78                                          LAWS OF MARYLAND                                  Ch. 55

before May 1, 1974, and on or before May 1 in each taxable year thereafter, the
Board of Public Works shall certify to the governing bodies of each of the counties
and Baltimore City the rate of State tax on each $100 of assessable property
necessary to produce revenue to meet interest and principal which will be payable
to the close of the next ensuing taxable year on all bonds theretofore issued or
authorized by resolution of the Board of Public Works to be issued, and the
governing bodies of each of the counties and of Baltimore City shall forthwith levy
and collect such tax at such rate.

Provided, however, that the levy or levies required by this section shall not be
made and the tax or taxes shall not be collected in any year to the extent that, on
or before May 1, 1974, and on or before May 1 in each taxable year thereafter the
Board of Public Works determines upon a certified statement rendered to the
Board by the State Comptroller that payment of principal and interest on the
bonds issued pursuant to this Act will be met during the ensuing taxable year from
funds appropriated by the General Assembly, as provided in Section 6 of this Act.
Upon, and to the extent of, such determination by the Board of Public Works, the
Governor shall, by proclamation issued pursuant to a resolution of the Board of
Public Works, declare that the taxes required by this section shall not be collected
or levied in such ensuing taxable year.

SECTION 9. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That all matters
committed by this Act to the discretion of the Board of Public Works shall be
determined by a majority of said Board.

[[SECTION 10. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That, if any portion
(word, sentence, paragraph, proviso or section) of this Act shall be held invalid for
any reason, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect, and such
invalid portion shall be considered severed and deleted from this Act.]]

SECTION [[11]] 10. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That Section 5(b)
of Chapter 445 of the Laws of Maryland (1968), as amended by Chapter 653 of
the Laws of Maryland (1969), Chapter 246 of the Laws of Maryland (1970), and
Chapter 242 of the Laws of Maryland (1972), be and it is hereby repealed and
re-enacted with amendments, to read as follows:

5.

(b) Of the actual cash proceeds from the sale of Certificates of Indebtedness to
be issued under this Act, the sum of One Hundred Fifteen Million Dollars
($115,000,000), less a proportionate share of the costs specified in Section 4 of this
Act, shall be used exclusively to provide State grants [and prepay Federal grant
offers] to assist in the construction of sewage treatment plants and related facilities
[eligible for grants under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act. Any county,
municipality, or any agency of the State or any of its subdivisions which is entitled
to receive a State Grant pursuant to the provisions of Section 387B(A)2 of Article
43 of the Annotated Code of Maryland, as amended from time to time, that has
received an order from the State Board of Health and Mental Hygiene pursuant to
Section 392 of Article 43 to construct or improve sewerage facilities, and any
instrumentality of the State having express power to make grant applications, may
petition the State for a grant equal to 25 percent of the eligible cost of the project
as determined by the State and for an additional sum equal to 50 percent of the
eligible cost in advance of a grant offer from the Federal Water Pollution Control
Agency and for any additional sum that the petitioner may be entitled to receive
under this Act provided that the petitioner files an application for a Federal grant
and meets all other conditions and requirements to be eligible for a Federal grant
and further provided that the petitioner shall contract to repay to the State for
deposit to the Water Quality Loan Account all subsequent Federal funds which the