1554 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 646

of any sum which may be necessary to pay and discharge the
principal and interest of any loan which may heretofore have
been obtained, or which may hereafter be obtained by such
county, according to law, and to create a sinking fund to
meet the liabilities thus incurred, and levy upon the property
so subject to taxation from time to time such sums as may
be necessary to provide therefor; as well as to collect from
such property so subject to the levy such sums as may be
necessary for the support and maintenance of the county gov-
ernment,

To provide for the prompt collection of all taxes due the
county; and for the sale of real estate, as well as leasehold
and personal property, for the payment of the same.

To rectify errors in the assessment of property; to provide
for the reduction or abatement of assessments improperly
made, and for the reimbursement of moneys paid in conse-
quence of such errors.

To levy and collect taxes for the organization, operation
maintenance of libraries, lire and ambulance services, and
other municipal services and to authorize the purchase, sale,
construction, maintenance, and operation of all real and per-
sonal property necessary or incidental to such services, and
to establish, modify, amend and abolish special taxing areas
for any of the purposes enumerated in Article 25A, except
that nothing herein contained shall be construed to permit
the modification or abolition of existing special taxing areas
performing municipal services, (other than furnishing fire
protection or library service) and governed or administered
by a Citizen's Committee or a Commission elected or ap-
pointed independently of the County Council.

To levy and collect taxes to provide for the payment of ad-
ditional retirement or disability benefits to such former em-
ployees of the County as may, in the opinion of the County
Council, be entitled to receive such additional benefits.

SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That this Act is hereby
declared to be an emergency measure and necessary for the
immediate preservation of the public health and safety, and
having been passed by a yea and nay vote, supported by
three-fifths of all of the members elected to each of the two
Houses of the General Assembly of Maryland, the same shall
take effect from the date of its passage.

Approved April 29, 1949.