Untitled Texas Attorney General Opinion

OFFICEOFTHEATTORNEYGENERALOF TEXAS AUSTIN Bonorabla 0. C. Fisher District Attorney &KI &l&3810, T8XE8 /\ i Dear sir: A\ YoUr latter Ot on the above style ofiioe. tatit Of T8m8, prO- aX mOn8y 68 ha8 b8en lerfda made for the ng 8 sinking rood and rticular boade to be d in the r8&9Ui~tiOfZ, suah bonds as provided 8, Bevised Civil Statutes, with iurtbar suanc8 of bonde, prOvid88: 818OtiOn r8d.tS ill$aVOr Of the r bonds and the 18Vy or a tax in pay- l&8& thereof, said Bcxwd, 8tt8r suah retit ha@ b88n declared, elm11 nraim an order directing the laauancs of tba bonds of said district and provide for the levy and aolleotioa ot a tax annually of sutrlclent amount xith which to pay the int8r8St and provide a ainkirrg 29 F:h whiah to pery swohbonds et nreturity . =OXlOrabl8 0. C. FIgher, pi3$38#S You are reAp8CtrUlly 8dViAAd 8t the outset that the funds derived frolo the tax 18Vy for the purpose of pay- ing the int8r89t on 8lld retiring a particular Iaaua of bonds niay be used only for that purpose, and the diversion and ua8 of such funds for a dlrfareat purpoa8 la uaaut.horIz8d and unlawful. This department has so held on several oacaaloaa. Iii your 0338, hOw8T8r, Under the faota AA Set out in your letter Or October 3, wa reapeotrully suggest that rhea it 13 determined thnt th8 Sinking fWid OOntAInA 8AOUgh fUndA to Eeeet the requIrameata neaesaary ror the peymeat or Inter8at and prIWIpa1 maturing the next year or years without tha levy of a tax, then the diatriat mey diapeaa8 ulth auoh levy tot bond purposea and raise the AU3iatAMaC8 tAX prOpOrtIOI4Ata~y. For lr!ateace, in your pertioular ease 12 oeata liad been lerlad for the partioular Iaaue of bon’63 la qu8atIoa, and It was de8m- 8d that the sinking fund for auoh issue oontained SDOU& fund3 to take care or the r8qUir8lR8ntA ror the ooming year. Suoh 1Z cents, instead OS being levied for bond purp0383, aould be levied tar maintenance JNlIp0383, thereby r8iAing the minta- naaae tax ror that year. ror the r0iioting year than just make e AUffICi8nt levy t0 pAy the prInOIpO1 And itlt8SeAt, 8lld In this way you will not have a residue In the alnklng fund after the last bond la pafd. Trusting that this Mtiafactorlly answers your quea- tloa, we are Very truly yours ATTdRNEY Gl5NERJ.LOF TEXIS Aaelatant COB-A ATTORNEY GENERAL OP TzAs