1784 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 1017

however, in estimating said cost for the purposes of extin-
guishment, may add thereto a reasonable margin to protect
themselves against possible changes in the cost of construc-
tion 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 pro-
portion of interest and sinking fund properly chargeable to
the amount so received, and used for further construction.
The said assessments and charges shall be and constitute a
lien upon the property chargeable with the same until paid.
Said lien whether as to assessments and charges heretofore
accrued or hereafter accruing, shall be and is hereby declared
always to have been superior to any and all other liens against
the property chargeable therewith, whether such other liens
were created prior to or after the passage of Chapter 539 of
the Acts of 1924, known as the Metropolitan District Act.
Nothing herein contained shall in any manner be construed as
affecting the lien of any other public taxes, charges or assess-
ments for State and/or County purposes of any kind or nature
whatsoever levied or charged against any property. The lien
herein provided for shall have and is hereby declared always
to have had priority of payment from the proceeds of the sale
of any property chargeable therewith, subject only to the
preference of taxes provided by Section 150 of Article 81 of
the Annotated Code of Maryland (1939 Edition). All such
assessments and charges, including those past due and in
arrears as well as those due and becoming due in the future,
excepting water service charges, which shall be collected as
heretofore specified in Section 332 shall be due, if payable
annually, on the first day of January in each and every year
and shall be collected by the treasurer of Baltimore County
in the same manner and at the same time as State and County
taxes are collected. In addition to, but not in substitution of
the aforesaid remedies, whenever the Commissioners may
deem it necessary and advisable, they are empowered by writ-
ten order to authorize and direct the treasurer of Baltimore
County to proceed in his own name as such treasurer to
enforce the lien of Metropolitan District assessments and
charges on any particular property specified in such order, by
a bill in equity or to collect said assessments and charges by
an action of assumpsit or by both a bill in equity and a suit
at law as aforesaid. In the event any such annual assess-
ment or charge be not paid when due, interest thereon, be-
ginning on the first day of the following June, shall be added
at the rate of one-half of 1% per month until paid. The fiscal
year of the Metropolitan District shall correspond with the
calendar year and on or prior to the first day of Jan-
uary in each and every year, said Commissioners shall