In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. “Contract” means an agreement, commitment, or arrangement made between the Commission and a governmental unit to further the purposes stated in § 15–302 of this subtitle. “Governmental unit” means: the National Capital Planning Commission; the United States government; the District of Columbia; the State, including the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission; Virginia; Montgomery County or Prince George’s County; any municipal corporation, local subdivision, or corporation within the State, Virginia, Montgomery County, or Prince George’s County; or any other governmental agency the Commission determines to be appropriate to further the purposes stated in § 15–302 of this subtitle.

The Commission is the representative of the State for purposes of: acquiring and developing land or other property under this division; exercising the duties of the State under this division; complying with § 1(a) and (b) of the Capper–Cramton Act, Public Law 71–284, 46 Stat. 482, for acquiring parklands in the metropolitan district; or securing funds authorized by the Act or by any other federal, State, or local law.

For the purposes of § 15–302 of this subtitle, the Commission may: act in conjunction and cooperation with other governmental units; and enter into contracts with governmental units. The Commission may not obligate itself or the metropolitan district for expenditures above the amount of money the Commission has or shall receive from bonds, taxes, donations, contributions, or appropriations under this division.

Within a reasonable time after the Commission makes a request, public officials of the State, Montgomery County, and Prince George’s County shall furnish the Commission with available information required for Commission work. The Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission shall: make available for Commission use the maps, surveys, engineering information, and other records of the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission; and when requested by the Commission, furnish engineering services and advice at cost.

The conditions and limitations established in this section apply to contracts or amendments to contracts entered into under this subtitle to acquire parkland in the metropolitan district in accordance with § 1(a) and (b) of the Capper–Cramton Act, Public Law 71–284, 46 Stat. 482. Except as provided in subsection (d) of this section, the Commission may amend a contract. An amendment to a contract shall be ratified by the appropriate county council before the amendment becomes binding on the State, the Commission, or the county. The Commission may enter into a contract with a governmental unit to: adopt a general or revised plan for the acquisition of parklands in the metropolitan district; and specify the method to finance the acquisition. The appropriate county council shall ratify a contract before the contract becomes binding on the State, the Commission, or the county. The Commission may enter into a supplemental agreement to a contract or amendment to a contract with a governmental unit in accordance with this subsection. A supplemental agreement shall: be for the acquisition of specific units of land in the metropolitan district that comprise portions of the general park plan adopted in the contract or amendment to the contract; and specify the financing for the acquisition. A supplemental agreement for a specific unit of land located in Montgomery County or Prince George’s County shall be submitted to the appropriate county council for ratification. The appropriate county council shall ratify a supplemental agreement if the county finds that: the boundaries of the unit of land to be acquired under the supplemental agreement are in the general park plan adopted by the contract or amendment that the agreement supplements; and the proceeds from the taxes authorized under the supplemental agreement will allow the Commission to satisfy the obligations of the supplemental agreement, including any interest. In determining whether the Commission will be able to meet an obligation with the proceeds of the taxes authorized under the supplemental agreement, the appropriate county council shall: compute the proceeds on the assessable basis of the parts of the metropolitan district lying in the county for the fiscal year in which approval is sought; and assume that the entire tax imposed will be collected so long as there is an outstanding and unpaid obligation. The appropriate county council may ratify the supplemental agreement by simple resolution authorizing the chair of the county council to: endorse the supplemental agreement; and execute a guarantee in accordance with this subtitle. Ratification by the Montgomery County Council is not necessary to approve: contracts or amendments that are not related to the acquisition of a specific unit of parkland; or supplemental agreements to contracts related only to the acquisition of specific units of parkland.