As used in this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the following respective meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
(1) COSTS. When used with reference to or in connection with any public facility or any portion thereof, include all or any part of the cost of acquiring, constructing, altering, enlarging, extending, reconstructing, or remodeling such public facility, including the cost of all lands, structures, real or personal property, rights, rights-of-way, franchises, easements, permits, licenses, and interests acquired or used for, in connection with or with respect to such public facility, the cost of demolishing or removing any buildings or structures on land so acquired, including the cost of acquiring land to which such buildings or structures may be moved, the cost of all machinery, equipment, furniture, furnishings, and fixtures acquired or used for, in connection with or with respect to such public facility, the cost of architectural, engineering, financial, and legal services incurred in connection with the acquisition or construction of all or any part of such public facility and the financing thereof, including the expenses of preparing plans, specifications, surveys, and studies to determine the financial or engineering feasibility of such public facility, the cost of selling bonds, notes, warrants, or other debt instruments issued to finance such public facility or to refund debt previously incurred for such purpose, including underwriters’ commissions and discounts, printing costs, fees of rating services, fees and disbursements of attorneys, accountants, financial advisors and other consultants, fees and disbursements of trustees and escrow agents, and other incidental expenses, the costs of insurance, letters of credit or other third party commitments for the payment of such bonds, notes, warrants, or other debt instruments obtained in order to enhance the marketability thereof, capitalized interest on money borrowed to pay the costs of such public facility prior to, during and for a period of not exceeding six months following the estimated completion of the acquisition or construction of such public facility, amounts used to fund reserves for the payment of debt service, repair and replacement costs and operating expenses, and such other expenses as may be incident to the acquisition, construction, and financing of such public facility and the placement thereof in operation.
(2) COUNTY. Any county in the State of Alabama.
(3) FEDERAL OBLIGATIONS. (i) Direct general obligations of the United States of America or (ii) obligations the payment of the principal of and interest on which is unconditionally and irrevocably guaranteed by the United States of America.
(4) PLEDGED FUNDS. When used with reference to any warrants issued by any county pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, any taxes, revenues, or other funds pledged pursuant to Section 11-28-3 for the payment of the principal of and interest on such warrants, irrespective of whether such warrants constitute general obligations of such county or limited obligations payable solely from the taxes, revenues, or other funds so pledged.
(5) PUBLIC FACILITIES. When used with reference to or in connection with any county, any or all of the following facilities which such county may at any time have been or be authorized to acquire, by construction, purchase, or otherwise, pursuant to any laws other than this chapter, or facilities that a municipality may have been or be authorized to acquire, including all land and all easements and other rights or interests in land necessary or desirable for such facilities:
a. All courthouses, jails, hospitals, office buildings, school buildings, libraries, storage facilities, parking structures, equipment repair facilities, and other buildings and structures of every kind needed for the performance of governmental functions and responsibilities of such county.
b. All public highways, roads, streets, bridges, ferries, and other facilities used for public travel, including all landscaping, lighting, storm sewers, and drainage facilities in connection therewith, that such county is authorized or required to construct, maintain, and repair, whether at its sole expense or in conjunction with other governmental entities.
c. All utility systems which may at any time have been or be acquired and operated by such county, or by any public corporation organized or created pursuant to authorization, determination, finding or other action by the county commission of such county acting singly or in conjunction with the governing bodies of one or more other governmental entities, pursuant to any local or general law applicable to such county, including, without limitation thereto, any of the following:
1. Sanitary sewer systems and all mains, laterals, sewage disposal plants, sewage treatment plants, equipment, and other necessary or desirable appurtenances for such systems, including, without limitation thereto, all sanitary sewer systems that may at any time have been or be acquired by such county pursuant to any of the statutes codified as Sections 11-3-11(15), 11-9-1 through 11-9-5, and 11-81-160 through 11-81-190.
2. Water distribution systems, whether providing water for human consumption or industrial use, and all reservoirs, wells, intakes, mains, laterals, aqueducts, pumping stations, filtration and purification plants, equipment, and other necessary or desirable appurtenances for such systems, including, without limitation thereto, all water distribution systems that may at any time have been or be acquired by such county pursuant to any of the statutes codified as Sections 11-9-20 through 11-9-28 and 11-81-160 through 11-81-190.
d. All capital equipment and other capital personal property of every kind that such county may at any time have been or be authorized to acquire and use in the performance of its governmental functions and responsibilities, including, without limitation thereto, school buses and other equipment used for educational purposes, office equipment, computers, automobiles and trucks, and equipment used in the construction and maintenance of buildings or roads.
e. Capital improvements located within the county owned or acquired by a municipality. The application of any proceeds of warrants issued under the authority of this chapter to the cost of improvements under this paragraph shall be governed by an agreement between the county and the municipality that owns the improvements.
f. All other public facilities of every kind that such county may at any time have been or be authorized to acquire, including, without limitation thereto, parks, and related facilities for recreation, industrial parks and related facilities, drainage facilities, facilities necessary or desirable for the protection and preservation of the public health and safety, and revenue producing undertakings at any time authorized by the statutes codified as Sections 11-81-140 through 11-81-150.
(6) REFUNDABLE DEBT. With respect to any county, (i) any debt of such county evidenced by warrants issued pursuant to the provisions of this chapter and (ii) any valid debt of such county that is evidenced by bonds, notes, warrants or other instruments issued pursuant to laws other than this chapter and that was initially incurred to pay the costs of public facilities or to refund debt that, through one or more prior refundings, was initially incurred to pay the costs of public facilities. Refundable debt may be a general obligation of any county or a limited obligation payable solely from one or more specified sources, may have been initially incurred by any county or initially incurred by another governmental entity or public body and thereafter validly assumed by such county pursuant to any law other than this chapter, and may have been incurred or assumed by any county before or after December 21, 1983.