HARRY HUGHES, Governor

3641

2-205.

(a)  It is the intent of this section that each register
shall receive a fair and adequate compensation for the effort and
duties required of him by his office. The volume and character of
work done by him as register shall be in comparison to the salary
fixed by the Board of Public Works for each of the other
registers.

(b)  Each register is entitled to receive an annual salary
of not less than $6,000 and not more than [$37,500] $50,000
$45,000, to be determined in each instance by the Board of Public
Works. In determining the annual salary of the register, the
Board of Public Works shall be guided in the exercise of its
discretion by

(1)  The population of the county determined by the
last official United States census;

(2)  The dollar volume of total fees and taxes
collected and excess fees turned over to the State for each of
the preceding five years by the office of the register for which
the salary is being fixed; and

(3)  Other pertinent data which have relation to the
reasonableness of the salary in relation to the work done and
volume handled by the office.

(c)  The minimum annual salary for the register in Baltimore
City is $12,000.

(d)  The salaries of the registers shall be paid semimonthly
from the fees and receipts of the office, after deducting the
expenses of the office. Expenses include salaries of deputies and
clerks, books, stationery, office supplies, and other necessary
and customary expenses of doing business.

(e)  If the fees and receipts of the office are insufficient
in any month to pay all or a part of the expenses of the office
and authorized salary of a register, the deficiency shall be
deducted by the register for that month, from the taxes due the
State Comptroller from the office for that month. Written
authority for the deduction shall be first obtained from the
State Comptroller. In the event that tax collections for the
month are insufficient, the Comptroller shall make up the deficit
from funds provided in the state budget for this purpose.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That, pursuant to
Article III, § 35, of the Constitution of Maryland, this Act may
not be construed to extend or apply to the salary or compensation
of the Registers of Wills in office on the effective date of this
Act, but the provisions of this Act concerning the salary or
compensation of the Registers of Wills shall take effect at the
beginning of the next following term of office.