302                                         LAWS OF MARYLAND                                 Ch. 142

May 1, 1968, an additional tax on such instruments shall

be imposed at the rate of 55¢ of each $500.00 or

fractional part thereof of actual consideration or debt
secured.

(q)        IN LIEU OF THE RATES OF TAX SPECIFIED IN

SUBSECTIONS (B), (M), (N), (O), (P), [[AND (R)]] (R),

(U), (V), AND (W) OF THIS SECTION, [Every] EVERY county
and Baltimore City may, by resolution or ordinance duly
enacted by its governing body, fix the rate of tax
imposed by this subtitle. In the absence of such
resolution or ordinance, the [rates specified in this
subtitle] PROVISIONS OF SUBSECTIONS (B), (M), (N), (O),

(P), [[AND (R)]] (R), (U), (V), AND (W) OF THIS SECTION
shall [[continue to]] apply IN THE RESPECTIVE
SUBDIVISIONS TO WHICH THOSE SUBSECTIONS ARE APPLICABLE.

(r) [Notwithstanding the other provisions of this
section the County Commissioners of Prince George's
County in lieu of the rate of tax provided in subsection
(b) above, are authorized by resolution to adopt a rate

of tax] THE RATE OF TAX APPLICABLE TO INSTRUMENTS

RECORDED WITH THE CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OF PRINCE

GEORGE'S COUNTY SHALL BE as follows: In the case of

instruments conveying title to property, the tax shall be

at the rate of [$1.10] $1.65 for each $500.00 or

fractional part thereof of the actual consideration paid

or to be paid; and in the case of instruments securing a

debt, the tax shall be at the rate of [$1.10] $1.65 for
each $500.00 of the principal amount of the debt secured.
The tax [hereinabove] imposed shall be paid to and
collected by the [treasurer of Prince George's County,

and paid over by said treasurer to the County

Commissioners] DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF FINANCE OF
PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, [[That this

Act shall not adversely affect the validity of any
resolution or ordinance enacted by a county or Baltimore
City pursuant to the authority granted by Section 277(q)
of Article 81 of the Annotated Code of Maryland, it being
the intent of the General Assembly in enacting the
provisions of this Act merely to more definitively
specify that the provisions of Section 277 (q) of Article
81 are applicable to every county and Baltimore City and
not to diminish the rights heretofore possessed under
that Section by these subdivisions.]] That new Sections
277(u), (v) , and (w) be and they are hereby added to
Article 81 - Revenue and Taxes, of the Annotated Code of
Maryland (1975 Replacement Volume and 1975 Supplement) to
read as follows:

Article 81 — Revenue and Taxes

277.

(U) THE RATE OF TAX APPLICABLE TO INSTRUMENTS