Maryland Environment Section 9-656

      (a)      (1)      To pay the principal and interest on bonds issued under this subtitle, a sanitary commission may set reasonable benefit assessments and reasonable connection charges.

            (2)      In Allegany County, a sanitary commission may also set reasonable benefit assessments to pay the cost of capital improvements to a water or sewerage system.

            (3)      The Sanitary Commission of Worcester County may also set reasonable benefit assessments and reasonable connection charges to pay other costs on bonds issued under this subtitle.

      (b)      (1)      Except for Worcester County, a connection charge made under this section shall be equal at least to the cost of making the connection between a water system or sewerage system and the property served by that system.

            (2)      In Worcester County, a connection charge shall be equal at least to:

                  (i)      The actual cost of making the connection between a water system or sewerage system and the property served by the system; or

                  (ii)      The average cost of making a connection based on:

                        1.      The diameter and the length of the connector; or

                        2.      The diameter of the connector and the width of the way in which the water pipe or sewer pipe is laid.

            (3)      In the case of connectors constructed under § 9-661 of this subtitle during construction of the water line or sewer line, the Sanitary Commission of Worcester County shall determine a connection charge under paragraph (2)(ii) of this subsection that is the same on each side of the way in which the line is laid.

      (c)      The Sanitary Commission may set benefit assessments on all property, improved or unimproved, that abuts a way in which a water main or sewer has been built.