Kirby Lake Development, Ltd. v. Clear Lake City Water Authority

in which Justice HECHT, Justice WAINWRIGHT, Justice MEDINA, Justice GREEN, Justice JOHNSON, and Justice LEHRMANN joined, and in which Justice WILLETT joined as to all parts except footnote 7.

Water lies beneath the surface of today’s case, yet our holding is based on a rule of grammar, not capture. The Water Authority must seek voter approval, “in any bond election” it conducts, to sell bonds so that developers — who fronted the cost of the city’s water and sewer lines — can be reimbursed. Does “any” bond election mean “every” bond election? Or has the Authority satisfied its obligation by…