Section 371.01 — Counties May Consolidate.

371.01 COUNTIES MAY CONSOLIDATE. Two or more counties may be consolidated into a single county in the manner provided in this chapter. History: (637-1) 1933 c 273 s 1; 1985 c 109 s 2

Section 371.02 — Petition.

371.02 PETITION. A petition for each affected county, signed by at least one-fourth of those voting in the county at the last preceding general election, giving the residence of each signer, shall be filed with the secretary of state at least 90 days before any general election, requesting the consolidation of the counties named, specifying […]

Section 371.03 — Proclamation.

371.03 PROCLAMATION. If each petition is signed by the requisite number of persons who are voters in each of the affected counties and, if the petition conforms to the requirements of section 371.02, the secretary of state shall notify the governor of the filing. The affidavits of persons obtaining the signatures shall be prima facie […]

Section 371.04 — Notice Of Proclamation.

371.04 NOTICE OF PROCLAMATION. After the proclamation is issued, the secretary of state shall record the petitions, affidavits, and proclamation, and transmit a certified copy of the proclamation, by mail, to the auditor of each county. History: (637-4) 1933 c 273 s 4; 1984 c 543 s 34; 1985 c 109 s 2

Section 371.05 — Notice Of Election.

371.05 NOTICE OF ELECTION. The notice of the general election must specify that the question of consolidating the counties will be voted upon at the election, and shall state substantially the facts in the petition. The ballots for the proposition shall include the words: “Shall the following named counties (inserting the names) be consolidated into […]

Section 371.06 — Judges; Canvass Of Votes.

371.06 JUDGES; CANVASS OF VOTES. The election judges, in addition to the returns required in other cases, shall canvass, count, certify, and return, as in other cases, to the county auditor the votes cast upon the proposition. The county canvassing board shall canvass and make return of the votes as in the case of votes […]

Section 371.07 — State Canvassing Board To Canvass Returns.

371.07 STATE CANVASSING BOARD TO CANVASS RETURNS. The State Canvassing Board shall canvass the returns at the time of canvassing the votes cast for state officers, and in the same manner. When the canvass is completed the board shall file a certificate declaring the result of the vote with the secretary of state, showing the […]

Section 371.08 — Governor To Appoint First County Board.

371.08 GOVERNOR TO APPOINT FIRST COUNTY BOARD. The governor shall appoint five qualified electors residing within the consolidated county to constitute the first board of county commissioners for the new county, within 60 days after issuing the proclamation, who shall qualify as provided by law. The officers of each affected county shall continue in office […]

Section 371.09 — Meeting Of County Board.

371.09 MEETING OF COUNTY BOARD. The board of county commissioners for the new county shall meet at the county seat at a time designated in the order of the governor appointing them and elect one of its number as chair. The auditor of the county in which the county seat is located shall act as […]

Section 371.10 — Duties Of County Board.

371.10 DUTIES OF COUNTY BOARD. The board of county commissioners shall meet in July and shall levy a tax for the new county in the manner provided by law for levying taxes for county purposes. The chair shall certify to the auditor of each county affected the amount levied. The county boards of the respective […]

Section 371.11 — County Auditors; Local Tax Rate.

371.11 COUNTY AUDITORS; LOCAL TAX RATE. When the tax is levied, the county board shall set a time for a meeting of the auditors of the counties affected and shall certify the date to the county auditors when certifying the levy. The county auditors shall meet at the county seat and, set the local tax […]

Section 371.12 — County Board To Appoint New Officers.

371.12 COUNTY BOARD TO APPOINT NEW OFFICERS. The county board of the new county shall appoint electors residing within the new county to the county offices before the consolidation becomes effective. The new officers shall qualify on the date that the consolidation becomes effective, as provided by law. All the books, records, and files of […]

Section 371.13 — County Board To Provide Courthouse.

371.13 COUNTY BOARD TO PROVIDE COURTHOUSE. The county board of the new county shall make arrangements for suitable offices for the county officers before the consolidation becomes effective. If the county is not going to succeed to any building or buildings appropriate for this purpose, the board may lease suitable space or buildings. History: (637-13) […]

Section 371.14 — New County; Indebtedness; Contracts.

371.14 NEW COUNTY; INDEBTEDNESS; CONTRACTS. (a) When the consolidation becomes effective, the new county shall become vested with the title to all real and personal property, other than money in cash or on deposit, of the consolidated counties. (b) The territory within the consolidated counties shall remain liable for all indebtedness of the respective counties […]

Section 371.15 — May Issue Certificates Of Indebtedness.

371.15 MAY ISSUE CERTIFICATES OF INDEBTEDNESS. Any time after the county board has made the original tax levy for the new county and certified the tax levy to the respective auditors, it may issue certificates of indebtedness of the new county in anticipation of the collection of the levy. Each certificate shall be in writing, […]