J. MILLARD TAWES, Governor                      959

(b)   The said fire tax shall be levied and collected in the same
manner as other State and County taxes are now levied and collected.

(c)  The proceeds collected from said County fire tax shall there-
after be paid by the County Commissioners semi-annually June 30
and December 31 of each year, commencing December 31, 1965, to all
the fire departments in Charles County. The amount of the proceeds
to be distributed to each department shall be determined by the
Board of Fire and Rescue Commissioners, which is hereby created
and which shall be composed of five members, one of whom shall be
a County Commissioner of Charles County, one of whom shall be
appointed by the Charles County Volunteer Firemen's Association,
and three of whom shall be appointed by the Governor. The members
of the board shall serve without compensation for terms of four
years each with vacancies to be filled in the same manner as the
original membership was filled.

(d)  The board shall review the financing of the fire departments
and rescue squads in Charles County including the Charles County
Rescue Squad and make appropriate biennial recommendations with
respect [to such problems.] thereto. Distribution of funds, con-
stituting the proceeds of the fire tax, shall be made on the basis
of the area served by each department, the number of calls answered
by the department and any similar standards that may be suggested
by the Charles County Volunteer Firemen's Association; BOARD
OF FIRE AND RESCUE COMMISSIONERS; provided, however,
that no volunteer fire department shall receive less than [five thou-
sand dollars ($5,000).] Six thousand dollars ($6,000.00) ONE
THOUSAND DOLLARS ($1,000.00) per year.

(e)  The funds received by the respective Fire Departments [under
this act] from this Fire Tax shall be used for the purpose of purchas-
ing, repairing, replacing, operating and maintaining their fire fight-
ing equipment and apparatus and the housing of the same. The
amount and type of equipment of said Fire Departments shall con-
form to the standards prescribed by the Charles County Volunteer
Firemen's Association; and no resolution, regulation or bylaw shall
be passed by said Fire Departments limiting or restricting the
territory within the area covered by this Fire Tax within which it
will respond to emergency calls.

121.

In addition to the Fire Tax benefits, the County Commissioners
of Charles County are authorized and directed to pay out of the
general funds of the county, commencing July 1, 1965, and annually
thereafter, the following sums to the organizations listed below,
for their support, maintenance and operation:

$6,000 to the La Plata Fire Department.
$6,000 to the Hughesville Fire Department.
$6,000 to the Waldorf Fire Department.
$6,000 to the Nanjemoy Fire Department.
$6,000 to the Indian Head Fire Department.
$6,000 to the Potomac Heights Fire Department.
$6,000 to the Fifth District Fire Department.