1142

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 162

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,

Article 25 - County Commissioners

Section 2B

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1973 Replacement Volume and 1977 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That section(s) of the Annotated Code of Maryland
be repealed, amended, or enacted to read as follows:

Article 25 - County Commissioners

2B.

(A)    The county commissioners of every county in the
State, in addition to, but not in substitution of, the
powers which may have been or may hereafter be granted them,
[shall have the power to] MAY provide for electric lighting
along all or any part of the streets, lanes, alleys and
public ways of the county, and [to] enter into agreements
with any person, partnership or corporation for the
installation, maintenance and operation of electric
lighting. [The] EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBSECTION (B) THE
costs of electric lighting provided under the authority of
this section shall be paid by ad valorem taxes levied upon
the property within the area to be served by the electric
lighting. An electric lighting district may be created by
the county commissioners upon receipt of a petition signed
by [sixty per centum (60%) ] 60 PERCENT of the property
owners within the proposed district. The petition shall
describe the boundaries of the area proposed to be created
as the district. Upon receipt of the petition, the county
commissioners shall held a public hearing at which time the
residents and taxpayers within the proposed electric
lighting district shall be given an opportunity to be heard.
This hearing shall be held not less than [fourteen (14)] 14
days nor more than [sixty (60)] 60 days following receipt of
the petition and notice of this hearing shall be published
at least once in a newspaper of general circulation in the
area where the proposed electric lighting district is to be
located. Following this hearing the county commissioners
[shall have the power to] MAY establish the electric
lighting district and [to] levy on all property which is
subject to ordinary county taxes and is located within the
district ad valorem taxes at a rate sufficient to pay the
cost thereof. All such taxes shall be levied in the same
manner, upon the same assessments, for the same period or
periods, and as of the same date or dates of finality as are
now or may hereafter be prescribed.

(B)    IN SOMERSET COUNTY, THE COST OF ELECTRIC LIGHTING
PROVIDED PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION MAY BE
PAID BY A TAX LEVIED ONLY ON PARCELS OF PROPERTY WITH
IMPROVEMENTS. THE TAX SHALL BE LEVIED EQUALLY ON ALL
PARCELS OF PROPERTY WITH IMPROVEMENTS WITHIN THE DISTRICT.