Chap. 462.—An ACT to amend and re-enact section 2154 of the Code of Virginia
- @8 amended and re-enacted by an act approved September 5, 1919. [S B 189]

Approved March 21, 1924.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That section
twenty-one hundred and fifty-four of the Code of Virginia, as amended
and re-enacted by an act approved September fifth, nineteen hundred
and nineteen, be amended and re-enacted so as to read as follows:

Section 2154. How fees from automobile licenses, et cetera, to be
expended.—All fees and licenses collected under the provisions of this
chapter shall be paid into the State treasury, except that the secre-
tary of the Commonwealth shall deduct therefrom the necessary ex-
penses incident to the cost of purchasing number plates and mailing
same, and the expense of necessary clerical assistance. This fund,
except as is otherwise provided in this section, shall constitute a special
fund to be expended under the direction of the chairman of the highway
commission for the maintenance of roads and bridges in the State
highway system; provided, however, that the State highway commis-
sion may in its discretion first set aside, out of said funds each year,
the amount in their judgment necessary for the maintenance of the
roads and bridges in the State highway system, and expend in their
discretion the balance of said fund for construction or reconstruction
of roads and bridges in the State highway system, under the provi-
sions of sections five, six, eight and nine, or any amendments thereto,
of chapter four hundred and three of the acts of the general assembly
of nineteen hundred and twenty-two, provided any funds available for
construction or reconstruction under the provisions of this section shall
be as nearly as possible equitably apportioned by the commission
among the several construction districts; provided, further, that no-
part of the said maintenance fund shall be expended on toll roads.
so long as tolls are collected thereon; provided further, the chairman of
highway commission shall have the authority to expend part of the
said maintenance fund in the maintenance of roads and bridges in the:
State highway system in incorporated towns of thirty-five hundred
inhabitants or less, according to the latest United States census, pro-.
vided that no greater amount per mile shall be expended in mainte-
nance within the corporate limits of any such town than the average
amount per mile expended on the maintenance of roads in the State
highway system for a distance of five miles outside of the corporate
limits of such town on the road of which the part within the corporate
limits is a section; provided, however, that if, in the opinion of the chair-.
man of the highway commission, a greater amount than the amount
authorized to be spent within the corporate limits under the provisions
hereof, be necessary for the proper maintenance of the road within such
town, the town shall, before the chairman shall expend any of such
fund for maintenance within the town, obligate itself to pay such excess:.
The chairman of the highway commission is hereby authorized to ex-
pend part of the funds which may be available for construction or re-
construction of roads and bridges in the State highway system under
the provisions of this section or from any other source, for the construc-
tion or reconstruction of roads and bridges in the State highway systenr
in incorporated towns of thirty-five hundred inhabitants or less, ac-
cording to the latest United States census, provided that no greater
amount per mile for construction or reconstruction shall be expended’
within the corporate limits of any such town than the average amount
per mile expended for construction or reconstruction of roads in the
State highway system for a distance of five miles outside of the cor-
porate limits of such town on the road of which the part within the
corporate limits is a section; but the chairman of the highway commis-
sion may in his discretion enter into agreements with the corporate
authorities of any such town, providing for the construction of a wider
or @ mofe expensive type of road within the town or a part thereof on
such terms and conditions as the chairman shall think proper; pro-
vided, however, that all such construction or reconstruction within the
corporate limits shall be done under the requirements of law applicable
to the construction or reconstruction of roads in the State highway
system; and provided further, that the town shall pay to the chairman
of the highway commission the amount of the cost of such construction.
or reconstruction in excess of the amount which the chairman is author-
ized to expend thereon under the provisions hereof.

Warrants for the expenditure of the funds provided by this chapter
shall be issued by the auditor of public accounts upon certificates of
the chairman of the highway commission or his representative, desig-
nated by him, and bonded, that the parties are entitled thereto, and
shall be paid by the State treasurer out of the said funds.