412                              Laws of Maryland                      [Ch. 145

of land for and and construction of an airport in St. Mary's County.
The said Commissioners may not borrow said sum, or any part
thereof, unless, in addition and at the time, federal and state funds
have been committed to the project for which the proceeds of the loan
authorized hereunder are to be used. The indebtedness incurred as
provided herein shall be repaid over a period of ten (10) years, with
interest.

Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That this Act shall take effect
July 1,1971.

Approved April 23, 1971.

CHAPTER 145
(House Bill 389)

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact, with amendments, Section 123 (f)
of Article 9 of the Code of Public Local Laws of Charles County
(1969 Edition, being Article 9 of the Code of Public Local Laws of
Maryland), title "Charles County," subtitle "Fire Companies," to
provide for the lowering of payments to fire departments by the
County Commissioners from the general fund in certain circum-
stances.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That Section 123 (f) of Article 9 of the Code of Public Local Laws
of Charles County (1969 Edition, being Article 9 of the Code of
Public Local Laws of Maryland), title "Charles County," subtitle
"Fire Companies," be and it is hereby repealed and re-enacted, with
amendments, to read as follows:

123.

(f) 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 on July 1st of each year, $6,000.00 to
each of the various Fire Departments in Charles County. On July 1st
of the year that the assessable tax base of Charles County exceeds
265 million dollars, this amount shall be reduced to $3,000.00 which
sum shall continue each year thereafter until such time that the
assessable tax base of Charles County exceeds 325 million dollars.
On July 1st of that year and each year thereafter this amount shall
be further reduced to $500.00. This sum is to be used by the various
Fire Departments for the purposes outlined in 123(e). The Board of
Fire and Rescue Commissioners shall consider these payments in
determining the amounts due the various fire departments under the
formula distribution plan and in determining whether excess pro-
ceeds exist.

Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That this Act shall take effect
July 1, 1971.

Approved April 23, 1971.