The county commissioners of any county wherein an artesian basin is situated and wherein an artesian conservancy district has not been organized may employ with the consent and approval of the state engineer an artesian well supervisor and any assistants deemed necessary, who shall be under the supervision of the state engineer, and it shall be the duty of such well supervisor and his assistants, to enforce the regulatory provisions of Sections 72-13-1 through 72-13-12 NMSA 1978 and the rules and regulations promulgated by the state engineer pursuant hereto. The salaries of such well supervisor and his assistants shall be fixed by the board of county commissioners, who shall levy a special tax for such purpose upon all taxable property situated within the county wherein such artesian basin is situated, which levy shall be exclusive of the limit now provided by law; provided, however, that at no time shall such tax levy produce a revenue in any one year of more than seven thousand five hundred dollars ($7,500). All funds derived from such tax levies shall be transmitted by the county treasurer to the state treasurer on or before the last day of March, June, September and December of each year. The state treasurer shall deposit such funds to the credit of the artesian well fund of the county providing the same and shall disburse the same for expenses incurred by said county relative to the administration of the provisions of this section upon warrants of the secretary of finance and administration supported by proper itemized vouchers approved by the state engineer.

History: Laws 1935, ch. 43, § 3; 1941 Comp., § 77-1203; 1953 Comp., § 75-12-3; Laws 1977, ch. 247, § 197.

Cross references. — For the state engineer, see 72-2-1 NMSA 1978.

Am. Jur. 2d, A.L.R. and C.J.S. references. — 78 Am. Jur. 2d Waters § 148.