498 ARTICLE 2.

existing system other than a municipal system, the construction of which
has been added in whole or in part to the purchase price of land or lots
abutting upon said system and which 'contribution the Commission has
determined to be a factor in the cost to the Commission of such system,
the Commission may, in its discretion, levy a front foot assessment less
than the uniform front foot assessment levied in the remainder of the
district in which said system is located. The amount of the charge per
front foot for each class of property for both water main and sewer may
be reduced from time to time by the Commission in its discretion, if costs
and conditions are deemed by it to justify such reduction. Said benefit
charge shall be paid annually beginning in the year such construction is
begun, by all properties located as above specified, for a period of years
co-extensive with the period of maturity of the bonds out of the proceeds
of which such construction was done; provided, however, that any prop-
erty owner, whose property is classified as business or industrial first class,
or subdivision first class, may at his or her option, at any time during
the bond period, extinguish the charge thereon by the payment in cash in
one sum of a just proportion of the estimated cost of the whole project of
which the construction abutting upon his or her property is a part, said
proportion to be determined by the Commission, in its discretion, after
considering the number of front feet for which he or she is assessed at
first class rates in comparison with the total number of front feet as-
sessed at first class rates for the construction of said whole project, and
taking account also of any annual payments that may have already been
made thereon; and the Commission's determination as to the amount to
be so paid for extinguishment of said charge to be final. The Commis-
sion in estimating said cost for the purpose of extinguishment may add
thereto a reasonable margin to protect itself against possible changes in
the cost of construction and loss of interest. All sums received under
such plan of extinguishment shall be preserved intact by said Commis-
sion less the payment of the proportion of interest and sinking fund prop-
erly chargeable to the amount so received, and used for future construc-
tion. The Commission shall at any time permit a connection with a
water main or sewer by the property owner whose property does not abut
on said water main or sewer and who has not previously thereto paid a
benefit charge for the construction of said water main or sewer, provided,
said Commission shall classify said property and determine a front foot
charge to be paid by said property owner as though his or her property
abutted upon aaid water main or sewer; and in the event of such connec-
tion being made, said property owner and said property as to all charges,
rates and benefits shall stand in every respect in the same position as if
the said property abutted upon a water main or sewer. Said benefit
charge shall be payable at the office of the Commission immediately upon
being levied, and shall be overdue and in default after sixty days from
that date, at which time the Commission may proceed to enforce payment
thereof; and said benefit charge and any judgment or decree obtained as
a result of default in the payment thereof shall bear interest at the rate