CHAPTER 474

An Act to amend and reenact § 15-714. 9 of the Code of Virginia, relating
to the powers of park authorities created thereunder and to powers of
counties, municipalities and other public bodies to contract with any
such authority for park services. [8 196]

Approved March 30, 1956

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
iy That § 15-714.9 of the Code of Virginia be amended and reenacted as

ollows:

§ 15-714.9. Each county, municipality and other public body is
hereby authorized and empowered:

(a) To convey or lease to any authority created hereunder, with or
without consideration, any park upon such terms and conditions as the
governing body thereof shall determine to be for the best interests of
such county, municipality or other public body:

(b) To contract with any authority created hereunder for park serv-
ices; provided, however, that no political subdivision shall enter into any
contract with an authority involving payments by such political subdivision
to such authority for park services which requires the political subdivision
to incur an indebtedness extending beyond any one fiscal year, unless the
question of entering into such contract shall first be submitted to the
qualified voters of the political subdivision for approval or rejection by
a majority vote of such qualified voters voting in an election on such
question; provided that nothing herein contained shall prevent any political
subdivision from making a voluntary contribution to any authority at any
time.

In the event that the governing body of a political subdivision shall
desire to contract with an authority under the provisions of paragraph (b)
of this section, such governing body shall adopt a resolution stating in brief
and general terms the substance of the proposed contract for park services
and requesting the circuit court, or any judge thereof, in and for the

county in which such political subdivision is located to order an election
upon the question of entering into such contract. A copy of such resolu-
tion, certified by the clerk of such governing body, shall b be filed with the
judge of such circuit court who shall thereupon make an order requiring
the judges of election on the day fixed in such order, not less than ten days
nor more than thirty days from the date of such order, to open a poll and
CHS. 474, 475] ACTS OF ASSEMBLY 687

take the sense of the qualified voters in the political subdivision on the ques-
tion of entering into such contract. Notice of such election in the form
prescribed by the judge of the circuit court shall be published at least once
tn a newspaper of general circulation in the political subdivision at least
ten days before the election.

The regular election officers of the political subdivision, at the time
designated in such order authorizing such vote, shall open the polls at the
various voting places in the political subdivision and shall conduct such
election in such manner as is provided by law for other elections. The
question to be submitted to the voters for determination shall include the
names of the political subdivision and the authority between whom the con-
tract is proposed; and the nature, duration and cost of such contract. The
votes shall be counted, returns made and canvassed as in other special elec-
tions and the results certified by the commissioners of election to the circuit
court of the county or a judge thereof in vacation. If it shall appear by the
report of the commissioners of election that a majority of the qualified
voters of the political subdivision voting on the question approve such con-
tract for park services, the circuit court ora judge. thereof in vacation shall
forthwith enter an order authorizing the governing body of the political
subdivision to enter into such contract.