HARRY HUGHES Governor

1059

Article 25 - County Commissioners

Section 11D

Annotates Code of Maryland

1973 Replacement Volume and 1979 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be repealed, amended, or enacted to read as follows: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

11D.

(A) (1) THE FOLLOWING LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS ARE MADE.

(2)  AS A RESULT OF THE CONTINUING INCREASES IN
THE COST OF CONSTRUCTION OR REHABILITATION, COUNTY TAXES,
HEATING AND ELECTRICITY EXPENSES. MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR
EXPENSES, INFLATION, THE COST OF LAND, THE COST OF ENERGY
CONSERVATION MEASURES, AND THE LEVELS OF BORROWING COSTS,
INCLUDING INTEREST, PERSONS AND FAMILIES IN MANY AREAS
WITHIN CECIL COUNTY, INCLUDING AREAS WHICH CONTAIN PRESENTLY
STABLE NEIGHBORHOODS AND MIDDLE CLASS RESIDENTIAL HOUSING,
ARE UNABLE TO PURCHASE, REHABILITATE, AND MAINTAIN DECENT,
SAFE, AND SANITARY HOUSING WHICH PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR
HOME OWNERSHIP EITHER DIRECTLY OR THROUGH A CONDOMINIUM OR
COOPERATIVE FORM OF OWNERSHIP. THE INABILITY OF FAMILIES TO
PURCHASE AND HOLD HOUSING IN THE COUNTY RESULTS IN THE
DECLINE OF NEW HOUSING AND IN THE DECAY OF EXISTING HOUSING
AND OF EXISTING NEIGHBORHOODS WITH ATTENDANT INCREASES IN
COSTS FOR WELFARE, POLICE, AND FIRE PROTECTION. THE DECLINE
IN NEW HOUSING CONSTRUCTION, TOGETHER WITH THE DECAY OF
EXISTING HOUSING, HAS PRODUCED A CRITICAL SHORTAGE OF
ADEQUATE HOUSING IN THE COUNTY, ADVERSELY AFFECTING THE
ECONOMY OF THE COUNTY AND THE WELL-BEING OF ITS RESIDENTS.
PRIVATE ENTERPRISE WITHOUT THE ASSISTANCE OF THE RESIDENTIAL
MORTGAGE PROGRAM CONTEMPLATED BY THIS SECTION CANNOT ACHIEVE
THE CONSTRUCTION OR REHABILITATION OF ADEQUATE HOUSING FOR
PERSONS AND FAMILIES OF CECIL COUNTY. THE ALTERNATIVE OF
FORCING FAMILIES TO LIVE IN SUBSTANDARD HOUSING IS
UNDESIRABLE SINCE IT TENDS TO DECREASE THE INTEREST OF
FAMILIES IN THEIR COMMUNITIES, THE MAINTENANCE OF THEIR
PROPERTY, AND THE PRESERVATION OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS. THE
COUNTY HAS A BASIC PUBLIC INTEREST IN PROVIDING A
SUPPLEMENTAL SOURCE OF SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE
FUNDS AT A COST LOWER TO THE BORROWER THAN OTHERWISE
PREVAILING FOR RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGES AND A BASIC INTEREST IN
STIMULATING A STEADY FLOW OF FUNDS FOR RESIDENTIAL HOUSING
IN ORDER TO ASSIST IN MAINTAINING A WELL-BALANCED SOCIETY,
MAINTAINING EXISTING HOUSING, PRESERVING ESTABLISHED
NEIGHBORHOODS, AND MAINTAINING A SOUND TAX BASE.

(3)  A LARGE NUMBER OF COUNTY RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN
AND WILL BE SUBJECT TO HARDSHIP IN FINDING DECENT, SAFE, AND
SANITARY HOUSING UNLESS NEW FACILITIES ARE CONSTRUCTED AND
EXISTING HOUSING, WHERE APPROPRIATE IS REHABILITATED