(a) The board of directors of any levee district, drainage district, or levee and drainage district is authorized and empowered, and it is made their duty, to assess and levy annually a tax upon the increased value, or betterment, estimated to accrue, and which will accrue, to lands, town lots, blocks, railroads, and tramroads, telegraph and telephone lines, and electric power lines, and all other real property lying within the boundaries of any such district, by reason of the construction and perpetual maintenance and operation of the flood control and drainage works provided for in any projects heretofore adopted and authorized or any projects which may be hereafter adopted and authorized, for the purpose of enabling the district to comply with the provisions of any contract or agreement that it may make with the United States of America, the Secretary of the Army, the Chief of Engineers of the United States Army, or any other federal agency under which it may obligate itself:
(1) To provide, without cost to the United States, all lands, easements, and rights-of-way necessary for the construction of any adopted and authorized project;
(2) To hold and save the United States free from damages due to the construction of such flood control and drainage works; and
(3) To maintain and operate such flood control and drainage works, after completion, in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Army; and
(4) To perform any and all other requirements which may be imposed on it with respect to the construction of such flood control and drainage works and the perpetual maintenance and operation of those works.
(b) The tax to be so annually levied on the increased value, or betterment, shall not exceed five percent (5%) of the increased value, or betterment, as determined and fixed under the provisions of §§ 14-120-223 and 14-120-224 not to exceed twenty-five cents (25¢) per acre on rural lands.