I.C. § 33-2708 provides an alternative way of adding territory that does not include an existing tax-supported library to a library district. This is done by petition. Because the petition requires the signatures of 60% of the qualified electors in the area to be added to the district, this option should be considered when the area to be added has a relatively small population.
Multiple County Districts. If the district extends into more than one county, the home county of the existing district will continue as the home county for the expanded district. However, the county in which the petition arose will hold the hearing. When they have approved the district expansion, the home county commissioners make the order amending the boundaries of the district.
The tasks that need to be carried out to add territory by petition are as follows:
- First, a legal description and draftsmanlike map of the new area needs to be created.
- Second, the Working Group must determine the number of signatures it will need on the petitions to get the required 60% of the qualified electors.
- Third, a petition procedure must be carried out in the area to be added to the district.
- Fourth, the board of trustees of the existing library district must approve the petition and notify the county commissioners for the county in which the petition arose that they have done so.
- Fifth, the county commissioners hold a hearing on the petition.
- Sixth, the county commissioners approve the addition to the district.
- Seventh, the home county commissioners enter an order amending the district’s boundaries.