1148                             Laws op Maryland                       [Ch. 670

at least once in each year by certified public accountants, and the
cost thereof shall be treated as an operating expense.

(d)  Incurring Obligations. All expenses and obligations incurred
by the Authority in carrying out the provisions of this Article shall
be payable solely from funds provided under the authority of this
Article or any other law or from funds which the Authority is en-
titled to receive under any legal instrument or from any other source,
and no liability or obligation shall be incurred by the Authority under
the provisions of this Article beyond the extent to which money has
been provided under the provisions of this Article or any other law
or money which the Authority is legally entitled to receive under any
legal instrument or from any other source. THE STATE OF MARY-
LAND SHALL NOT BUDGET OR PROVIDE ANY FUNDS FOR
THE OPERATION OF THE AUTHORITY OR FOR THE ACQUISI-
TION OF MASS TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES OR ANY
OTHER PROPERTY WHICH THE AUTHORITY MAY LAW-
FULLY ACQUIRE.

(e)   Property and Subdivisions. All counties, cities, towns, and
other political subdivisions within the Area and all public agencies
and commissions of the State, notwithstanding any contrary pro-
visions of law now or hereafter in effect, are authorized and em-
powered to sell, lease, rent, lend, grant, or convey to the Authority
at its request, upon such terms and conditions as the proper au-
thorities of such counties, cities, towns, political subdivisions,
agencies, or commissions of the State may deem reasonable and fair,
any real or personal property which may be necessary or convenient
to the effectuation of the authorized purposes of the Authority, in-
cluding property already devoted to public use.

13. General Financing of Authority.

(a)  Every mass transit or transportation system, the supervising,
jurisdiction and control over which is vested in the Metropolitan
Transit Authority, shall pay a seat tax fee to the Authority, the
same to be used by the Authority in defraying its necessary AD-
MINISTRATIVE expenses. The payment of such a seat tax fee shall
be in lieu of any such fee heretofore levied, paid or payable, by such
mass transportation system, mass transit system or companies of
the State of Maryland. The annual seat tax fee payable under this
Article shall be at the rate of $4.00 per seat, per vehicle used by mass
transit or transportation company. The annual seat tax fee shall be
paid in semi-annual installments in the months of June and December
of each year for the current year, beginning in June, 1951. JULY 1,

1961.

(b)   There is hereby imposed upon every legal entity operating or
maintaining a mass transit or transportation system in the Metro-
politan Area an annual fee or charge in an amount equal to one-
twentieth of one per cent (1/20%) of the gross receipts derived from
the mass transportation operations within the Metropolitan Area of
any such legal entity for the preceding year. The fee or charge shall
be payable on or before April 1st in any year, with the computation
based upon the gross receipts of the preceding year. Such fee or
charge shall be paid directly to the Authority and shall be used by it
for general purposes. ANY CARRIER REQUIRED TO PAY THE
ANNUAL FEE HEREUNDER SHALL NOT BE REQUIRED TO