Article XI, § 5 — Public debt and works of internal improvement; purposes

Public debt may be contracted and works of internal improvements carried on for the following purposes: (a) to acquire and to better public land and buildings and other public improvements of a capital nature and to provide money to be appropriated or loaned to any agency or political subdivision of the state for such purposes if the law authorizing the debt is adopted by the vote of at least three-fifths of the members of each house of the legislature; (b) to repel invasion or suppress insurrection; (c) to borrow temporarily as authorized in section 6; (d) to refund outstanding bonds of the state or any of its agencies whether or not the full faith and credit of the state has been pledged for the payment of the bonds; (e) to establish and maintain highways subject to the limitations of article XIV; (f) to promote forestation and prevent and abate forest fires, including the compulsory clearing and improving of wild lands whether public or private; (g) to construct, improve and operate airports and other air navigation facilities; (h) to develop the state's agricultural resources by extending credit on real estate security in the manner and on the terms and conditions prescribed by law; (i) to improve and rehabilitate railroad rights-of-way and other rail facilities whether public or private, provided that bonds issued and unpaid shall not at any time exceed $200,000,000 par value; and (j) as otherwise authorized in this constitution. As authorized by law political subdivisions may engage in the works permitted by (f), (g), and (i) and contract debt therefor.