
the same compensation; and the voting precincts in such district for
general elections shall also be the same for such special election. At
such ‘election each qualified voter who shall approve such issue of bonds
shall deposit a ticket or ballot on which shall be written the words ‘“‘For
bond issue,’”’ and each qualified ‘voter who shall oppose such issue of
bonds shall deposit a ticket or ballot on which shall be written the
words; ‘‘Against bond issue.’’

6. The judges and clerks of such special election shall canvass the
vote and certify the same to the county clerk in the same manner as re-
quired by law in general elections, and on the second day following such
special election it shall: be the duty of the county clerk, the Common-
wealth’s attorney, and the commissioner of revenue, who are hereby
constituted a board of canvassers for that purpose, to meet in the
clerk’s office of said county and to canvass the returns of such special
election, and to certify the results ascertained by them to the judge of
the circuit court of said county, who shall have the same spread upon
the common law order book of his court, and to the school board of said
county, who shall spread the same upon the minutes of said board, and
when this shall have been done, if no notice of contest of said election
shall have been filed within ten days after said election, the certificates
of the canvassing board hereby created, shall be conclusive of the le-
gality and regularity of said special election and of the result thereof.

7. All registered voters of said school district who were qualified
by law to vote in the last preceding general election shall be qualified
to vote in any such special election.

8. The said bonds shall have written or printed on them the fol-
lowing sentences:

“These bonds are issued for school improvements 1n .
district, but the full faith and credit of the entire county of Henrico is
hereby pledged for their payment, and a tax is to be levied upon the
property subject to local taxation in said district to pay the interest on
them and to create a sinking fund sufficient in amount to pay them upon
maturity. The board of supervisors shall annually levy a special tax
not to exceed fifty cents on each one hundred dollars assessed valuation
on all the property subject to local taxation in such district sufficient
to pay the interest on the bonds so authorized and to create a sinking
fund for the payment of the principal at maturity. Such sinking fund
shall be invested in the bonds hereby authorized, or in such other se-
curities as the said school board may, with the approval of the division
superintendent of schools for said county, select. The said school board
shall annually report to the board of supervisors of the county the
amount and condition of the sinking fund. -

9. An emergency existing, this act shall be in force from its passage.