2522

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 911

CONSTRUCTION OR ACQUISITION, AS APPLICABLE, MAY NOT HAVE
IMPOSED AGAINST IT THE ADDITIONAL CHARGE UNTIL THE
CLASSIFICATION OF THE PROPERTY IS CHANGED BY REASON OF
CHANGE IN USE OR ON ACCOUNT OF ZONING CLASS CHANGE
REQUESTED BY THE OWNER.

(L) COLLECTIONS. THE ANNUAL BENEFIT CHARGE SHALL
BE PAYABLE AT THE OFFICE OF THE COMMISSION AT A TIME OR
TIMES AS DETERMINED BY THE COMMISSION. IF ANY CHARGES
REMAIN UNPAID FOR A PERIOD OF 30 DAYS FROM THE DUE DATE
OF PAYMENT, A LATE CHARGE AT A RATE NOT TO EXCEED 1.5
PERCENT PER MONTH MAY BE MADE BY THE COMMISSION UNTIL ALL
DELINQUENT CHARGES ARE PAID. THE LATE CHARGE SHALL BE IN
ADDITION TO ALL OTHER CHARGES. THE ENTIRE UNPAID BENEFIT
CHARGE SHALL BE OVERDUE AND IN DEFAULT AFTER 30 CAYS FROM
THE DUE DATE OF PAYMENT OF ALL OR ANY PART OF THE BENEFIT
CHARGE AS REQUIRED BY THE COMMISSION, AT WHICH TIMES THE
COMMISSION MAY PROCEED TO ENFORCE PAYMENT OF IT. THE
ANNUAL BENEFIT ASSESSMENT OR OTHER CHARGES AS ABOVE
SPECIFIED SHALL BE A FIRST LIEN UPON THE PROPERTY AGAINST
WHICH THEY ARE ASSESSED UNTIL PAID, ANY STATUTE OF
LIMITATIONS TO THE CONTRARY NOTWITHSTANDING, SUBJECT ONLY
TO PRIOR STATE AND COUNTY TAXES. THE ANNUAL BENEFIT
CHARGE FOR ALL PURPOSES OF COLLECTION SHALL BE TREATED AS
COUNTY TAXES, AND BE ADVERTISED IN THE SAME MANNER AS AND
WITH COUNTY TAXES, AND ALL PROPERTY SUBJECT TO THE
BENEFIT CHARGES SHALL BE SOLD FOR THEM AT THE SAME TIME
AND IN THE SAMS MANNER AS THE PROPERTIES ARE SOLD FOR
COUNTY TAXES, AND ALL OF THE LAW RELATING TO THE
COLLECTION OF COUNTY TAXES SO FAR AS IT IS APPLICABLE
SHALL RELATE TO THE COLLECTION OF THE BENEFIT CHARGE.
PROPERTY REDEEMED FROM A COUNTY TAX SALE, AND PROPERTY
SOLD BY THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AFTER A FINAL TAX SALE
MAY NOT BE REDEEMED OR SOLD EXCEPT UPON THE PAYMENT OF
THE BENEFIT CHARGE DDE ON IT. FOR THE PURPOSE OF GIVING
NOTICE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC OF EXISTING LIENS AND
CHARGES AGAINST ANY PROPERTY WITHIN ANY SANITARY DISTRICT
ABUTTING UPON ANY WATER OR SEWER MAIN, TEE COMMISSION
SHALL KEEP A PUBLIC RECORD OF ALL NAMES OF OWNERS OF
PROPERTY, LOCATIONS OF THE PROPERTY, LOT NUMBERS WHEN OF
RECORD, AND THE AMOUNT OF THE BENEFIT CHARGES, WATER
SERVICE CHARGES OR WHATEVER OTHER CHARGES THAT MAY BECOME
LIENS FROM TIME TO TIME. THE RECORDS SHALL BE KEPT IN
THE COUNTY SEAT OF GOVERNMENT AND AMONG THE LAND RECORDS
OF ST. MARY'S COUNTY, AND THE CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT
FOR THE COUNTY SHALL FURNISH SPACE NECESSARY TO KEEP AND
PRESERVE THE RECORDS, WHICH, WHEN RECORDED IN THE PUBLIC
RECORD, IS LEGAL NOTICE OF ALL EXISTING LIENS WITHIN ANY
SANITARY DISTRICT. IF ANY LIENS, BENEFIT ASSESSMENTS OR
OTHER CHARGES REMAIN UNPAID FOR 30 DAYS AFTER BECOMING
OVERDUE, THEY MAY BE COLLECTED BY AN ACTION OF ASSUMPSIT
OR BY A BILL IN EQUITY TO ENFORCE THE LIENS, AND ANY
JUDGMENT OF DECREE OBTAINED, WHERE THE DEFENDANTS HAVE
BEEN SERVED BY SUBPOENA OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED
BY LAW, SHALL HAVE THE FORCE AND EFFECT OF A JUDGMENT IN
PERSONAM. THE COMMISSION MAY SUE OR FILE A BILL IN
EQUITY TO ENFORCE THE LIENS AGAINST THE OWNER OF RECORD
AT THE TIME THE LEVY WAS MADE, OR THE OWNER OF RECORD AT