(a)

(1) If a county by appropriate action elects to acquire, lease, rent, or otherwise provide for the use of electronic data processing equipment, commonly referred to as a computer, to keep the assessment records, to prepare the tax books, to prepare the tax settlements, and to prepare the county collector's records and receipts for property taxes, the county quorum court by ordinance may designate one (1) or more appropriate county officers to be responsible for the maintenance and operation of the computer, the keeping of the assessment records, the preparation of the tax books, the preparation of the county collector's records and receipts for property taxes, and the preparation of the tax settlements.

(2)

(A) If any county officer other than the county clerk is designated to prepare the tax books or tax settlements, that county officer shall be reimbursed in the manner provided by law.

(B) If the county assessor is designated as the county officer to keep the assessment records, prepare the tax books, and prepare the county collector's receipts by use of electronic data processing equipment, the cost shall be prorated among the respective taxing units in the same manner as is provided by law for defraying the cost of operating the county assessor's office.

(b) When any county acquires, leases, rents, or otherwise provides for the use of electronic data processing equipment for the purposes prescribed in subsection (a) of this section, the county quorum court may, by ordinance, authorize the use of the equipment for any other appropriate county purposes and may provide for prorating the costs thereof among the various county offices.