THEODORE R. McKELDIN, GOVERNOR                     353

assessed a front foot benefit on the first one hundred and fifty (150)
feet at a rate set by the Commission. The assessment for the next
one hundred and fifty (150) feet shall be set by the Commission at a
lower rate than the first one hundred and fifty (150) feet, and a
frontage in excess of three hundred (300) feet shall be assessed
at a rate not to exceed twenty-five per centum (25%) of the
rate set for the first one hundred and fifty (150) feet when said
agricultural land has constructed through it or in front of it a
sewer or water main, until such time as the water and sewer
connection is made, and when so made and for every connection
such land shall become liable to a front foot assessment as may be
determined by said Commission for agricultural land. Front foot
benefit charges for water supply and sewerage construction shall be
as nearly uniform as is reasonably practical for each class or sub-
class of property throughout each district for any one year and no
benefit charge, once levied, shall be increased; provided, however,
that whenever the Commission acquires an existing system other
than a municipal system, the construction of which has been added
in whole or in part to the purchase price of land or lots abutting
upon said system and which contribution the Commission has deter-
mined to be a factor in the cost to the Commission of such system,
the Commission may, in its discretion, levy a front foot assessment
less than the uniform front foot assessment levied in the remainder
of the sanitary district in which said system is located. The amount
of the charge per front foot for each class of property for both
water mains and sewers may be reduced from time to time by the
Commission in its discretion, if costs and conditions are deemed by
it to justify such reduction. Said benefit charge shall be paid annually
by all properties located as above specified, for a period of years
co-extensive with the period of maturity of the bonds out of the pro-
ceeds of which such construction was done. The Commission shall
at any time permit a connection with a water main or sewer by the
property owner whose property does not abut on said water main or
sewer and who has not previously thereto paid a benefit change for
the construction of said water main or sewer, provided, said Com-
mission shall classify said property and determine a front charge to
be paid by said property owner as though his or her property abutted
upon said water main or sewer; and in the event of such connection
being made, said property owner and said property as to all charges,
rates and benefits shall stand in every respect in the same position
as if the said property abutted upon a water main or sewer. Said
benefit assessment shall be payable in the office of the County Treas-
urer immediately upon being levied and shall be overdue and in de-
fault after sixty (60) days from that date, at which time the County
Treasurer may proceed to enforce payment thereof; and the said
benefit charge and any judgment or decree obtained as a result of
default in payment thereof shall bear interest at the rate of one-half
of one percentum (1/2%) per month from and after the time said
benefit assessment or other charges are in default. The annual benefit
assessment or other charges as above specified shall be a first lien
upon the property against which they are assessed until paid, any
statute of limitations to the contrary notwithstanding, subject only
to prior State and county taxes, and if any property be sold for State
and/or county taxes or both by the Treasurer of said County; and if
after sale there is a surplus after all costs and expenses incident to
such sale shall have been paid, then the said County Treasurer shall
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