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HomeGovernment CodeDiv. 2Pt. 1Ch. 3Art. 5.5§ 53515 Bond Revenue Statutory Lien

§ 53515 Bond Revenue Statutory Lien

Government Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 53515 Bond Revenue Statutory Lien

Key Takeaways

  • •If a city or school issues special bonds, the money from taxes automatically goes to pay back those bonds first.
  • •No one needs to do anything extra to make this happen—it’s automatic.
  • •This rule doesn’t stop cities or schools from issuing bonds in other ways if they’re allowed to.

Example

A city sells bonds to build a new park and promises to pay them back with tax money.

The tax money collected will automatically go to paying back those bonds before anything else, even if the city forgets or doesn’t file paperwork.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 53515 Bond Revenue Statutory Lien

(a) General obligation bonds issued and sold by or on behalf of a local agency shall be secured by a statutory lien on all revenues received pursuant to the levy and collection of the tax. The lien shall automatically arise without the need for any action or authorization by the local agency or its governing body. The lien shall be valid and binding from the time the bonds are executed and delivered. The revenues received pursuant to the levy and collection of the tax shall be immediately subject to the lien, and the lien shall immediately attach to the revenues and be effective, binding, and enforceable against the local agency, its successors, transferees, and creditors, and all others asserting rights therein, irrespective of whether those parties have notice of the lien and without the need for any physical delivery, recordation, filing, or further act. (b) This section is not intended to supplement or limit a local agency’s power to issue general obligation bonds conferred by any other law. (c) For purposes of this section, both of the following definitions apply: (1) “General obligation bonds” means bonds, warrants, notes, or other evidence of indebtedness of a local agency payable, both principal and interest, from the proceeds of ad valorem taxes that may be levied pursuant to paragraphs (2) and (3) of subdivision (b) of Section 1 of Article XIII A of the California Constitution. (2) “Local agency” means any city, county, city and county, school district, community college district, authority, or special district. (Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 86, Sec. 164. (SB 1171) Effective January 1, 2017.)

Last verified: January 22, 2026

Key Terms

obligationlocal agencyschoolpropertylienclaimcollectioncalifornia constitution

Related Statutes

  • § 50665.1 Local Agency Revenue Definitions
  • § 16494.7 Local Agency Loan Applications
  • § 23382 County Court Case Transfers
  • § 53412 Local Agency Bond Definitions
  • § 53500 Local Agency Bond Definitions

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Government Code. Section 53515.
View Official Source