Ch. 161

LAWS OF MARYLAND

(IV) Following this hearing the county
commissioners may establish the electric lighting district and
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.

(c)  In St. Mary's County, an electric   lighting district may
be created by the County Commissioners upon   receipt of a petition
signed by a majority of the property owners   within the proposed
district.

(D) (1) THIS SUBSECTION IS APPLICABLE TO FREDERICK COUNTY
AND SHALL PREVAIL OVER THE PROVISIONS OF SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS
SECTION TO THE EXTENT OF ANY INCONSISTENCY.

(2)   IN ADDITION TO THE PROCESS SET FORTH UNDER
SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION, AN ELECTRIC LIGHTING DISTRICT
ALSO MAY BE CREATED AT THE INITIATIVE OF THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MAY CREATE, AT THEIR OWN INITIATIVE, AN
ELECTRIC LIGHTING DISTRICT FOR UNDEVELOPED LAND IN THE COUNTY IF:

(I)  A SUBDIVISION PLAT FOR THE LAND HAS NOT
BEEN APPROVED BY THE COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION OR RECORDED BY
THE CLERK OF THE COURT; AND

(II)  THE DISTRICT IS CREATED IN ACCORDANCE WITH
PARAGRAPH (3) OF THIS SUBSECTION.

(3)  (I) PRIOR TO ESTABLISHING AN ELECTRIC LIGHTING
DISTRICT UNDER THIS SECTION, THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS SHALL HOLD
A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSAL, AT WHICH TIME THE BOUNDARIES OF
THE AREA TO BE INCLUDED IN THE DISTRICT ARE FULLY DESCRIBED.

(II) A NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TOGETHER WITH A
FAIR SUMMARY OF THE PROPOSED ACT SHALL BE PUBLISHED IN AT LEAST 1
NEWSPAPER OF GENERAL CIRCULATION IN THE COUNTY ONCE EACH WEEK FOR
THE 2 SUCCESSIVE WEEKS IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE HEARING.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall
take effect July 1, 1989.

Approved May 5, 1989.

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