Special Districts and Authorities, Examples of Commonly Found

Planning District Commissions

Each planning district commission is authorized to prepare plans and programs that will promote orderly physical, social, and economic development within the defined boundaries. Any action taken by a planning district commission, however, may not affect the powers and duties of local planning commissions. While initially established to function solely as regional planning entities, the planning district commissions are now authorized to undertake and implement programs on behalf of their member jurisdictions.

Transportation Districts 

A transportation district is designed to facilitate the planning and development of the needed transportation facilities on a regional basis. 

Industrial Development Authorities 

Local governments are authorized to form nonprofit industrial development authorities to acquire, own, lease, and dispose of properties for the purpose of inducing new industrial, commercial, and institutional developments within their jurisdictional boundaries. These authorities have the power to issue revenue bonds from time to time to cover the cost of developing and/or operating their facilities. By law, an IDA is governed by a board of seven directors who are appointed by the local governing body. 

Public Service Authorities

A governing body of any county, city, or town, or the governing bodies of two or more such localities, are permitted to create, by ordinance, resolution, or agreement a water authority, a sewer authority, a sewage disposal authority, a storm water control authority, refuse collection and disposal authority, or any combination thereof. These authorities are considered as corporate entities and must be registered with the State Corporation Commission. 

Sanitation Districts 

A sanitation district is authorized to construct, maintain, operate, and use such trunk and intercepting sewers, conduits, pipes, pumping and ventilating stations, and treatment plants or works necessary to provide an effective and efficient water pollution control service to its users.

Sanitary Districts 

Sanitary districts may construct and operate a variety of public facilities, among which are water and sewer, garbage collection and disposal, parking, recreational, and drainage facilities. To finance these activities, districts may impose user fees, levy taxes on property within the district, and issue bonds (under certain limitations). In counties operating under the Urban County Executive Form of government, sanitary districts can be created only by an act of the Board of Supervisors.

Soil and Water Conservation Districts 

The General Assembly enacted the Soil Conservation District Law to allow the creation of soil and water conservation districts throughout the Commonwealth. A soil and water conservation district may be composed of one or more counties and cities.