§ 65-23-301. Citation

This article shall be known, and may be cited, as the “Pearl River Bridge Revenue Bond Law”.

§ 65-23-303. Legislative determination

It is hereby declared, as a matter of legislative determination, that the construction, operation, and maintenance of additional bridges and adjacent roadways across the flood plain of, and across, the Pearl River will promote the economic development of the state and will promote the general welfare of the entire people of the state.

§ 65-23-305. Construction by certain counties authorized

Any county of this state bordering on the Pearl River is hereby authorized and empowered, separately or jointly, with any other county of the state bordering on the Pearl River: To plan, construct, operate, and maintain a toll bridge or bridges and adjacent roadways across the flood plain of, and over and across, the Pearl […]

§ 65-23-307. Definitions

As used in this article, the following words and terms shall have the following meanings: The word “bridge” shall be deemed to include the structure and the superstructure of the bridge, the approaches thereto, and adjacent roadways across the flood plain of the Pearl River and also all property, rights, easements, and franchises relating thereto […]

§ 65-23-309. Acquisition of rights of way

Any such county acting separately or jointly with another county is hereby authorized and empowered to construct, whenever it shall deem such construction expedient, any toll bridge located as provided in Section 65-23-305. Authority is hereby granted to any such county or counties to purchase, solely from funds provided under the authority of this article, […]

§ 65-23-311. Issuance of bonds authorized

The governing body of any such county is hereby authorized to provide by resolution, at one time or from time to time, for the issuance of bridge revenue bonds of such county, if acting separately, and of such counties, if acting jointly, for the purpose of paying the cost, as hereinabove defined, of any one […]

§ 65-23-313. Application of bond proceeds

All moneys received from any bridge revenue bond issued pursuant to this article shall be applied solely to the payment of the cost of the bridge or bridges, or to the appurtenant sinking fund, and there is hereby created and granted a lien upon such moneys until so applied, in favor of the holders of […]

§ 65-23-315. Trust indenture authorized

In the discretion of the governing body of any such county or counties issuing bonds under the provisions of this article, each or any issue of such bonds may be secured by a trust indenture by and between such county or counties and a corporate trustee, which may be any trust company or bank having […]

§ 65-23-317. Application of tolls and charges

The governing body of any such county or counties issuing bonds under the provisions of this article is hereby authorized to fix and to revise from time to time tolls for transit over such bridges, to charge and collect the same, and to contract with any person, partnership, association, or corporation desiring the use of […]

§ 65-23-319. Bridges toll-free after bonds retired

When the particular bonds issued for any bridge or bridges and the interest thereon shall have been paid, or a sufficient amount shall have been provided for their payment and shall continue to be held for that purpose, the county or counties issuing such bonds shall cease to charge tolls for the use of such […]

§ 65-23-321. Enforcement of bondholders’ rights

Any holder of any bonds issued under the provisions of this article or of any of the coupons attached thereto, and the trustee under the trust indenture, if any, except to the extent the rights herein given may be restricted by resolution passed before the issuance of the bonds or by the trust indenture, may […]

§ 65-23-323. Grants and preliminary loans

Any county or counties, acting pursuant to the terms of this article, in addition to the revenues which may be received from the sale of bridge revenue bonds and from the collection of tolls and other bridge revenues derived under the provisions of this article, shall have authority to receive and accept from any federal […]

§ 65-23-325. Powers and duties of governing bodies of counties issuing bonds

The governing body of any county or counties issuing its or their bonds under the provisions of this article shall have power to make and enter into all contracts or agreements necessary or incidental to the execution of its powers under this article, may employ engineering and construction experts, inspectors, attorneys, and such other employees […]

§ 65-23-327. Tax exemption

The exercise of the powers conferred by this article constitute the performance of essential governmental functions, and as bridges which are owned and operated by counties constitute public property used for public purposes, such bridges shall at all times be free from taxation within the state. No county shall be required to pay taxes or […]

§ 65-23-329. Construction and operation of article

This article, being necessary for the welfare of the state and its inhabitants, shall be liberally construed to effect the purposes hereof. But this article shall not be construed to repeal the laws under which any bridge has heretofore been constructed or operated by any county of the state and, as to such counties, the […]

§ 65-23-331. Bonds not limited by issuing county’s valuation of taxable property

Such bonds may be issued for the purpose stated above and, regardless of the amount thereof, same shall not be subject to the limitations as to amount of bonded debt based upon amount of the assessed value of taxable property in a county.