§39-53  Additional powers of
departments.  In addition to the powers which departments may otherwise
have, any department shall have the power pursuant to this part:



(1)  To construct, acquire by gift, purchase, or the
exercise of the right of eminent domain, reconstruct, improve, better, or
extend any undertaking within its jurisdiction, and to acquire by gift,
purchase, or the exercise of the right of eminent domain, lands or rights in
land or water in connection therewith within its jurisdiction or to undertake
the establishment and administration of a loan program as authorized by law
within its jurisdiction;



(2)  To operate and maintain any undertaking or
administer, operate, and maintain a loan program as authorized by law within
its jurisdiction and furnish the services, facilities, and commodities thereof
for its own use and for the use of public and private consumers;



(3)  To issue revenue bonds of the State in the
amounts authorized by specific act or acts of the legislature to finance in
whole or in part the cost of the acquisition, purchase, construction,
reconstruction, improvement, betterment, or extension of any undertaking or the
establishment and administration of any loan program as authorized by law;



(4)  Subject to the provisions of section 39-61, to
impose, prescribe, and collect rates, rentals, fees, and charges for the use
and services of, and the facilities and commodities furnished by, the
undertaking or for the use and services of the loan program as authorized by
law; and



(5)  To pledge to the punctual payment of the revenue
bonds and interest thereon, or to covenant to pay into any special funds from
which any of the revenue bonds may be payable, all or any portion of the
revenue of the undertaking or loan program or of any part thereof, or the user
taxes derived therefrom, or any combination of both (including improvements,
betterments, or extensions thereto thereafter constructed or acquired)
sufficient, among other things, to pay the revenue bonds and interest as they
shall become due and to create and maintain reasonable reserves to pay the
principal and interest; provided that no user taxes shall be pledged to the
payment unless the legislature in the specific act or acts authorizing the
issuance of the revenue bonds shall have provided that the revenue bonds may be
payable from and secured by user taxes.



The department, in determining the cost, may
include all costs and estimated costs of the issuance of the revenue bonds, all
architectural, engineering, inspection, financial and legal expenses, all costs
of establishing or administering a loan program authorized by law, the cost of
causing the payment of the principal or interest or both of the revenue bonds
to be insured or guaranteed, the initial cost of any support facility obtained
as permitted by section 39-59, and interest which it is estimated will accrue
during the construction period and for six months thereafter on money borrowed
or which it is estimated will be borrowed pursuant to this part. [L 1988, c 28,
pt of §3]