§ 20-804. Charles County

   (a) Definitions. --

   (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.

   (2) "Dwelling type" means a single family detached home, town house, or multifamily housing unit.

   (3) "New residential development" means the development of land that results in the issuance of a use and occupancy permit for a residential dwelling unit.

   (4) "New school capacity construction bonds" means 10-year bonds issued by the County Commissioners of Charles County under § 19-616 of this article.

(b) Authorization. --

   (1) By local law, the County Commissioners of Charles County may impose a fair share school construction excise tax against the owner of real property that is improved by new residential development.

   (2) Before enacting a local law under this section, the county commissioners shall hold a public hearing and provide reasonable notice of the hearing.

(c) Rates. --

   (1) (i) For fiscal year 2003, the tax may not exceed:

         1. for a single-family detached home, $ 9,700;

         2. for a town house, $ 9,200; and

         3. for a multifamily housing unit, $ 7,000.

      (ii) For each fiscal year after fiscal year 2003, the tax may not exceed the limits set forth in subparagraph (i) of this paragraph altered by the same percentage as the change in the producer price index for the materials and components for construction, as reported by the United States Department of Labor, for the fiscal year preceding the year for which the amount is being calculated.

   (2) Before setting the rate of the tax for each fiscal year, the County Commissioners of Charles County shall conduct a study to determine:

      (i) the current amount of total costs incurred to construct new capacity for public elementary, middle, and high school facilities in the county, including:

         1. costs for land acquisition, architectural and engineering design, infrastructure, new classrooms, equipment, interest on bond principal, and bond issuance; and

         2. an amount equal to the total square footage of new public elementary, middle, and high school facilities in the county multiplied by the State square foot construction allowance, less the State funding share; and

      (ii) the current average number of students in the county by dwelling type.

(d) Administration. --

   (1) The tax:

      (i) shall be collected and secured in the same manner as general ad valorem taxes unless otherwise provided by local law; and

      (ii) is subject to the same penalties and the same procedure, sale, and lien priority in case of delinquency as provided for general ad valorem taxes.

   (2) (i) The tax shall be collected annually over a period of 10 years at level amortized payments of principal and interest.

      (ii) The rate of interest payable by a property owner shall be set at the rate of interest paid by the county on the new school capacity construction bonds issued in the first year the tax is imposed on that property owner.

   (3) The tax shall constitute a lien on all taxable real or personal property of the taxpayer for a period of 10 years or until the lien is satisfied by repayment.

   (4) Prior to the sale or transfer of real property in Charles County that is improved by new residential development, the seller or transferor shall provide notice to the buyer or transferee that includes:

      (i) a statement that the tax may be imposed on the property; and

      (ii) the amount of the tax for the dwelling type on the property.

(e) Use of revenues. -- The revenues from the tax shall be used to pay the principal and interest on the new school capacity construction bonds as they become due.

(f) Annual report. --

   (1) On or before August 1 each year, the County Commissioners of Charles County shall report to the General Assembly, subject to § 2-1246 of the State Government Article, covering the preceding fiscal year.

   (2) The report shall include:

      (i) the amount of the tax set by the county commissioners for each dwelling type;

      (ii) the amount of proceeds derived from the issuance and sale of the county's new school capacity construction bonds;

      (iii) the number of parcels of real property improved by new residential development in Charles County; and

      (iv) the number of square feet of new public school capacity approved for construction in Charles County by the Interagency Committee on School Construction.

HISTORY: An. Code 1957, art. 24, § 9-10B-01(a), (d), (e)(2), (f); 2013, ch. 119, § 2.