(A) Pursuant to NMSA § 3-23-6, the city is authorized to charge for the service of any city utility and this charge becomes a lien against the property served.
(B) Any charge imposed by ordinance for service rendered by a city utility shall be:
(1) Payable by the owner, personally, at the time the charge accrues and becomes due; and
(2) A lien upon the tract or parcel of land being served from the time; except that, where utility charges are incurred by a renter, the same shall not be the responsibility of the owner if he or she notifies the city that he or she will not be responsible. The notification shall be given in writing prior to the initiation of the debt and shall include the location of the rental property.
(C) The lien described in divisions (A) and (B) above shall be enforced in the manner provided in NMSA §§ 3-36-1 through 3-36-5. In any proceedings where pleadings are required, it shall be sufficient to declare generally for the municipal utility service.
(1981 Code, § 23-7) (Ord. 615, passed 4-30-1973)
Statutory reference:
Similar provisions, see NMSA § 3-23-6