1286                             Laws of Maryland                       [Ch. 746

CHAPTER 746
(House Bill 713)

AN ACT to repeal and reenact, with amendments, Section 137 of the
Code of Public Local Laws of Howard County (1957 Edition),
being Article 14 of the Code of Public Local Laws of Maryland,
title "Howard County", subtitle "Metropolitan Commission", so as
to clarify the provisions of said Section providing for water and
sewer service charges in Howard County and so as to provide that
sewer service charges shall be calculated on the basis of water con-
sumption, and shall be billed at the same time or times as said
water service charges.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That Section 137 of the Code of Public Local Laws of Howard County
(1957 Edition), being Article 14 of the Code of Public Local Laws of
Maryland, title "Howard County", subtitle "Metropolitan Commis-
sion", be and the same is hereby repealed and reenacted with amend-
ments to read as follows:

137. [Ready-to-serve charges] Water and Sewer Service Charges;
collection.

For the purpose of providing funds for maintenance, repairing and
operating its water supply, sewerage or drainage systems, and for
its operation and other expenses, including proper depreciation allow-
ances, 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 service charges and [a] sewer
service charges [for the upkeep of sewers chargeable against] pay-
able by all properties having a connection with any water pipe or
sewer pipe under its supervision or ownership. [Said rate] The rates
for both [ready-to-serve and such charge for the upkeep on sewers]
water service charges and sewer service charges shall be uniform
throughout each subdistrict, 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 or
ownership.] The rates for water service shall consist of a minimum
or ready-to-serve and/or meter charge, which shall be based upon
the size of the meter on the water connection leading to the property,
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, but, subject to a reasonable charge as aforesaid,
and the rates for sewer service shall be calculated at a percentage of
the water rates. 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 properties
in which meters have not yet been installed, which rate shall be uni-
form in each sub-district and based upon the amount of water used.

Explanation: Italics indicate new matter added to existing law.

[Brackets] indicate matter stricken from existing law.
CAPITALS indicate amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken out of bill.