§ 159-81.  Definitions.

The words and phrases defined in this section shall have the meanings indicated when used in this Article:

(1) "Municipality" means a county, city, town, incorporated village, sanitary district, metropolitan sewerage district, metropolitan water district, metropolitan water and sewerage district, county water and sewer district, water and sewer authority, hospital authority, hospital district, parking authority, special airport district, special district created under Article 43 of Chapter 105 of the General Statutes, regional public transportation authority, regional transportation authority, regional natural gas district, regional sports authority, airport authority, joint agency created pursuant to Part 1 of Article 20 of Chapter 160A of the General Statutes, a joint agency authorized by agreement between two cities to operate an airport pursuant to G.S. 63-56, the North Carolina Turnpike Authority described in Article 6H of Chapter 136 of the General Statutes and transferred to the Department of Transportation pursuant to G.S. 136-89.182(b), and a Ferry Transportation Authority created pursuant to Article 29 of Chapter 160A of the General Statutes, but not any other forms of State or local government.

(2) "Revenue bond" means a bond issued by the State of North Carolina or a municipality pursuant to this Article.

(3) "Revenue bond project" means any undertaking for the acquisition, construction, reconstruction, improvement, enlargement, betterment, or extension of any one or combination of the revenue-producing utility or public service enterprise facilities or systems listed in this subdivision, to be financed through the issuance of revenue bonds, thereby providing funds to pay the costs of the undertaking or to reimburse funds loaned or advanced by or on the behalf of either the State or a municipality to pay the costs of the undertaking.

A revenue bond project shall be (i) owned or leased as lessee by the issuing unit or (ii) owned by one or more of the municipalities participating in an undertaking established pursuant to Part 1 of Article 20 of Chapter 160A of the General Statutes. If the revenue bond project is owned by one or more municipalities as provided in (ii) of this subdivision, any one or more of the participating municipalities may each be an issuing unit consistent with their agreement to establish a joint undertaking. In addition, any joint agency established by participating municipalities pursuant to Part 1 of Article 20 of Chapter 160A of the General Statutes may be an issuing unit without owning the revenue bond project or leasing it as lessee.

The cost of an undertaking may include all property, both real and personal and improved and unimproved, plants, works, appurtenances, machinery, equipment, easements, water rights, air rights, franchises, and licenses used or useful in connection with the undertaking; the cost of demolishing or moving structures from land acquired and the cost of acquiring any lands to which the structures are to be moved; financing charges; the cost of plans, specifications, surveys, and estimates of cost and revenues; administrative and legal expenses; and any other expense necessary or incident to the project.

The following facilities or systems may be revenue bond projects under this subdivision:

a. Water systems or facilities, including all plants, works, instrumentalities and properties used or useful in obtaining, conserving, treating, and distributing water for domestic or industrial use, irrigation, sanitation, fire protection, or any other public or private use.

b. Sewage disposal systems or facilities, including all plants, works, instrumentalities, and properties used or useful in the collection, treatment, purification, or disposal of sewage.

c. Systems or facilities for the generation, production, transmission, or distribution of gas (natural, artificial, or mixed) or electric energy for lighting, heating, or power for public and private uses, where gas systems shall include the purchase and/or lease of natural gas fields and natural gas reserves and the purchase of natural gas supplies, and where any parts of such gas systems may be located either within the State or without.

d. Systems, facilities and equipment for the collection, treatment, or disposal of solid waste.

e. Public transportation systems, facilities, or equipment, including but not limited to bus, truck, ferry, and railroad terminals, depots, trackages, vehicles, and ferries, and mass transit systems.

f. Public parking lots, areas, garages, and other vehicular parking structures and facilities.

g. Aeronautical facilities, including but not limited to airports, terminals, and hangars.

h. Marine facilities, including but not limited to marinas, basins, docks, dry docks, piers, marine railways, wharves, harbors, warehouses, and terminals.

i. Hospitals and other health-related facilities.

j. Public auditoriums, gymnasiums, stadiums, and convention centers.

k. Recreational facilities.

l. Repealed by Session Laws 2001-474, s. 36, effective November 29, 2001.

m. Economic development projects, including the acquisition and development of industrial parks, the acquisition and resale of land suitable for industrial or commercial purposes, and the construction and lease or sale of shell buildings in order to provide employment opportunities for citizens of the municipality.

n. Facilities for the use of any agency or agencies of the government of the United States of America.

o. Structural and natural stormwater and drainage systems of all types.

p. In the case of the North Carolina Turnpike Authority, a Turnpike Project, as defined in G.S. 136-89.181, including the planning and design of a Turnpike Project, that is designated by the Authority to be a revenue bond project.

q. Cable television systems.

(4) "Revenues" include all moneys received by the State or a municipality from, in connection with, or as a result of its ownership or operation of a revenue bond project or a utility or public service enterprise facility or system of which a revenue bond project is a part, including (to the extent deemed advisable by the State or a municipality) moneys received from the United States of America, the State of North Carolina, or any agency of either, pursuant to an agreement with the State or a municipality, as the case may be, pertaining to the project. (Ex. Sess. 1938, c. 2, s. 2; 1939, c. 295; 1941, c. 207, s. 2; 1951, c. 703, s. 1; 1953, c. 901, ss. 4, 5; c. 922, s. 1; 1965, c. 997; 1969, c. 1118, s. 1; 1971, c. 780, s. 1; 1973, c. 494, s. 15; 1975, c. 821, s. 2; 1977, c. 466, s. 3; 1979, c. 727, s. 4; c. 791; 1983, c. 554, ss. 2-2.2; 1985, c. 639, s. 3; 1987 (Reg. Sess., 1988), c. 976, s. 1; 1989, c. 168, ss. 37, 38; c. 643, s. 4; c. 740, s. 2; c. 780, s. 2; 1991, c. 508, s. 1; 1995 (Reg. Sess., 1996), c. 644, s. 3; 1997-393, s. 3; 1997-426, s. 6; 2001-414, s. 48; 2001-474, ss. 36, 37; 2002-133, ss. 6, 7; 2009-527, s. 2(e); 2010-165, s. 14; 2011-84, s. 4; 2013-50, s. 5; 2017-120, s. 3.)