Any county in the state of Alabama, in addition to all other powers which it may now have, is hereby authorized and empowered from time to time to authorize, issue and sell, for the purpose of financing the costs of erecting necessary public buildings, bridges or roads in such county, interest-bearing tax-anticipation warrants payable (as to both principal and interest) solely out of the special ad valorem tax authorized by § 215 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended, to be levied for the erection of necessary public buildings, bridges or roads, such warrants to be in such denomination or denominations, to have such maturity or maturities [not exceeding 30 years from their date], to bear interest at such rate or rates and payable at such time or times, to be made payable at such place or places (whether within or without the state) and to be sold at such time or times, in such manner (whether publicly or privately) and at such price [not less than 95 percent of their par or face value plus accrued interest] as the county commission of such county shall determine. Warrants may be issued under the provisions of this chapter, in anticipation of the issuance and sale of longer-term warrants to be issued hereunder, to provide for the temporary financing of the costs of erecting necessary public buildings, bridges or roads, in which event so much of the proceeds from the sale of such longer-term warrants as shall be necessary for such purpose shall be used to pay and retire the principal of and the interest accrued on such shorter-term warrants.

As security for payment of the principal of and the interest on any warrants issued under the provisions of this chapter, the issuing county is authorized to assign and pledge so much as may be necessary for such purpose of the proceeds of the tax out of which such warrants are required to be payable. All such pledges shall take precedence in the order in which they are made unless in the proceedings authorizing such warrants the right is reserved to issue other bonds, warrants or securities on a parity therewith as respects such pledge.

Any county in the state of Alabama may from time to time authorize, sell and issue refunding warrants for the purpose of refunding any outstanding warrants theretofore issued under the provisions of this chapter (whether or not the principal of the outstanding warrants to be refunded shall have matured at the time of the issuance of the refunding warrants). Refunding warrants may not, however, be issued in a principal amount that will result in the principal proceeds to be derived by the issuing county therefrom exceeding the sum of (a) the outstanding principal of the warrants being refunded, (b) the interest thereon accrued to the date of issuance of such refunding warrants, (c) the interest to accrue on such outstanding warrants to their respective maturities or to the earliest date on which they may, under their terms, be redeemed (whichever is earlier), (d) any premium necessary to redeem or retire the outstanding warrants being refunded, and (e) the expenses estimated to be incurred by the issuing county in connection with the sale and issuance of such refunding warrants. Warrants may also be issued under the provisions of this chapter for the combined purpose of so refunding any such outstanding warrants and financing the costs of erecting necessary public buildings, bridges and roads, in which event those provisions of this section relating to refunding warrants shall apply to that portion of such combined issue being issued for refunding purposes. All the provisions of this chapter relating to warrants issued to finance the costs of erecting necessary public buildings, bridges or roads shall be applicable to warrants issued solely or partly for refunding purposes.

Any warrants issued by a county under the provisions of this chapter are hereby exempted from the laws of the state of Alabama governing usury or prescribing or limiting interest rates, including (without limitation) the provisions of chapter 8 of Title 8, as amended.

Insofar as the provisions of this chapter may be inconsistent with the provisions of any other law, the provisions of this chapter shall control, it being hereby specifically declared that (a) the provisions of §11-8-10, as amended, shall not be applicable to any warrants issued under the provisions of this chapter, and (b) that no approval of the qualified voters of a county shall be required in order for such county to authorize, sell or issue warrants under the provisions of this chapter.