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<section article="gen" article_name="Environment" number="9-658" title_number="9" title_name="Water, Ice, and Sanitary Facilities" subtitle_number="6" subtitle_name="Sanitary Commissions">
  <level label="a">
    <text>When the sanitary commission has determined a benefit assessment, and except as otherwise provided in this section, the sanitary commission shall levy a benefit assessment, so that the levy will be effective on the July 1 that next follows the first March 31 that occurs on or before which the construction is completed on the project for which the benefit assessment is made.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The Allegany County Sanitary Commission may make the levy of a benefit assessment effective on the date on which the construction is completed on the project for which the benefit assessment is made.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>If the Allegany County Sanitary Commission makes a levy on the date on which the construction is completed, it shall prorate the levy on the basis of the benefit assessment for an entire year and the time remaining until July 1.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The Dorchester County Sanitary Commission may make the levy of a benefit assessment effective on the date on which:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>The construction is substantially completed; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The system is in use for the project for which the benefit assessment is made.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>If the Dorchester County Sanitary Commission makes a levy on the date on which the construction is substantially completed or when the system is in use, it shall prorate the levy on the basis of the benefit assessment for an entire year and the time remaining until July 1.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>While unpaid, benefit assessments and other charges are a lien on the parcel for which made.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>The lien granted by this section is subordinate only to State taxes and municipal taxes.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <level label="1">
      <text>As to each lien that arises against a parcel in the district, the sanitary commission shall keep a public record that:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Identifies the owners of the parcel;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Describes the parcel and gives any lot number of record that applies to the parcel; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>Shows the amount of the lien.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The sanitary commission shall file the record of liens among the land records of the county where the parcel is located.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>The record of liens shall be legal notice of all existing liens in the district.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="g">
    <level label="1">
      <text>To enforce the collection of unpaid benefit assessments or other charges that are at least 60 days overdue, the sanitary commission, at any time, may:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Sue any person who was an owner of record of the parcel at any time since the benefit assessment was last paid; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>File a bill in equity to enforce a lien through a decree of sale of property against any person who was an owner of record of the parcel at any time since the benefit assessment was last paid.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>In addition to the actions that the sanitary commission may take under paragraph (1) of this subsection, in Allegany County, Dorchester County, Garrett County, and Somerset County, the sanitary commission may disconnect the service.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>When recorded, the lien is legal notice to any person who has any interest in a parcel.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="h">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The governing body of Kent County may authorize by local law the sale of real property to enforce a lien based on unpaid benefit assessments or other charges under this subtitle. The procedures for establishment, notification, and enforcement of a lien authorized by the governing body in accordance with this subsection shall conform to the provisions of Chapter 152 of the Code of Kent County, governing collection of real property taxes in arrears.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>If the sale of real property is authorized under paragraph (1) of this subsection, in addition to any remedy under subsection (g) of this section, the sanitary commission may request that the county tax collector conduct a sale of real property to enforce a lien at a county tax sale in accordance with the same procedures governing the sale of property for delinquent property taxes and the county tax collector may conduct the sale.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="i">
    <level label="1">
      <text>In addition to any remedy under subsection (g) of this section, in Allegany County, Dorchester County, and Somerset County, the sanitary commission may request the county tax collector to conduct a sale of real property to enforce a lien representing any unpaid benefit assessment or other charges under this subtitle at a county tax sale in accordance with the same procedures governing the sale of property for delinquent property taxes.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>In Allegany County, the tax collector in Allegany County may conduct a county tax sale for the purpose of enforcing a lien as specified in paragraph (1) of this subsection.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>In Dorchester County, the tax collector in Dorchester County may conduct a county tax sale for the purpose of enforcing a lien as specified in paragraph (1) of this subsection.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>In Somerset County, the tax collector in Somerset County may conduct a county tax sale for the purpose of enforcing a lien as specified in paragraph (1) of this subsection.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
