A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to allow Richmond county to impose a fee for the purpose of repairing dams.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  Fee‑Supported Dam Repair District. – A county by resolution may create a fee‑supported dam repair district for all properties that are contiguous to a lake on which is situated a dam in need of repair within the county limits.
SECTION 2.  Imposition of Annual Fees. – A county may impose annual fees for the repair of dams within the county limits. The board of commissioners shall establish the fees on or before July 1 each year.
SECTION 3.  Fees. – The fees imposed by the county may not exceed the cost of providing for the repair of the dams within the county. The fees shall be imposed on owners of each dwelling unit or parcel of property that could or does benefit from lake access to the lake on which the dam is situated.
SECTION 4.  Procedure. – In adopting a resolution and imposing a fee as authorized by this act, the county shall adopt procedures substantially similar to those provided in Article 9 of Chapter 153A of the General Statutes for special assessments.
SECTION 5.  Billing of Fees. – The county may include a fee imposed under this section on the property tax bill for each parcel of property lying within the county limits on which the fee is imposed. Said fee shall be collected in the same manner as provided for in the General Statutes for the collection of ad valorem taxes, and remedies available by statute for the collection of taxes shall apply to the collection of the dam repair fees.
SECTION 6.  Use of Fees. – A county shall credit the fees collected within the district to a separate fund to be used only to pay the bill that is received for repair of the dam. The governing board shall administer the fund to provide for the payment of dam repair.
SECTION 7.  Abolition of District. – Upon finding that there is no longer a need for a given fee‑supported district, the governing board may repeal the resolution establishing the district and thus abolish the district.
SECTION 8.  This act applies only to Richmond County.
SECTION 9.  This act is effective when it becomes law.