SPIRO T. AGNEW, Governor                       1657

purposes, in the discretion of the Commission, may be exempted
from front foot benefit assessment for that frontage not exceeding
150 feet.

(d)    Front foot benefit assessments for water supply and sewerage
and drainage construction shall be as nearly uniform as is practicable
for each class or subclass of property for any one year, and no bene-
fit charge, once levied, may be increased; 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 the
system and which contribution the Commission has determined to
be a factor in the cost to the Commission of such system, the Com-
mission in its discretion may levy such lesser assessment as may take
into account this factor.

(e)    The amount of the assessment per front foot for each class
of property for water, sewer and drainage systems may be reduced
from time to time by the Commission in its discretion, if cost and
conditions are deemed by it to justify the reduction but may be sub-
sequently increased to the amount of original assessment in the event
revenues prove to be insufficient. The benefit assessments 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.

(f)    The Commission may at any time permit a connection with a
water main or sewer by a property owner whose property does not
abut on a water main or sewer and who has not previously paid a
benefit charge for the construction of said water main or sewer,
provided, the Commission classifies the property and determines a
front foot assessment to be paid by the property owner as though
the property abutted upon a water main or sewer; and if the con-
nection is made, the property owner and the property as to all
charges, rates and benefits stand in every respect in the same posi-
tion as if the property abutted upon a water main or sewer.

(g)    The annual benefit assessment or other charge as above spec-
ified is a lien upon the property against which it is assessed until
paid, any statute of limitations to the contrary notwithstanding,
subject only to prior State and county taxes. If any property is sold
for State and/or county taxes, or both, by the Treasurer of the County,
and if after sale there is a surplus after all costs and expenses in-
cident to such sale shall have been paid, the Commission upon proper
petition to the Circuit Court shall be allowed any balance from the
surplus, and shall be a preferred lienor to the extent of its lien; and
for the purpose of giving notice to the general public as to existing
liens and charges against any property within the county abutting
upon any water or sewer main, or connected thereto the Commission
shall keep a public record of all names of owners of property, loca-
tions of said property, lot numbers when of record, and the amount
of such benefit assessments, water service charges, or such other
charges, that may become liens from time to time. Such records
shall be kept in the office of the Commission as a public record,
and when so kept shall be legal notice of all existing liens within
the county. The Commission shall request the County Treasurer
to print a notice on the State and County Tax Bills that benefit
assessments and other charges for water and sewer services must