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Special District White Paper — Draft for Internal Review <br /> Metro Plan is not favorable to new special districts serving incorporated territory, Metro Plan <br /> amendments must be completed before the Boundary Commission or Board of Commissioners <br /> can be expected to act affirmatively on the proposal. <br /> SPECIAL DISTRICTS UNDER STATE LAW <br /> Special Districts are Independent Municipal Corporations <br /> Special districts are considered to be independent municipal corporations and subdivisions of <br /> the state under Oregon law. State statutes allow formation of quite a range of special districts, <br /> each with particular purposes, organizational framework, powers, debt limitations and revenue <br /> capabilities. Each type of district is authorized by a particular principal Act setting out the <br /> district's powers and limitations. The array of possible special districts variously serve single <br /> purposes or multiple purposes. <br /> Most special districts can serve contiguous or non - contiguous territory and may include both <br /> incorporated and unincorporated areas within their boundaries, and some may even extend <br /> countywide. Multiple sp�ecialdistricts can coexist, no'two dis a To <br /> cts areiiii dmunder the same <br /> principal Act. In some leased, special districts can provide service and levy assessments or <br /> taxes based on differe d service zoneswithin their boundaries. <br /> Each type of district is granted particular autho ity by its principal__Act t9 levy property taxes and <br /> otherwise raise reven e, own ord I4ase facilities, hire employees and sq forth. In a typical role, a <br /> special district genera es 'reGen,Cae; employs' =,staff,_owns pri leases facilit!es,j and provides <br /> program services to r sidents of the aistnct Districts \ may contract with cites, counties, other <br /> existing districts, and pnvat`e contractors to provide the services desired. <br /> It is particularly important to note that an independently elected board of directors usually <br /> governs a special district. Such an elected district board is answerable to the district's residents, <br /> and cannot be expected to answer to another jurisdiction's governing body. The exceptions, <br /> among the types of districts discussed in this paper, are county service districts and county road <br /> districts, for which the county board of commissioners acts as the district governing board. <br /> Since powers of a special district are specified in the district's principal Act, a special district's <br /> capabilities cannot be limited by another jurisdiction. Relationships between a special district <br /> and a city are fundamentally peer -to -peer, established on the same grounds as other <br /> intergovernmental relationships. <br /> Special Districts May Serve Territory within an Incorporated City <br /> A city may be included within and be served by a newly formed district of the types discussed in <br /> this paper. Special districts are also permitted to annex territory within an incorporated city.. <br /> Territory within a city may not be included within or annexed to a district without the consent of <br /> the city council. Inclusion of a city must also be consistent with the local comprehensive plan. <br /> A district might provide services only to one city or to the broader Eugene - Springfield <br /> metropolitan area, including surrounding unincorporated urban and rural areas, and even <br /> nearby cities. <br /> Draft #5 Page 6 10/24/01 <br />