TITLE 31

COUNTIES AND COUNTY LAW

CHAPTER 14

FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT

31-1412.  Annexation of territory in adjoining county. After the organization of a fire protection district, additional territory, contiguous or noncontiguous thereto and located wholly within an adjoining county, may be added to the district and become a part thereof as hereinafter provided in this section. Noncontiguous territory annexed to an existing fire protection district shall consist of not less than forty (40) contiguous acres. The proceedings for annexation shall be the same as the proceedings for the creation and organization of a fire protection district with the following exceptions and modifications:

(1)  Such proceeding may be initiated by:

(a)  Two (2) or more of the holders of title or evidence of title to lands aggregating not less than one hundred (100) acres; or

(b)  One hundred percent (100%) of the holders of title or evidence of title to lands aggregating not less than one hundred (100) acres.

(2)  A petition, such as is required by section 31-1403, Idaho Code, shall be filed with the fire protection board of the fire protection district into which petitioners seek to be annexed. The petition shall accurately describe the boundaries of the territory and name and describe the fire protection district to which annexation is sought. The petition shall be accompanied by a map showing and distinguishing the boundaries of the original district and the boundaries of the territory proposed to be annexed, and showing the location of the intervening county line. An election is not required pursuant to subsection (5) of this section when the petition includes a certification as to the following: (a) that one hundred percent (100%) of the holders of title or evidence of title of the property proposed to be annexed have joined in the initial petition requesting annexation; and (b) that there is no electorate present in the property proposed to be annexed. The fire protection board shall follow the notice and public hearing requirements contained in section 31-1411, Idaho Code, and if it approves of the annexation proposal, it will issue a written resolution consenting to the proposed annexation. If the fire protection board issues such a resolution, the petitioners shall proceed in accordance with the steps outlined in this section.

(3)  A petition, such as is required by section 31-1403, Idaho Code, shall be filed with the board of county commissioners of the county in which is situated the territory proposed to be annexed but shall accurately describe the boundaries of the territory, and name and describe the fire protection district to which annexation is sought, shall be accompanied by a map showing and distinguishing the boundaries of the original district and the boundaries of the territory proposed to be annexed, and showing the location of the intervening county line. An election is not required pursuant to subsection (5) of this section when the petition includes a certification as to the following: (a) that one hundred percent (100%) of the holders of title or evidence of title of the property proposed to be annexed have joined in the initial petition requesting annexation; and (b) that there is no electorate present in the property proposed to be annexed. The petition must be accompanied by a certified copy of the resolution of the board of fire protection commissioners consenting to the annexation.

(4)  The notice of hearing on the petition shall state that certain territory described in the petition, is proposed to be annexed to a fire protection district named in the petition and that any taxpayer within the boundaries of the territory proposed to be annexed may offer objections at the time and place specified. The order entered by the local board of county commissioners on the petition shall, if the petition be granted, fix the boundaries of the annexed territory and direct that a map of it be prepared under the direction of the clerk of the board, and certified copies of the order and map shall be transmitted to the clerk of the board of county commissioners of the county in which the original fire protection district is situated.

(5)  An election shall be conducted by the county clerk or elections office in the county where the land sought to be annexed is situated, subject to the provisions of section 34-106, Idaho Code, in the territory proposed to be annexed for the purpose of voting upon the annexation and the notice shall accurately describe the boundaries of the territory proposed to be annexed, shall state the name of the district to which annexation is sought, and that a map showing the boundaries of the district and of the territory proposed to be annexed is on file in the office of the clerk of the local board of county commissioners. The notice shall prescribe the form of ballot to be cast, which shall contain the words "In favor of annexation to …. Fire Protection District" and "Against annexation to …. Fire Protection District," and shall direct that the voter indicate his choice thereon by a cross (X). An election pursuant to the provisions of this subsection shall accomplish no purpose and, therefore, shall not be required if the following conditions are certified in the petition(s) submitted in accordance with subsections (2) and (3) of this section: (a) that one hundred percent (100%) of the holders of title or evidence of title of the property proposed to be annexed have joined in the initial petition requesting annexation; and (b) that there is no electorate present in the property sought to be annexed.

(6)  The territory proposed to be annexed shall constitute one (1) election precinct and there shall be added to the usual elector’s oath, in case of challenge, the following words: "And I am a resident within the boundaries of the territory proposed to be annexed to …. Fire Protection District." The returns of the election shall be canvassed by the board of the county commissioners of the county in which the territory proposed to be annexed is situated, and if it shall appear from the canvass that more than one-half (1/2) of the voters are in favor of the annexation, the board shall, by order entered on its minutes, declare the territory a part of the fire protection district to which annexation is sought, and a certified copy of the order shall be transmitted to the fire protection board of the original district, and also to the board of the county commissioners of the county in which the original district is situated. A certified copy of the order shall also be filed in the office of the county recorder of the county in which the territory proposed to be annexed is situated. At the first meeting of the board of fire protection commissioners following the annexation of property from another county, the board shall resubdivide the expanded fire protection district into three (3) subdivisions, as nearly equal in population and area as practicable. Not more than one (1) fire protection district commissioner shall reside in each subdistrict. If, because of resubdistricting, two (2) or more commissioners reside in the same subdistrict, they shall draw lots to determine who shall remain in office. The remaining commissioners on the board shall appoint, as necessary, persons to fill vacancies created as a result of annexation pursuant to the provisions of section 31-1409, Idaho Code. An appointee shall serve the remainder of the term of office he or she is appointed to fill. Certified copies of appointments of secretary and treasurer of the district shall be filed with the clerk of the board of county commissioners and with the tax collector of each county in which any portion of the district is situated and all taxes levied by the district shall be certified to, and extended, collected and remitted by, the proper officers of the county in which is situated the property subject to the levy.

History:

[31-1412, added 1943, ch. 161, sec. 12, p. 324; am. 1975, ch. 219, sec. 1, p. 610; am. 1980, ch. 350, sec. 6, p. 891; am. 1984, ch. 117, sec. 1, p. 262; am. 1984, ch. 202, sec. 3, p. 494; am. 1994, ch. 360, sec. 3, p. 1129; am. 1995, ch. 118, sec. 30, p. 455; am. 2006, ch. 318, sec. 11, p. 998; am. 2010, ch. 176, sec. 1, p. 363.]