A fee of ten dollars ($10) shall be paid to the secretary before the filing of each petition for a special rate of taxation. The money shall be applied to the cost of the publication of the notice and other expenses of the hearing. If there is any balance after the conclusion of the hearing, it shall be returned to the petitioner or divided among the petitioners contributing thereto in proportion to the respective areas described in their petitions.
(Added by Stats. 1949, Ch. 274.)