5459
MONTGOMERY COUNTY

squad to the director of finance prior to the start of
the fiscal year. The treasurers, upon authorization by
their departments or squads, shall pay all proper costs,
expenses, claims and demands necessary for the
maintenance, equipment and operation of their fire
departments and squads. Any money which is retained by
the director of finance on behalf of the fire departments
or rescue squads shall be invested in the county's
investment fund. The proceeds from such investments
shall be credited to the funds to be provided for each
department or squad for the ensuing fiscal year following
the year in which the funds were invested. Proceeds
shall be credited to each department or squad in
proportion to the amount of any moneys retained and
invested by the director of finance on behalf of each
department or squad.

In the consolidated fire tax district, as
described in section 21—13, the county council shall
appropriate funds not later than May 1 of each year for
the following fiscal year in the amount requested by the
fire board for the consolidated district unless the
council proposes to reduce any amounts requested therein,
and in that event shall conduct a public hearing thereon.
All budgets shall be subject to public hearings as
provided under section 304 of the Charter of Montgomery
County, Maryland. On or before May 1 of each year the
county council must adopt legislation reflecting changes,
if any, in the fire tax district boundaries which will
affect the following fiscal year's tax levies. The
county council shall levy and collect a uniform tax for
the consolidated fire tax district on all assessable
property located therein which will produce the amounts
necessary to meet the appropriation made within the
consolidated fire tax district. The tax shall be levied
and shall be collected in the manner that county taxes
are presently levied and collected or may hereafter be
levied and collected and shall have the same priority
rights, bear the same interest and penalties and in every
respect be treated the same as county taxes. The taxes
so levied for the ensuing year shall be collected by the
tax collecting authorities of the county. Funds provided
for by appropriations shall be on a total basis but
reflect the categories of salaries, operating and capital
finance; and shall be paid by the county director of
finance to the respective treasurers of the departments
or squads located within the consolidated fire tax
district in accordance with a projected monthly schedule
based on the approved budget for each department and
squad submitted to the director of finance prior to the
start of the fiscal year and at least on a monthly basis.
The treasurers, upon authorization by their departments
or squads, shall pay all proper costs, expenses, claims
and demands necessary for the maintenance, equipment and