Attorney General Opinion No.

Kansas Attorney General Reports·Decided March 15, 2001·Published

Opinion

Jack Brier, President Kansas Development Finance Authority 700 S.W. Jackson Street, Suite 1000 Topeka, Kansas 66603-3761

Dear Mr. Brier:

As president of the Kansas Development Finance Authority, you pose two questions for our consideration. Your first question is:

"1. Does the [Kansas Development Finance Authority] Act confer upon the [Kansas Development Finance] Authority, in a manner that is not an unconstitutional delegation of legislative power, the discretion to determine the use of state and local tax revenues deposited in the redevelopment bond fund to (a) pay debt service on bonds issued pursuant to K.S.A. 1999 [2000] Supp. 74-8905(e), (b) pay any portion of such revenues directly to, or on the order of, a development to defray the costs of a `project of statewide as well as local importance' and/or (c) direct that any moneys not used for such purposes be remitted back to state and local taxing authorities?"

The Development Finance Authority Act
To appreciate the issues you raise, initially your questions must be placed within statutory context. The Kansas Development Finance Authority (Authority) was created in 1987, through enactment of the Development Finance Authority Act1 (Act), to be a "state-wide multiple-purpose bond issuing authority" that would provide an alternative means of financing capital improvements for state agencies and economic development projects in the private sector.2 The Act was amended in 19983 and 19994, in part, to establish a process for the Authority to designate redevelopment districts and adopt redevelopment plans. Generally, the amendments further authorize the Authority (a) to pledge certain State and local tax revenues for the issuance of bonds to finance a project of statewide as well as local importance, (b) to apply such tax revenues to the payment of costs of the project, and (c) to remit any excess tax revenues back to State and local taxing authorities. Such a project may be undertaken in one or more phases or stages by the Authority, or by a developer on behalf of the Authority, after the Authority establishes a redevelopment district and approves a redevelopment plan.5

The process for establishment of a redevelopment district and adoption of a redevelopment plan is multi-layered, involving participation by the Authority, a project developer, the Kansas Secretary of Commerce and Housing, and the county commissioners of the county in which a redevelopment district is proposed to be located.

The statutory process is initiated when a developer prepares a "comprehensive feasibility study, which shows the benefits derived from a project will exceed the costs and that the income therefrom will be sufficient to pay for the project."6 The developer submits this feasibility study to the Secretary of Commerce and Housing and to the Authority.7 A redevelopment agreement may then be executed between the Authority and the developer regarding implementation of the redevelopment plan, including the authorized extent of payment or reimbursement of all costs of the project.8 This agreement must be approved by the board of county commissioners of the county in which a proposed redevelopment district will be located.9 The process then moves towards the Authority's establishment of a redevelopment district and adoption of a redevelopment plan.

For the Authority to establish a redevelopment district, the Secretary of Commerce and Housing must certify that a proposed district will contain a project of statewide as well as local importance.10 The Secretary's certification is dependent on statutorily specified parameters related to a proposed project's capital improvement costs, county population, anticipated employment positions and geographic considerations.11 Upon the Secretary's certification, the Authority may adopt a resolution stating "its intent to establish the redevelopment district, describing the boundaries of the proposed district, and identifying any proposed projects to be considered as a part of the redevelopment district."12 The Authority must publish its resolution and establish a public comment period, as well as mail a copy to the governing bodies of the county and the school district in which a proposed redevelopment district is located.13 Following the public comment period, the Authority may adopt a resolution establishing the redevelopment district.14

For the Authority to adopt a redevelopment plan, the developer must prepare a redevelopment plan that includes a summary of the feasibility study, a reference to the redevelopment district, a comprehensive description of the project, a description and map of the area to be redeveloped, a detailed description of the buildings and facilities proposed to be constructed or improved in the area and any other information the Authority deems necessary to advise the public of the intent of the plan.15 The developer must provide a copy of the plan to the Authority, the Secretary of Commerce and Housing and the board of county commissioners of the county in which the redevelopment district is located.16 The county commissioners must then determine whether the plan as proposed is consistent with the comprehensive general plan for the development of the area.17 Upon a determination of consistency by the county commissioners, the Authority may adopt the redevelopment plan by a resolution.18 The Authority may establish the redevelopment district and adopt the redevelopment plan at the same time.19

Upon establishment of a redevelopment district and adoption of a redevelopment plan, the Authority may issue bonds, in one or more series, for the purpose of financing the project.20 The bonds are to be secured by and payable from revenues from any combination of statutorily specified sources, primarily various public tax revenues.21

The Authority may then use the proceeds of the bonds issued, other funds pledged for the payment of such bonds and, upon approval by the board of county commissioners or other taxing subdivision in which the redevelopment district is located, any uncommitted funds from the other specified sources.22 One category of those other sources is from certain State and local tax revenues collected by the State.23 These tax revenues are to be remitted to the State Treasurer who is to credit such revenues to the redevelopment bond fund.24

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