§16-13A-21. Complete authority of article; liberal construction; district to be public instrumentality; tax exemption.

This article is full and complete authority for the creation of public service districts and for carrying out the powers and duties of same as herein provided. The provisions of this article shall be liberally construed to accomplish its purpose and no procedure or proceedings, notices, consents or approvals, are required in connection therewith except as may be prescribed by this article: Provided, That all functions, powers and duties of the Public Service Commission of West Virginia, the bureau of public health, the Division of Environmental Protection and the environmental quality board remain unaffected by this article. Every district organized, consolidated, merged or expanded under this article is a public instrumentality created and functioning in the interest and for the benefit of the public, and its property and income and any bonds issued by it are exempt from taxation by the State of West Virginia, and the other taxing bodies of the state: Provided, however, That the board of any such district may use and apply any of its available revenues and income for the payment of what such board determines to be tax or license fee equivalents to any local taxing body and in any proceedings for the issuance of bonds of such district may reserve the right to annually pay a fixed or computable sum to such taxing bodies as such tax or license fee equivalent.