1976 ARTICLE 44A

further, that the provisions of this section shall not deprive any city or
county of its right to collect any service charge agreed upon in lieu of
taxes in the same manner as all such taxes are now, or may hereafter be,
collectible under the laws of this State and of said cities or counties.

1937, ch. 517, sec. 20.

20. In addition to the powers conferred upon an authority by other
provisions of this Article, an authority is empowered to borrow money or
accept grants or other financial assistance from the Federal Government
for or in aid of any housing project within its area of operation, to take
over or lease or manage any housing project or undertaking constructed
or owned by the Federal Government, and to these ends, to comply with
such conditions and enter into such mortgages, trust indentures, leases or
agreements as may be necessary, convenient or desirable. It is the purpose
and intent of this Article to authorize every authority to do any and all
things necessary or desirable to secure the financial aid or co-operation of
the Federal Government in the undertaking, construction, maintenance or
operation of any housing project by such authority.

1937, ch. 517, sec. 21.

21. The property of an authority is declared to be public property used
for essential public and governmental purposes and such property and an
authority shall be exempt from all taxes and special assessments of the
city, the State or any political subdivision thereof; provided, however,
that an authority shall pay to the City or political subdivision of the State
(a) a sum which is fixed by said City or political subdivision to be paid
to it annually by the authority in respect to each housing project in lieu
of taxes; or (b) a sum, if any, which said City or political subdivision has
agreed to accept in respect to a project or projects in lieu of taxes; pro-
vided further, however, that the sum to be paid to the City or political
subdivision shall not exceed an amount equal to the regular taxes levied
upon similar property.

In the event that an authority, set up under the provisions of this Arti-
cle either by a City or a County, takes over the Federal Project in Prince
George's County, known as Greenbelt the provision of this Article limit-
ing the amounts payable in lieu of taxes shall not apply and such payments
shall be subject to agreement between such authority and the public body

involved.

Tax exemption sustained on ground that it was the property of a public agency for
a public municipal purpose. Matthaei v. Housing Authority, Daily. Record, Jan. 5, 1940.

1937, ch. 517, sec. 22.

22. At least once a year, an authority shall file with the Clerk a report
of its activities for the preceding year, and shall make recommendations
with reference to such additional legislation or other action as it deems
necessary in order to carry out the purpose of this Article.

In each County of the State there is hereby created a public body cor-
porate and politic to be known as the housing authority of the county;
provided, however, that said housing authority shall not transact or exer-
cise its powers hereunder until or unless the Board of County Commis-
sioners shall declare at any time hereafter that there is need for a housing
authority to function in such county, which declaration shall be made by
said Board of County Commissioners in the same manner and subject to