(a)        A sanitary district shall provide notice to interested parties of the imposition of or increase in service charges or rates applicable solely to the construction of development subject to Article 8 of Chapter 160D of the N.C. Gen. Stat. for any service provided by the sanitary district at least seven days prior to the first meeting where the imposition of or increase in the charges or rates is on the agenda for consideration. The sanitary district shall employ at least two of the following means of communication in order to provide the notice required by this section:

(1)        Notice of the meeting in a prominent location on a Web site managed or maintained by the sanitary district.

(2)        Notice of the meeting in a prominent physical location, including, but not limited to, the district’s headquarters or any government building, library, or courthouse located within the sanitary district.

(3)        Notice of the meeting by electronic mail to a list of interested parties that is created by the sanitary district for the purpose of notification as required by this section.

(4)        Notice of the meeting by facsimile to a list of interested parties that is created by the sanitary district for the purpose of notification as required by this section.

(a1)      If a sanitary district does not maintain its own Web site, it may employ the notice option provided by subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of this section by submitting a request to a county or counties in which the district is located to post such notice in a prominent location on a Web site that is maintained by the county or counties. Any sanitary district that elects to provide such notice shall make its request to the county or counties at least 15 days prior to the date of the first meeting where the imposition of or increase in the fees or charges is on the agenda for consideration.

(b)        During the consideration of the imposition of or increase in service charges or rates as provided in subsection (a) of this section, the governing body of the sanitary district shall permit a period of public comment.

(c)        This section shall not apply if the imposition of or increase in service charges or rates is contained in a budget filed in accordance with the requirements of N.C. Gen. Stat. § 159-12 ?(2009-436, s. 3; 2010-180, s. 11(c); 2022-62, s. 17.)