(a) The County Commission of Baldwin County is authorized, when the need exists, to provide for the protection of forests from fire, insects, disease, beavers, and other pests in Baldwin County by participating in the Alabama Forestry Commission's forest protection program in the manner hereinafter specified.

(b)(1) After the Baldwin County Commission has determined that such a need does exist in Baldwin County, the county commission may, in the manner hereinafter specified, provide for a finance charge to be paid by the owners of forest lands located in Baldwin County for the use of the land for timber growing purposes amounting to the whole or any part of the cost of such forest protection program, but not in excess of ten cents ($.10) per acre, provided such finance charge is not greater than the benefit accruing to such forest lands due to availability of such forest protection as specified in subsection (a).

(2) "Forest lands" as used in this section, shall mean any land which supports a forest growth, or which is being used or reserved for such purpose. "Forest lands" as used in this section, shall not include any lands primarily used for residential purposes or homesites of five acres or less, nor shall it include any publicly owned lands.

(3) The finance charge fixed as provided in subdivision (1) shall be payable at the same time and in the same manner as county taxes, and the owners of the "Forest lands," as herein defined, shall make report of the same to the Tax Assessor of Baldwin County, Alabama, at the time fixed by law for making return of the property of such property owned. Finance charges levied shall constitute a lien on the property against which they are charged or taxed in case of default in the payment of such financial charge.

(c) The county governing body of Baldwin County is authorized to appoint agents and delegate authority to individuals to search out forest lands in Baldwin County, to determine the area and owners thereof, and report the same to the Tax Assessor of Baldwin County who shall be authorized, after notice by mail to such owners, and hearing before the county governing body if so requested by such owners, to place the finance charge against the forest lands as may be determined by the report of such agents or the determination of the county governing body. It shall be the responsibility of the County Commission of Baldwin County to establish such rules and regulations as are necessary to administer the provisions of this section.

(d) The finance charge herein imposed shall be due and payable to the Tax Collector of Baldwin County, and shall when collected, be paid to the Treasurer of Baldwin County. All monies collected in accordance with this section shall be spent in participating in the Alabama Forestry Commission's forest protection program in Baldwin County as specified in subsection (a) and less administrative expenses of one thousand dollars ($1,000) per year and paid to Baldwin County.

(e) The County Commission of Baldwin County is authorized to remove such finance charge after the county commission has determined that the finance charge is no longer needed. The county commission shall hold public hearings to determine whether or not the finance charge is still needed. Procedures for such public hearings shall be the same as those in subsection (c).