826                             LAWS OF MARYLAND                     [CH. 605

93. Administration tax for commission.

(a) Imposed in both counties. For the purpose of paying the cur-
rent operating or administrative expenses of the commission, includ-
ing the cost of the development of the plan of the Regional District
or any part of such plan and including the cost of the exercise of
the powers and functions granted to the commission, there shall be
levied annually against all the assessable property within the Regional
District by Montgomery and Prince George's Counties, respectively,
a tax of three cents (3¢) on each one hundred dollars ($100.00) of
assessable property within the Regional District [.] and an addi-

tional tax at a rate not to exceed three cents (3¢) per one hundred
dollars ($100.00) of assessed value, such additional tax rate to be

certified by the Commission to the County Commissioners of Prince

George's County and the County Council of Montgomery County as

necessary to produce annually the sum required to fund such ad-
ministrative expenses. Each of the counties is directed in each annual
levy, except as hereinafter provided, to levy the tax on all property
in its county within the Regional District, both real and personal,
assessed for county tax purposes. These taxes shall be levied and
collected as county taxes now are or may hereafter by law be levied
and collected; and they shall have the same priority rights, bear the
same interest and penalties, and in every respect be treated the same
as county taxes. The proceeds of the collection of such tax shall be
paid to the commission and shall constitute the administrative fund
of the commission. The expenditures of the commission for operating
or administrative purposes shall be within the amount of such fund,
together with such additional funds as may be appropriated or con-
tributed for such purposes by the said counties or by the General
Assembly of Maryland or by the United States or by private donors.

(d) Procedure. The Montgomery County council is and the board
of county commissioners of Prince George's County are authorized
and directed to fix the amount of the administrative tax authorized
in this section on or before the 20th day of the month immediately
prior to the month in which the commission's fiscal year begins. On
or before the 5th day of said month prior to the beginning of the
commission's fiscal year, the commission shall submit to the county
council and the board of county commissioners its complete budget
estimates for the forthcoming fiscal year along with suitable state-
ments in justification of the administrative budget and tax rate re-
quested by the commission [, provided that in Prince George's County
AND IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY the rate of said administrative
tax shall not exceed four SIX cents (4¢) (6¢) per one hundred dollars
($100.00) of assessed value].

Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That this Act is hereby declared
to be an emergency law and necessary for the immediate preservation
of the public health and safety, and being passed by a yea and nay
vote, supported by three-fifths of all the members of the two houses
of the General Assembly, the same shall take effect from the date
of its passage.

Approved April 12, 1965.