2256

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 828

(A)    UPON A WRITTEN REQUEST OF THE COUNTY ROADS
BOARD, THE COMMISSIONERS MAY LEVY AND COLLECT TAXES IN THE
FORM OF SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS UPON PROPERTY IN A LIMITED
AND DETERMINABLE AREA FOR SPECIAL BENEFITS CONFERRED UPON
THE PROPERTY BY THE CONSTRUCTION AND PAVING OF PUBLIC
WAYS, ROADS, AND SIDEWALKS, OR PARTS OF THEM, AND PROVIDE
FOR THE PAYMENT OF ALL OR IN ANY PART OF THE PROJECTS OUT
OF THE PROCEEDS OF THE SPECIAL ASSESSMENT. THE COST OF
ANY PROJECT TO BE PAID IN WHOLE OR IN PART BY SPECIAL
ASSESSMENTS MAY INCLUDE ITS DIRECT COST; THE COST OF ANY
LAND ACQUIRED FOR THE PROJECT; THE INTEREST ON BONDS,
NOTES, OR OTHER EVIDENCES OF INDEBTEDNESS ISSUED IN
ANTICIPATION OF THE COLLECTION OF SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS; A
REASONABLE CHARGE FOR THE SERVICES OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE
STAFF OF THE COUNTY; AND ANY OTHER ITEM OF COST WHICH
REASONABLY MAY BE ATTRIBUTED TO THE PROJECT.

(B)    THE PROCEDURE FOR SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS IS AS
FOLLOWS:

(1)    COST. THE COST OF THE PROJECT FOR   WHICH
A CHARGE IS MADE SHALL BE ASSESSED ACCORDING TO THE   FRONT
FOOT RULE OF APPORTIONMENT OR SOME OTHER EQUITABLE     BASIS
DETERMINED BY THE COMMISSIONERS.

(2)    ASSESSMENT. THE AMOUNT ASSESSED AGAINST
ANY PROPERTY FOR ANY PROJECT OR IMPROVEMENT MAY NOT
EXCEED THE VALUE OF THE BENEFITS ACCRUING TO THE
PROPERTY.

(3)    CLASSES. WHEN DESIRABLE, THE AFFECTED
PROPERTY MAY BE DIVIDED INTO DIFFERENT CLASSES TO BE
CHARGED DIFFERENT RATES, BUT, EXCEPT FOR THIS, ANY RATE
SHALL BE UNIFORM.

(4)    LEVY. ALL SPECIAL ASSESSMENT CHARGES
SHALL BE LEVIED BY THE COMMISSIONERS BY ORDINANCE.
BEFORE LEVYING ANY SPECIAL ASSESSMENT CHARGES, THE
COMMISSIONERS SHALL HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING. THE CLERK
SHALL CAUSE NOTICE TO BE GIVEN STATING THE NATURE AND
EXTENT OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT, THE KIND OF MATERIALS TO
BE USED, THE ESTIMATED COST OF THE PROJECT, THE PORTION
OF THE COST TO BE ASSESSED, THE NUMBER OF INSTALLMENTS IN
WHICH THE ASSESSMENT MAY BE PAID, THE METHOD TO BE USED
IN APPORTIONING THE COST, AND THE LIMITS OF THE PROPOSED
AREA OF ASSESSMENT. THE NOTICE ALSO SHALL STATE THE TIME
AND PLACE AT WHICH ALL PERSONS INTERESTED, OR THEIR
AGENTS OR ATTORNEYS, MAY APPEAR BEFORE THE COMMISSION AND
BE HEARD CONCERNING THE PROPOSED PROJECT AND SPECIAL
ASSESSMENT. NOTICE SHALL BE GIVEN BY SENDING A COPY OF
IT BY REGISTERED MAIL TO THE OWNER OF RECORD OF EACH
PARCEL OF PROPERTY PROPOSED TO BE ASSESSED, TO THE PERSON
IN WHOSE NAME THE PROPERTY IS ASSESSED FOR TAXATION, AND
BY PUBLICATION OF A COPY OF THE NOTICE AT LEAST ONCE IN A
NEWSPAPER OF GENERAL CIRCULATION IN THE COUNTY. THE
CLERK SHALL PRESENT AT THE HEARING A CERTIFICATE OF
PUBLICATION AND MAILING OF COPIES OF THE NOTICE, WHICH
CERTIFICATE SHALL BE CONSIDERED PROOF OF NOTICE, BUT