(1) All or part of the cost of building, constructing, purchasing, operating, maintaining or improving works of the urban flood safety and water quality district may be assessed against the lands to be benefited by the works. The board of directors shall determine the portion of the cost, if any, that is to be paid from the general fund of the district and the portion that is to be paid by assessments against the lands benefited.

(2) Assessments shall be apportioned by the board of directors among benefited lands in accordance with the special and peculiar benefit to be received from the district works by each lot or parcel of land. For parcels of land, or any portion of the parcels, in the district that are undeveloped, the board of directors may, in its discretion, defer assessing or imposing all or any portion of the assessments on such parcels until the parcels are connected with, or receiving services from, the district works.

(3) The board of directors shall afford an opportunity for hearing any objections or remonstrances to assessments under this section. If the board of directors receives objections or remonstrances that are signed by more than 50 percent of the landowners representing more than 50 percent of the territory within the proposed assessment district, the proposed assessment may not be imposed.

(4) If any portion of the cost of district works is assessed against benefited lands under this section, the board of directors may issue works bonds in the total amount of the valid applications the board of directors has received to pay assessments in installments as provided by ORS § 223.205 and 223.210 to 223.295. [2019 c.621 § 17; 2022 c.16 § 14]