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HomePublic Utilities CodeDiv. 10Pt. 12Ch. 9§ 100603 Rail Transit Bond Financing

§ 100603 Rail Transit Bond Financing

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

§ 100603 Rail Transit Bond Financing

This law lets the board borrow money by selling bonds to pay for building or fixing rail stations, and says the money will be paid back with special taxes collected from people in the benefit district.

Key Takeaways

  • •The board needs a two‑thirds vote to approve any bond issue.
  • •Bonds can’t be longer than 40 years and can’t charge more than 12% interest per year.
  • •The money to pay the bonds comes from special benefit assessments that must follow constitutional procedures and be announced with a public hearing.

Example

The board wants to build a new train station in a neighborhood, so it issues $5 million in bonds and then charges a special assessment (a local tax) to the nearby property owners to repay the bonds.

The board must vote 2/3 of its members, set the bond terms (no more than 40 years and 12% interest), publish a hearing notice, and follow the special assessment rules before collecting the tax from the district.

How to Calculate

Annual interest = Principal × Interest Rate

  1. Find the amount of money borrowed (the principal).
  2. Find the interest rate the law allows (no more than 12% per year).
  3. Multiply the principal by the interest rate to get the yearly interest payment.

The board issues $10 million in bonds at the maximum allowed rate of 12% per year.

Result: Annual interest = $10,000,000 × 0.12 = $1,200,000 per year. If the bonds run for the maximum 40 years, total interest over the life of the bonds would be $1,200,000 × 40 = $48,000,000.

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

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 100603 Rail Transit Bond Financing

(a) Following formation of the benefit district or concurrently therewith, if the board deems it necessary to incur a bonded indebtedness for the acquisition, construction, development, joint development, completion, operation, maintenance, or repair of one or more rail transit stations and related rail transit facilities located within the benefit district, the board may provide, by resolution, that the bonded indebtedness shall be payable from special benefit assessments levied within the benefit district. The resolution shall be adopted by a two-thirds vote of the members of the board, and shall declare and state all of the following: (1) That the board intends to incur an indebtedness, by the issuance of bonds of the VTA, for the benefit district which the board has formed, or intends to form, within a portion of the boundaries of the VTA. (2) The purposes for which the proposed debt is to be incurred, which may include all costs and estimated costs necessary or convenient for, incidental to, or connected with, the accomplishment of the purposes, including, without limitation, engineering, inspection, legal, fiscal agent, financial consultant, bond and other reserve funds, working capital, bond interest estimated to accrue during the construction period, if any, and for a period not exceeding three years thereafter, and the expenses of all proceedings for the authorization, issuance, and sale of the bonds. (3) The estimated cost of accomplishing the purposes and the amount of the principal of the indebtedness to be incurred. (4) That a general description of the benefit district and of each zone, if any, therein and maps showing the exterior boundaries thereof are on file with the secretary of the VTA and available for inspection by any interested person. (5) That special benefit assessments for the payment of the bonds, and the interest thereon, have been, or are proposed to be levied in the benefit district or zones therein in accordance with the procedures and approval process set forth in Section 4 of Article XIII D of the California Constitution. (6) The extent to which, if at all, all or a portion of the revenues of the VTA are to be used to pay the principal of, interest on, and sinking fund payments for, the bonds, including the establishment and maintenance of any reserve fund therefor. (7) The time and place set for hearing on the proposed issuance of the bonds. (8) That, prior to levying a special benefit assessment, the board shall comply with the notice, protest, and hearing procedures set forth in Section 53753 of the Government Code. (9) The maximum term the proposed bonds shall run before maturity, which shall not exceed 40 years from the date of the bonds or any series thereof. (10) The maximum rate or rates of interest to be paid, which shall not exceed 12 percent per annum. (11) That the pledge of special benefit assessment revenues to the bonds authorized by this section has priority over the use of any of those revenues for pay-as-you-go financing, except to the extent that this priority is expressly restricted by any of the VTA’s agreements with bondholders. (b) The notice stating the time and place of the hearing on the proposed issuance of bonds shall be published prior to the time fixed for the hearing pursuant to Section 6066 of the Government Code. (Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 381, Sec. 113. (AB 2196) Effective January 1, 2017.)

Last verified: January 11, 2026

Key Terms

bonded indebtednessspecial benefit assessmentsbenefit districttwo-thirds voteSection 4 of Article XIII D of the California ConstitutionSection 53753 of the Government Code

Related Statutes

  • § 100602 Special Benefit Assessment Rules
  • § 100604 Bond Issuance Hearing Process
  • § 100605 Benefit District Bond Assessments
  • § 100600 Vta Transit Benefit Assessments
  • § 100601 Rail Transit Benefit Assessments

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Public Utilities Code. Section 100603.
View Official Source