Theodore R. McKeldin, Governor                    1439

that all lots in this class shall be assessed even though a water main
or sewer may not extend along the full length of any boundary; and
provided further, that no land so classified as agricultural by this
Commission shall be assessed a front foot benefit when said agricul-
tural land has constructed through it or in front of it a sewer or
water main, until such time as the water or sewer connection is
made, and when so made and for every connection such land shall
become liable to a front foot assessment for such reasonable frontage
not exceeding three hundred (300) feet, as may be determined by
said Commission, and shall be immediately assessed at the rate of
assessment determined by said Commission for agricultural land.
Front foot benefit charges for water supply and sewerage construc-
tion shall be as nearly uniform as is reasonable and practical for
each class or sub-class of property throughout each district for any
one year, 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 determined to be a factor in the cost to the Com-
mission 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 condi-
tions 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 proceeds 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 charge for the construction of said water main or sewer,
provided, said Commission shall classify said property and determine
a front foot 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 charge shall be payable at the
office of the Commission immediately upon being levied, and shall be
overdue and in default after sixty (60) days from that day, at which
time the Commission may proceed to enforce payment thereof; and
the said benefit charge and any judgment or decree obtained as a
result of default in payment shall bear interest at the rate of one-
half of one percentum (½) 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/or municipal taxes; and if any
property be sold for State and/or municipal taxes or both and if
after sale there is a surplus after all costs and expenses incident to
such sale shall have been paid, then the said Commission upon proper
petition to the Circuit Court for said county shall be allowed any
balance from said surplus, and shall be a preferred lienor to the
extent of its lien; and for the purpose of giving notice to the general