If a water district chooses to increase its debt limit pursuant to this section, the governing body of the water district shall propose a new debt limit and submit the proposal for approval at a referendum within the district.__The referendum must be called, advertised and conducted according to the law relating to municipal elections, except the registrar of voters is not required to prepare or the clerk to post a new list of voters.__For the purpose of registering voters, the registrar of voters must be in session on the regular work day preceding the election.__The question presented must conform to the following form:

"Do you favor changing the debt limit of the (insert name of district) from (insert current debt limit) to (insert proposed debt limit)?"

The voters shall indicate by a cross or check mark placed against the word "Yes" or "No" their opinion on the question.

The results must be declared by the governing body of the district and entered upon the district's records.__Due certificate of the results must be filed by the clerk with the Secretary of State.

A debt limit proposal becomes effective upon its acceptance by a majority of the legal voters within the district voting at the referendum.__Failure of approval by the majority of voters voting at the referendum does not prevent subsequent referenda from being held for the same purpose.__The costs of referenda are borne by the district.

Sec. 4. 35-A MRSA §6414-A is enacted to read:

§6414-A.__Water utilities; rate collection and liens

All persons, firms and corporations, whether public, private or municipal, shall pay to the treasurer of any water district the rates established pursuant to chapter 61 for the water service used with respect to their real estate.

There is a lien on real estate served by a water district to