(a) Except as provided in subsection (b), the board of directors of a building authority, acting in the name of the authority, may:

1. (1) finance, improve, construct, reconstruct, renovate, purchase, lease, acquire, equip, operate, maintain, and manage land, government buildings, or systems for the joint or separate use of one (1) or more eligible entities;
2. (2) lease all or part of land, government buildings, or systems to eligible entities;
3. (3) govern, manage, regulate, operate, improve, reconstruct, renovate, repair, and maintain any land, government building, or system acquired or financed under this chapter;
4. (4) sue, be sued, plead, and be impleaded, but all actions against the authority must be brought in the circuit court, superior court, or probate court for the county in which the authority is located;
5. (5) condemn, appropriate, lease, rent, purchase, and hold any real or personal property needed or considered useful in connection with government buildings or systems regardless of whether that property is then held for a governmental or public use;
6. (6) acquire real or personal property by gift, devise, or bequest and hold, use, or dispose of that property for the purposes authorized by this chapter;
7. (7) enter upon any lots or lands for the purpose of surveying or examining them to determine the location of a government building;
8. (8) design, order, contract for, and construct, reconstruct, renovate, and maintain land, government buildings, or systems and perform any work that is necessary or desirable to improve the grounds, premises, and systems under its control;
9. (9) determine, allocate, and adjust space in government buildings to be used by any eligible entity;
10. (10) construct, reconstruct, renovate, maintain, and operate auditoriums, public meeting places, and parking facilities in conjunction with or as a part of government buildings;
11. (11) collect all money that is due on account of the operation, maintenance, or management of, or otherwise related to, land, government buildings, or systems, and expend that money for proper purposes;
12. (12) let concessions for the operation of restaurants, cafeterias, public telephones, news and cigar stands, and vending machines;
13. (13) employ the managers, superintendents, architects, engineers, consultants, attorneys, auditors, clerks, foremen, custodians, and other employees or independent contractors necessary for the proper operation of land, government buildings, or systems and fix the compensation of those employees or independent contractors, but a contract of employment may not be made for a period of more than four (4) years although it may be extended or renewed from time to time;
14. (14) make and enter into all contracts and agreements necessary or incidental to the performance of its duties and the execution of its powers under this chapter;
15. (15) provide coverage for its employees under IC 22-3 and IC 22-4 ; and
16. (16) accept grants and contributions for any purpose specified in this subsection.

(b) The building authority in a county having a consolidated city may not purchase, construct, acquire, finance, or lease any land, government building, or system for use by an eligible entity other than the consolidated city or county, unless that action is first approved by:

1. (1) the city-county legislative body; and

2. (2) the governing body of the eligible entity involved.

   [Pre-Local Government Recodification Citations: 19-8-4-9; 19-8-4-26.5.]

   As added by Acts 1981, P.L.309, SEC.86. Amended by Acts 1981, P.L.188, SEC.6; P.L.37-1988, SEC.32; P.L.84-2016, SEC.186.