§ 46-4-99 — Contracts with political subdivisions

(a) The authority may contract with any political subdivision of this state which is authorized by Code Section 46-4-100 to make such contracts for the payment of such rates, tolls, fees, and charges as may be prescribed by the authority for the use by such subdivisions or the residents thereof of the services, projects, and facilities of the authority, including the purchase of gas supply planning and development services. Any such political subdivision shall have the right and power, by resolution of its governing body, to make such a contract; and the amounts contracted to be paid by such political subdivision to the authority under such a contract shall constitute general obligations of such political subdivision for the payment of which the full faith and credit of such political subdivision may be pledged to provide the funds required to fulfill all obligations arising under any such contract. (b) Any such political subdivision which enters into such a contract pursuant to this article shall, annually in each and every fiscal year during the term of such contract, include in a general revenue or appropriation measure, whether or not any other items are included, sums sufficient to satisfy the payments required to be made in each year by such contract until all payments required under such contract have been paid in full. (c) If for any reason a provision or appropriation pursuant to subsection (b) of this Code section is not made, then the fiscal officers of such political subdivision are authorized and directed to set up as an appropriation on their accounts in each fiscal year the amounts required to pay the obligations called for under any such contract. The amount of an appropriation made under this subsection in each fiscal year shall be due and payable and shall be expended for the purpose of paying and meeting the obligations provided under the terms and conditions of such contract; and such appropriation shall have the same legal status as if the contracting political subdivision had included the amount of the appropriation in its general revenue or appropriation measure. Such fiscal officers shall make such payment to the authority if for any reason such appropriation is not otherwise made. (d) Any contract entered into pursuant to this Code section may provide for the purchase of gas from one or more projects or from a system and may provide for all of the gas requirements of the political subdivision's municipal gas system or for a portion of such requirements or may provide for the purchase by the political subdivision of a specified portion of the output or volume of a particular project. (e) Any such contract may provide that the political subdivision is obligated to make payments, whether or not a project is completed, operable, or operating; whether or not the output, volume, capacity, or service of a project is suspended, interrupted, interfered with, reduced, or curtailed; whether or not the gas or services contracted for are furnished, made available, or delivered; and regardless of the performance or nonperformance of the authority or another political subdivision under the contract or any other instrument. (f) Any such contract may provide that if another political subdivision or other person defaults in the payment of its obligations, then the political subdivision that is party to such contract is required to pay for, is entitled to, and may use or otherwise dispose of its proportionate share of the output that was to be purchased by the defaulting political subdivision or other person. (g) Loans made to a political subdivision pursuant to Code Section 46-4-101 shall be for use in the municipal gas system of such political subdivision, and such loan shall be made and repaid, with interest, on such terms as the authority and political subdivision shall agree. (h) Any such contract may obligate the political subdivision to pay such amounts as the authority may determine as necessary or desirable to establish reserves for rate stabilization purposes.