§11-50-91. Payment of assessments generally.

The council, in purchasing any sewers or sewer system the cost of which or any part thereof is to be assessed against the area drained by such sewer, sewers or sewer system, may provide that the same shall be paid in cash within 30 days after the final assessment, provided the cost of such sewers or sewer system does not exceed $1,000.00, but if the total cost of such purchase is greater than such sum, any property owner may, at his election, to be expressed by notifying the city or town official charged with the duty of collecting such assessments in writing within 30 days after the assessment is made final, pay such assessment in not less than 10 nor more than 15 equal annual installments, as determined by the council, which installments shall bear interest at a rate not exceeding six percent per annum payable annually. And the council may further provide that any person may further elect to pay each annual installment in four equal quarterly installments.

Any person may pay the whole assessment against any lot or parcel of land with 30 days from the time the assessment is made and may at any installment period, either annual or quarterly, pay the assessment in full by paying the full amount of the installments, together with all accrued interest thereon and an additional sum equal to six months' interest at six percent per annum on the amount of said assessment so paid before maturity as a penalty. Should the property owner desire to pay off the deferred installments between the dates on which they are due, he shall pay interest on the same until the succeeding installment period, together with the penalty above described. The first installment shall be payable within 30 days after the assessment is made final, and all assessments or installments thereof shall be payable at the office of the clerk, tax collector, or treasurer of the city or town as the council may prescribe, and all assessments or installments thereof shall bear interest at a rate not exceeding six percent per annum after the expiration of 30 days from the date on which the same were made final, which interest shall be due and payable at the time and place the assessment or installment is due and payable. In all cases where the property owner does not elect to pay in installments or, having elected to pay in installments, fails to pay the first installment within 30 days from the date of the assessment, he shall be held to have waived the right to pay in installments, and the entire assessment shall at the expiration of said 30 days become due and payable.

(Acts 1923, No. 165, p. 134; Code 1923, §2104; Code 1940, T. 37, §629.)