Sec. 16. (a) A tax on the taxable property in the district, as it appears on the tax duplicate, shall be levied annually by the city legislative body for park purposes.

     (b) The tax shall be collected the same as other city taxes are collected, and the city fiscal officer shall, between the first and fifth days of each month, notify the board of the amount of taxes collected for park purposes during the preceding month. At the date of notification, the city fiscal officer shall credit the park fund with the amount.

     (c) The board may expend on behalf of the city all sums of money collected from:

(1) taxes;

(2) the sale of privileges in the parks of the city;

(3) the sale of bonds of the city for park purposes; and

(4) any other source.

All gifts, donations, or payments that are given or paid to the city for park purposes belong to the general park fund, the special nonreverting operating fund, or the special nonreverting capital fund to be used by the board as provided by this chapter. Warrants for expenditures shall be drawn by the city fiscal officer upon a voucher of the board signed by the president or vice president and secretary.

     (d) The city legislative body may borrow money for the use of the department and may issue the bonds of the city to pay back the borrowed money in the manner provided by statute for the issue of bonds for the general purposes of the city. However, the board may not contract debts beyond the amount of its annual income and the amount available from the sale of bonds or other sources.

     (e) All money remaining in the treasury to the credit of the board at the end of the calendar year belongs to the general park fund, the special nonreverting operating fund, or the special nonreverting capital fund for use by the board for park purposes.

     (f) Park and recreation facilities and programs shall be made available to the public free of charge as far as possible. However, if it is necessary in order to provide a particular activity, the board may charge a reasonable fee.

     (g) The city legislative body may establish by ordinance upon request of the board:

(1) a special nonreverting operating fund for park purposes from which expenditures may be made as provided by ordinance, either by appropriation by the board or by the city legislative body; or

(2) a special nonreverting capital fund for the purpose of acquiring land or making specific capital improvements from which expenditures may be made by appropriation by the city legislative body.

The city legislative body shall designate the fund or funds into which the city fiscal officer shall deposit fees from golf courses, swimming pools, skating rinks, or other major facilities requiring major expenditures for management and maintenance. Money received from fees other than from major facilities or received from the sale of surplus property shall be deposited by the city fiscal officer either in the special nonreverting operating fund or in the nonreverting capital fund, as directed by the board. However, if neither fund has been established, money received from fees or from the sale of surplus property shall be deposited in the general park fund. Money from either special fund may be disbursed only on approved claims allowed and signed by the president and secretary of the board.

     (h) Money placed in the special nonreverting capital fund may not be withdrawn except for the purposes for which the fund was created, unless the fiscal body repeals the ordinance establishing the fund. The fiscal body may not repeal the ordinance under suspension of the rules.

     (i) Money procured from fees or received from the sale of surplus property shall be deposited at least once each month with the city fiscal officer.

[Pre-Local Government Recodification Citations: 19-7-9-7 part; 19-7-30-11 part; 19-7-30-12 part.]

As added by Acts 1981, P.L.309, SEC.111. Amended by Acts 1981, P.L.320, SEC.15; P.L.372-1983, SEC.2; P.L.173-2003, SEC.40.