THEODORE R. McKELDIN, GOVERNOR                    1129

levied under Section 399, shall deduct such amount as the Commission
may estimate that it will be able to collect out of the benefits there-
tofore levied by it but not yet paid, from the whole amount necessary
to be raised in any one year for interest and principal payments on
outstanding bonds, and the balance then remaining to be raised shall
be the amount to be certified to the County Commissioners of Cecil
County for collection by taxation as provided by Section 399.

406. for the purpose of providing funds for maintenance, repair-
ing and operating its water supply, sewerage or drainage systems,
and for its operation and other expenses, including proper deprecia-
tion allowances, and for interest on, and the retirement of bonds as
specified in this sub-title, the Commission is hereby empowered to
make a ready-to-serve charge on water and a charge for the upkeep
of sewers chargeable against all properties having a connection with
any water pipe or sewer pipe under its supervision or ownership.
Said rate for both ready-to-serve and such charge for the upkeep
of sewers shall be uniform throughout such sanitary district, subject
to such changes from time to time as may be necessary. The charge
for the upkeep on sewers shall be reasonable and collected annually
in the same manner as benefit assessments are collected and shall be
a first lien against all property having a connection with any sewer
pipe under its supervision and ownership. IF A SEWERAGE SYS-
TEM IN ANY SANITARY DISTRICT IS CONNECTED WITH A
SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT OF THE COMMISSION, SAID
CHARGE FOR THE UPKEEP OF SEWERS MAY INCLUDE A
CHARGE FOR ALL OR A PROPORTIONATE SHARE OF THE
COST OF MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION OF SAID SEWAGE
TREATMENT PLANT AND, IF THE COMMISSION SHALL SO
ELECT, SAID CHARGE MAY BE IMPOSED AND COLLECTED
AS A SERVICE CHARGE ON THE SAME BASIS AND IN THE
SAME MANNER AS THE COMMISSION IS AUTHORIZED
HEREIN TO IMPOSE AND COLLECT RATES FOR WATER
SERVICE. The rate for water service shall consist of a mini-
mum or ready-to-serve charge, which shall be based upon the
size of the meter on the water connection leading to the prop-
erty, and of a charge for water used, which shall be based upon
the amount of water passing through the meter during the period
between the last two readings, said meter being required to be
placed on each water connection by and at the sole expense of the
Commission. If the Commission at any time shall not have meters
available to install in all the properties in a given locality that are
connected to the system, then a flat rate shall be charged all proper-
ties in which meters have not yet been installed, which rate shall be
uniform in each sanitary district and based upon the amount of
water used. Bills for the amount of the charges as above specified
shall be sent quarterly or semi-annually, as the Commission may
determine, to each property served, and shall be thereon payable at
the office of the Commission; and if any bill remains unpaid after
thirty days from date of sending, the Commission shall, after written
notice left upon the premises or mailed to the last known address of
the owner, turn off the water from the property in question, and the
water shall not be turned on again until said bill shall have been paid,
including a penalty of Two Dollars ($2.00). If any bill shall remain
unpaid for sixty days after being sent by the Commission, it shall be
collectible from the owner of the property served in the same manner