School Laws of Oklahoma

Chapter 3 - Bonds
Article I: Bond Issue Proceeds Act

Section 592. Bond Issue Proceeds Act. (62 O.S. § 571)

This act shall be known and may be cited as the “Bond Issue Proceeds Act”.

Section 593. Purpose. (62 O.S. § 572)

The purpose of this act is to guarantee to the citizens of the State of Oklahoma that the proceeds of bond issues approved by them will be expended only for the purposes or projects for which any such bond issue was approved.

Section 594. Definition. (62 O.S. § 573)

As used in this act, unless the context requires otherwise, the term “government entity” means and includes the State of Oklahoma, any city, town, county, school district, other district of whatsoever nature or any other political subdivision.

Section 595. Statement of Purposes and Projects - Expenditures. (62 O.S. § 574)

A. At any election upon the question of issuing bonds, which if approved would require an ad valorem tax levy or pledging the full faith and credit of the State of Oklahoma, the governmental entity calling such election shall set forth in each proposition to be voted upon the general purpose for which the bond proceeds will be expended. This shall not require the proposition or the bond to recite specific projects and dollar amounts.

B. At any election upon the question of issuing bonds, which if approved would require an ad valorem tax levy or pledging the full faith and credit of the State of Oklahoma, the governmental entity calling such election shall set forth in the call of election, in a legally qualified newspaper of general circulation in the area wherein said bond issue proceeds are to be expended, a general statement of all purposes and specific projects for which seventy percent (70%) of the proceeds shall be expended, with a further listing of the dollar amounts to be expended on each specific project. The dollar figure left unlisted as to specific projects shall not exceed thirty percent (30%) of the total amount of the bond issue.

C. If any such bond issue is approved at an election, the particular governmental entity shall expend all of the proceeds of such bond issue for the purposes set out in the proposition voted upon and shall expend not less than eighty-five percent (85%) of the monies allocated to each specific project, unless such project can be completed for a smaller amount of money, on that project as published according to Section 4(B) of this act and for which the bond issue was approved. Provided, however, that if any money becomes available from any source outside the bond proceeds for any specific project, the outside funds would be used to reduce the amount of bond funds to be expended on that specific project. In such event, the governmental entity may expend that amount less than the specified eighty-five percent (85%) and may use the surplus funds on other projects within the same general purpose or to reduce the sinking fund. This section shall not apply in the event a final judicial determination or federal or state laws, regulations or rules preclude the undertaking or completion of a specific project.

Issuance and sale of bonds would not be enjoined, even though officials improperly expended funds to promote bond election, where election contestant failed to show any evidence that efforts swayed voter opinion succeeded or that outcome of election would have been different had effort not been made. Quinn v. City of Tulsa, 777 P.2d 1331 (Okla. 1989)

Section 596. Penalty. (62 O.S. § 575)

Any member of the governing body of a governmental entity or other elected or appointed official charged with the duty of expending the proceeds of any bond issue, who knowingly and willfully violates any provision of this act, shall forfeit his office.

Section 597. Act Not Applicable to Certain Bond Issues. (62 O.S. § 576)

The provisions of this act shall not apply to any bond issue approved by the qualified electors of any governmental entity prior to the effective date of this act nor to any bond or bonds issued pursuant to Article 10, Section 35 of the Oklahoma Constitution.

Section 598. Validity of Bonds. (62 O.S. § 577)

Nothing contained herein shall affect the validity or enforceability of such bonds, once sold pursuant to law, regardless of actions by the governmental entity subsequent to sale.

School Laws of Oklahoma | Chapter 3 - Bonds | Article I: Bond Issue Proceeds Act