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A.  The pumping charge assessed against each user of groundwater within the district shall be fixed annually upon at least thirty days notice to each user within the district known to the board and general notice by publication; however, the charges assessed against users of groundwater shall not be increased without a public hearing held for the purpose of fixing the pumping charges and opportunity for the submission of all pertinent data concerning total rates of consumption of groundwater within the district, estimated rates of consumption by users within the district, the costs and expenses which must be met during the coming year, costs and expenses which must be met by the pumping charge, and the manner in which the computation of the pumping charge is made.  Any user within the district shall have the right to make a presentation by testimony and adduction of evidence and exhibits, and any other interested person shall have the right to be heard by making a personal statement of reasonable length.  Any user intending to make a presentation at the hearing resulting in the assessment of pumping charges shall so advise the board at least five days in advance of the hearing and shall indicate the estimated time to be consumed by his presentation.  When necessary, in its discretion, the board may limit the time allotted users for their presentations.  Further, no pumping charge shall be made against the quantity of water pumped from wells screened in the Mississippi River alluvial aquifer, wells with a total depth of less than four hundred feet, wells used exclusively for bona fide agricultural or horticultural purposes, or wells not capable of producing fifty thousand gallons or more per day.  

B.  Pumping charges may be made payable by users monthly or on any other reasonable basis set by the board.  

Added by Acts 1974, No. 678, §1.  Amended by Acts 1976, No. 231, §1.