In addition to any service authorized by or required of counties in this Title, the county commissioners of each county may develop and contract to provide any service that a municipality may perform. The county commissioners may develop such a service prior to executing a contract with a municipality but, unless otherwise provided for in this Title, may deliver the service only upon a contract with one or more municipalities or others as described in subsection 4. The county commissioners may contract with municipalities, other political subdivisions of the State, regional planning councils, councils of government, quasi-municipal corporations, any agency or instrumentality of the State or private enterprises to enable the county to perform or to assist the county in the performance of all or part of the services contracted for by a municipality. [1997, c. 785, §1(AMD).]
1.Municipal action required. The legislative body of any municipality entering into a contract under this section must take appropriate action by ordinance, resolution or other action pursuant to law before the contract takes effect. [1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2(NEW); 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106(NEW); 1989, c. 6(AMD); 1989, c. 9, §2(AMD); 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10(AMD).]
2.Contents of contract. Any contract with a municipality must specify the following: A. Its duration; [1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2(NEW); 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106(NEW); 1989, c. 6(AMD); 1989, c. 9, §2(AMD); 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10(AMD).]B. Its purpose; [1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2(NEW); 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106(NEW); 1989, c. 6(AMD); 1989, c. 9, §2(AMD); 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10(AMD).]C. The manner and amount of financing for the contracted services and maintaining a budget; [1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2(NEW); 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106(NEW); 1989, c. 6(AMD); 1989, c. 9, §2(AMD); 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10(AMD).]D. The scope and nature of the services to be performed by the county; [1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2(NEW); 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106(NEW); 1989, c. 6(AMD); 1989, c. 9, §2(AMD); 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10(AMD).]E. The manner of administering the performance of the contract and the methods and extent of municipal control of that administration; [1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2(NEW); 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106(NEW); 1989, c. 6(AMD); 1989, c. 9, §2(AMD); 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10(AMD).]F. The manner of acquiring, holding and disposing of real and personal property acquired or used in performing the contract; [1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2(NEW); 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106(NEW); 1989, c. 6(AMD); 1989, c. 9, §2(AMD); 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10(AMD).]G. Any limitations on the county commissioners' power to contract with other political subdivisions, quasi-municipal corporations, agencies, instrumentalities or enterprises to perform the services specified in the municipal-county contract, including the duties and activities that may be contracted for by the county; [1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2(NEW); 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106(NEW); 1989, c. 6(AMD); 1989, c. 9, §2(AMD); 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10(AMD).]H. The method of partial or complete termination of the contract and the obligations and responsibilities of each party on termination; and [1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2(NEW); 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106(NEW); 1989, c. 6(AMD); 1989, c. 9, §2(AMD); 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10(AMD).]I. Any other necessary and proper matters. [1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2(NEW); 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106(NEW); 1989, c. 6(AMD); 1989, c. 9, §2(AMD); 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10(AMD).] [1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2(NEW); 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106(NEW); 1989, c. 6(AMD); 1989, c. 9, §2(AMD); 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10(AMD).]
3.Filing. A copy of the contract shall be filed with the clerk of each municipality that is a party to the contract and in the office of the county commissioners. [1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2(NEW); 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106(NEW); 1989, c. 6(AMD); 1989, c. 9, §2(AMD); 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10(AMD).]
4.Municipalities and others served. The county may provide services to municipalities and other public and private entities in the county or another county. Unless otherwise provided for in this Title, a county may not require municipalities or other entities to subscribe to, contract for or participate in any service under this section. [1997, c. 785, §1(NEW).]
5.Fees. Except as provided in subsection 6, the cost of developing and providing the service must be borne by those municipalities or other public or private entities using the service or by other means, but may not in any way be borne by the tax for which municipalities are assessed pursuant to section 706. [2007, c. 105, §1(AMD).]
6.Offshore island tax assessment credit. For the purpose of allowing an offshore island municipality not connected to the mainland by a bridge to contract independently with the county for rural patrol services, the county may credit the qualifying municipality for a portion of the county assessment that would otherwise have been used to provide rural patrol services to the municipality if it were on the mainland. For any such agreement that is entered into, the assessment credit must be annually negotiated by the qualifying municipality and the county commissioners. [2007, c. 105, §2(NEW).]
1987, c. 737, §§A2,C106 (NEW) . 1989, c. 6, (AMD) . 1989, c. 9, § 2 (AMD) . 1989, c. 104, §§C8,10 (AMD) . 1997, c. 785, § 1 (AMD) . 2007, c. 105, §§1, 2 (AMD) .