Sec. 25.
(1) For the purpose of acquiring, purchasing, constructing, improving, enlarging, furnishing, equipping, reequipping, developing, refinancing, or repairing a convention facility transferred under section 19 or subsequently acquired by an authority, the authority may issue self-liquidating bonds of the authority in accordance with and exercise all of the powers conferred upon public corporations by the revenue bond act of 1933, 1933 PA 94, MCL 141.101 to 141.140. Revenue bonds issued by the authority are a debt of the authority and not a debt of any qualified county, county, qualified city, city, or this state.
(2) The authority may borrow money and issue municipal securities in accordance with and exercise all of the powers conferred upon municipalities by the revised municipal finance act, 2001 PA 34, MCL 141.2101 to 141.2821.
(3) The authority may issue a bond or municipal security that bears no interest and appreciates as to principal amount. The bonds or municipal securities authorized by this subsection shall be exempt from section 305(2) and (3) of the revised municipal finance act, 2001 PA 34, MCL 141.2305.
(4) All bonds, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness issued by an authority under this act, and the interest on the bonds or other evidences of indebtedness, are free and exempt from all taxation within this state, except for transfer and franchise taxes.
(5) The issuance of bonds, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness by an authority shall require approval of the board.
(6) For the purpose of more effectively managing its debt service, an authority may enter into an interest rate exchange or swap, hedge, or similar agreement or agreements in connection with the issuance or proposed issuance of bonds, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness or in connection with its then outstanding bonds, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness.
(7) In connection with entering into an interest rate exchange or swap, hedge, or similar agreement, the authority may create a reserve fund for the payment thereof.
(8) An agreement entered into pursuant to this section shall comply with all of the following:
(a) The agreement is not a debt of the authority entering into the agreement for any statutory or charter debt limitation purpose.
(b) The agreement is payable from general funds of the authority or, subject to any existing contracts, from any available money or revenue sources, including revenues specified by the agreement, securing the bonds, notes, or evidences of indebtedness in connection with which the agreement is entered into.
(9) An authority upon approval by resolution of the authority board may issue notes in anticipation of the proceeds of a proposed authority bond issuance. The authority may pledge for the payment of the principal, interest, or redemption premiums on the notes security from 1 or more of the sources to secure the bonds and the proceeds of the bonds to be issued to refund the notes. The pledge shall be valid and binding from the time made. The security pledged and received by an authority is immediately subject to the lien of the pledge without physical delivery of the security or further action. The lien is valid and binding against a person with a claim of any kind against the authority whether or not the person has notice of the pledge. Neither the resolution, trust indenture, nor any other instrument creating a pledge must be filed or recorded to establish and perfect a lien or security interest in the property pledged. In the resolution, the authority shall declare the necessity of the notes, the purpose of the notes, the principal amount of the notes to be issued, and an estimated principal payment schedule for and an estimated or maximum average annual interest rate on the notes. The issuance and delivery of the notes shall be conclusive as to the existence of the facts entitling the notes to be issued in the principal amount of the notes and shall not be subject to attack. The notes shall mature not more than the earlier of 3 years from the date of issuance or 90 days after the expected date of issuance of the bonds in anticipation of which the notes are issued and may bear no interest or interest at a fixed or variable rate or rates of interest per annum. The proceeds of notes issued under this subsection shall be used only for the purpose to which the proceeds of the bonds may be applied, the costs of issuance of the notes, and the payment of principal and interest on the notes. Notes issued under this section are exempt from the provisions of the revised municipal finance act, 2001 PA 34, MCL 141.2101 to 141.2821.
History: 2008, Act 554, Eff. Jan. 20, 2009