Metropolitan Districts

Metro Districts are formed by: 1. Approval by City Council of the district's service plan, which is the document that governs the district's actions; 2. A petition signed by 30% or 200 of the electors of the District, whichever is less is approved by the District court and an election is ordered; and 3. Approval of the District by the electors within the District. Subareas within the District may be formed. C. Governance. A metropolitan district is governed by a five member board of directors. A director must be an "elector" of such district, defined as a person who, at the time, is registered to vote in the State and: (I) who has been a resident of the district for not less than thirty days; or (II) who, or whose spouse, owns taxable real or personal property situated within the boundaries of the district, whether said person resides within the district or not. There is no City appointment. The board is responsible for the administration of the district, annual budgeting and levying of taxes, rates, and charges sufficient to pay operating costs and debt service of the district. D. Powers. 1. Common Powers. All special districts have the following powers: a. To have a perpetual existence; b. To have and use a corporate seal; c. To sue and be sued; d. To enter into contracts and agreements affecting the affairs of the special district; e. To borrow money and incur indebtedness and to issue notes or issue bonds evidencing such indebtedness; f. To acquire, sell and lease property; g. To manage, control and supervise all the business and affairs of the special district, including all construction, operation and maintenance of special district improvements; h. To fix, charge and collect fees, rates, tolls, penalties or charges for services, programs or facilities furnished by the special district. i. To furnish services and facilities outside the boundaries of the special district. j. To adopt, amend, and enforce bylaws and rules and regulations for carrying on the business, objects and affairs of the special district. 2. Additional Powers Depending Upon Type of District: a. Metropolitan Districts: In addition to the common powers, metropolitan districts have the following powers: to enter into contracts with public utilities and municipalities for street lighting service; to erect and maintain traffic and safety controls and devices, providing fire protection, parks or recreation, water or water and sanitation service;大都会区域（Metro Districts）的设立需满足以下条件：1. 市议会批准该区域的服务计划——该文件为规范该区域各项行动的依据；2. 征集到该区域30%合格选民或200名合格选民的签名请愿（以二者中数量较少者为准），经区域法院批准后下令举行选举；3. 该区域内合格选民对该区域的设立予以批准。区域内部可设立子区域。 C. 治理机制 大都会区域由五名成员组成的董事会进行治理。董事会成员必须为该区域的“合格选民（elector）”，其定义为：当前已在本州完成选民登记，且满足以下任一条件的自然人：(I) 已在该区域连续居住不少于30日；或(II) 本人或其配偶拥有位于该区域边界内的应纳税不动产或动产，无论该自然人是否在该区域内居住。本区域不存在市任命的董事。董事会负责统筹区域行政管理、编制年度预算，并征收足额税款、费率及费用，以覆盖区域运营成本与债务偿付支出。 D. 职权范围 1. 通用职权 所有特别区域（special districts）均享有以下职权： a. 永久存续； b. 拥有并使用法人公章； c. 享有起诉权与应诉权； d. 签订影响本特别区域事务的合同与协议； e. 开展借贷活动、产生债务，并发行票据或债券以证明该债务关系； f. 收购、出售及租赁财产； g. 管理、控制并监督本特别区域的全部业务与事务，包括特别区域相关设施的全流程建设、运营与维护； h. 对本特别区域提供的服务、项目或设施确定、收取并征缴费用、费率、通行费、罚款或其他款项； i. 在本特别区域的边界外提供服务与设施； j. 制定、修订并执行章程细则及规章制度，以开展本特别区域的业务、实现其宗旨并处理各项事务。 2. 依区域类型而定的额外职权 a. 大都会区域：除通用职权外，大都会区域还享有以下额外职权：与公共事业单位及市政当局签订街道照明服务合同；架设并维护交通及安全管控设施与装置，提供消防保护、公园或休闲娱乐服务，以及供水或供水与环卫一体化服务。