{"data":{"id":"us-md/md.-code-local-government-5-205","jurisdiction":"us-md","citation":"Md. Code, Local Government § 5–205","heading":"","body":"(a) (1) A municipality may provide for the control and management of\nits finances.\n(2) The municipality may:\n(i) designate the banks or trust companies of the State in\nwhich the municipality shall deposit all money belonging to the municipality; and\n(ii) provide for the appointment of an auditor or accountant to\naudit the books and accounts of municipal officers collecting, handling, or disbursing\nmoney belonging to the municipality.\n(b) (1) A municipality may spend money for any public purpose and to\naffect the safety, health, and general welfare of the municipality and its occupants.\n(2) Except as provided in paragraph (4) of this subsection, a\nmunicipality may not spend money under paragraph (1) of this subsection if the\nmoney was not appropriated at the time of the annual levy.\n(3) Except as provided in paragraph (4) of this subsection, a\nmunicipality may spend money only for the purpose for which the money was\nappropriated.\n(4) A municipality may spend money for a purpose different from the\npurpose for which the money was appropriated or spend money not appropriated at\nthe time of the annual levy if approved by a two–thirds vote of all the individuals\nelected to the legislative body.\n(c) A municipality may provide for:\n(1) the purchase of materials, supplies, and equipment through the\nDepartment of General Services;\n(2) municipal advertising;\n(3) printing and publishing statements of its receipts and\nexpenditures; and\n(4) codifying and publishing laws, ordinances, resolutions, and\nregulations.\n(d) (1) Except as otherwise provided under this article, the Tax –\nGeneral Article, and the Tax – Property Article, a municipality may establish and\ncollect reasonable fees and charges:\n(i) for franchises, licenses, or permits granted by the\nmunicipality; or\n(ii) associated with the exercise of a governmental or\nproprietary function exercised by a municipality.\n(2) A municipality may provide that any valid charge, tax, or\nassessment made against real property in the municipality is a lien on the property\nto be collected in the same manner as municipal taxes.\n(e) A municipality may enter into an agreement with other municipalities\nfor purposes including:\n(1) the joint administration of the municipalities;\n(2) the cooperative procurement of goods and services, including\nconstruction services;\n(3) the provision of municipal services; and\n(4) the joint funding and management of any project that is centrally\nlocated to the municipalities.","path":["Article - Local Government"],"source_url":"https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=glg\u0026section=5-205","current_through":"2026-01-01","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T19:59:58Z","sha256":"b0fbbde88eaef484dfeb1579ab0791feed08195136311cc064f829ade3577178","source_id":"us-md","stale":false,"prev":"us-md/md.-code-local-government-5-204","next":"us-md/md.-code-local-government-5-206"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}