{"data":{"id":"us-ky/krs-220.537","jurisdiction":"us-ky","citation":"KRS 220.537","heading":"Procedure for protest against proposed annexation.","body":"Owners of real property in the territory proposed to be annexed who wish to object to the\nannexation of the territory to the district shall, within thirty (30) days after the giving of\nnotice by the commissioner, file a petition, signed by twenty -five percent (25%) of the\nfreeholders in the territory proposed to be annexed, in the Circuit Court of the county in\nwhich the larger part of the territory proposed to be annexed is located, naming the\ncommissioner, or in the case of annexation pursuant to KRS 220. 536(4) naming the\ndistrict, as defendant and setting out in the petition their objections to the annexation of\nthe territory. The commissioner or district shall be represented in the Circuit Court by the\ncounty attorney and in the Court of Appeals by the A ttorney General, and he also may\nrequire his defense to be made by the district. The issues may be made up and the case\nmay be docketed for hearing as in an action for a declaration of rights. The burden of\nproof shall be upon the plaintiffs to show cause why the territory, or any portion of it,\nshould not be annexed to the district. If the court renders judgment against the\ncommissioner or district, the judgment shall point out the changes required for annexation\nof the territory, which, if met by the comm issioner or district, shall authorize annexation\nof the territory. If the proposed changes are not met by the commissioner or district, the\nterritory shall not be annexed unless new proceedings are instituted in the manner\nprescribed by KRS 220.535 and 220.536, but such new proceedings shall not be instituted\nfor a period of six (6) months after the date of judgment. If the court gives judgment\nagainst the plaintiffs, the board of directors may annex the territory. An appeal shall\nsuspend the judgment until  the case has been passed upon by the Court of Appeals and\nfinal judgment rendered. Either the plaintiffs or the commissioner or district may appeal\nfrom the judgment of the Circuit Court to the Court of Appeals, but the commissioner or\ndistrict shall not be required to make any appeal bond. Except as otherwise provided in\nthis section, the pleading and practice shall be the same as in other suits in equity.","path":["KRS Chapter 220"],"source_url":"https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=9829","current_through":"Includes enactments through the 2026 Regular Session","vintage":"09/05/2026","retrieved_at":"2026-09-05T20:52:32Z","sha256":"980503fb7e1ace5e6cbf878bcac5d45f4197257e61575bfb1ee6869770255871","source_id":"us-ky","stale":false,"prev":"us-ky/krs-220.536","next":"us-ky/krs-220.540"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}