2062

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 723

main until such time as the water or sewer connection is
made, and when so made and for every connection such land is
liable to a front foot assessment for such reasonable
frontage not exceeding [three hundred (300)] 300 feet, or as
may be determined by the [commission] BOARD, and shall be
immediately assessed at the rate of assessment determined by
the [commission] BOARD for agricultural land. Any land[,]
owned by a religious body upon which there is erected a
church or a parsonage and which is used exclusively for
customary religious purposes, in the discretion of the
[commission] BOARD, may be exempted from front foot benefit
assessment for that frontage not exceeding [one hundred
fifty] 150 feet.

(d)    Front foot benefit assessments for water supply
and sewerage [and drainage] construction shall be as nearly
uniform as is practicable for each class or subclass of
property [throughout each system] for any one year, and no
benefit charge, once levied, may be increased; provided,
however, that whenever the [commission] COUNTY acquires an
existing system other than a municipal system, the
construction of which has been added in whole or in part to
the purchase price of land or lots abutting upon the system
and which contribution the [commission] BOARD has determined
to be a factor in the cost to the [commission] COUNTY of
such system, the [commission] BOARD in its discretion may
levy such lesser assessment as may take into account this
factor.

(e)    The amount of the assessment per front foot for
each class of property for water[,] AND sewer [and drainage]
systems may be reduced from time to time by the [commission]
BOARD in its discretion, if cost and conditions are deemed
by it to justify the reduction but may be subsequently
increased [in] TO the amount of THE original assessment in
the event revenues prove to be insufficient. The benefit
assessments shall be paid annually by all properties located
as above specified for a period of years coextensive with
the period of maturity of the bonds out of the proceeds of
which such construction was done.

(f)    The [commission] COUNTY may [at any time] permit
a connection with a water main or sewer by a property owner
whose property does not abut on [a] THE water main or sewer
rand who has not previously paid a benefit charge for the
construction of said water main or sewer, provided the
commission classifies the property and determines a front
foot assessment to be paid by the property owner as though
the property abutted upon a water main or sewer; and if the
connection is made, the property owner and the property as
to all charges, rates and benefits stand in every respect in
the same position as if the property abutted upon a water
main or sewer]. THE ENTIRE COST OF EXTENDING THE SYSTEM TO
THE PROPERTY TO BE CONNECTED (SPECIFICALLY INCLUDING, BUT
WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE COST OF ENGINEERING AND FEASIBILITY
STUDIES, AND OF ACQUIRING NECESSARY EASEMENTS) SHALL BE PAID
BY THE PROPERTY OWNER REQUESTING SERVICE. HOWEVER, IF THE