Sec. 254.017. CERTIFICATION AND COLLECTION OF ASSESSMENTS; LIENS. (a) At the same term at which the commissioners court enters its order for the construction of the ditches and adjoining roadway or at any subsequent term, the court shall enter on its minutes a list of each tract of real property for which an assessment of expense was made and reported by the jury of view and approved by the court. The list must include:

(1) the names of the owners and original grantees of each tract;

(2) the number of acres covered by the assessment; and

(3) the amount of the assessment.

(b) The county clerk shall issue a certificate against each person on the list showing the amount of each assessment, the ditch or road for which the assessment was issued, and the tract of property on which the assessment was issued. The certificate must be signed by the county judge in open court and attested under the hand and seal of the county clerk, and that fact shall be noted in the minutes of the court.

(c) All amounts assessed against any property and its owner by the jury of view or the order of the court are a lien on the property unless prohibited by the Texas Constitution.

(d) The county judge shall deliver the certificates to the county treasurer, and shall take a receipt for delivery from the treasurer and file it with the county records relating to the ditch. The treasurer shall collect each amount due on the certificates and deposit the money collected to the credit of the county road and bridge fund.

(e) If a person against whom a certificate is issued does not pay the amount due to the treasurer on demand, the treasurer shall report that fact to the county attorney. The county attorney shall immediately file suit for foreclosure of the lien or for a personal judgment, as permitted by law.

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.