1326 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 531)

charge upon every building and place having a connection
with the sewerage system under their control, said charge to be
an annual sewerage service charge. All assessments and
charges shall be uniform for each class of property throughout
any sub-district, shall be subject to change annually and shall
be collected by the Treasurer of Baltimore County excepting the
water service rates, which shall be collected as already specified
in Section 6. For those water supply systems not falling under
the provisions of Sections 5 and 6, but constructed and operated
by the Commissioners, water service rates shall be established
by the Commissioners. All front foot assessments shall run
for an equal term of years; provided, however, that any prop-
erty owner may, at his option, within one year from the time
said front foot assessment or benefit charge is levied, extin-
guish the same by the payment in cash, in one sum, of the
proportion of the estimated cost of the project of which the
construction abutting upon his property is a part, represented
by the number of front feet with which he is assessed, with
interest at the rate of six per cent, per annum, from the date
of said levy, less any annual payment that may have been made
thereon. The Commissioners, however, in estimating said cost
for the purpose of extinguishment, may add thereto a reason-
able margin to protect themselves against possible changes in
the cost of construction and the loss of interest. All sums
received under such plan of extinguishment shall be preserved
intact by the Treasurer of Baltimore County, less the payment
of the proportion of interest and sinking fund properly charge-
able to the amount so received, and used for future construc-
tion. The said assessments and charges shall be and constitute
a lien upon the property chargeable with the same until paid,
and if remaining unpaid for sixty days after becoming due,
they may be collected by an action of debt or by a bill in
equity to enforce such lien. All suits, either in law or in
equity, shall be in the name, and at the instance, of the Treas-
urer of Baltimore County. The amount collected by the
Treasurer of Baltimore County, whether by suit (either at
law or in equity) or otherwise, for the construction, mainte-
nance and operation of the said water and sewerage system,
after deducting therefrom all overhead expenses of the Com-
missioner and all proper and necessary costs of maintaining
and operating the systems, and all such sums so received by
the Commissioners to the credit of the water and sewerage
fund shall be applied by said Commissioners to the payment