§ 14-318-115 - Assessment order -- Lien -- Remedy. - Arkansas Statutes

14-318-115. Assessment order -- Lien -- Remedy.

(a) The board of commissioners of the district shall, at the same time that the assessment of benefits is equalized or at any time thereafter, enter upon its records an order, which shall have all the force of a judgment, providing that there shall be assessed upon the real property of the district a tax sufficient to pay the estimated cost of the improvement with ten percent (10%) added for unforeseen contingencies. This tax is to be paid by the real property in the district in proportion to the amount of the assessment of benefits thereon and is to be paid in annual installments, payable not to exceed ten percent (10%) for any one (1) year, as provided in the order.

(b) The tax so levied shall be a lien upon all the real property in the district from the time the tax is levied and shall be entitled to preference over all demands, executions, encumbrances, or liens whensoever created. It shall continue until the assessment, with any penalty and costs that may accrue thereon, shall have been paid.

(c) The remedy against the levy of taxes shall be by suit in chancery, and the suit must be brought within thirty (30) days from the time that the levy was made. On such appeal the presumption shall be in favor of the legality of the tax.

(d) The levy shall be only for an amount sufficient to pay for the rights-of-way required for the improvement and to pay all damages caused by its construction or to pay the bonds which may be issued by the district with the interest thereon and its necessary operating expenses.