(a) Subject to subsection (b) of this section, the county commissioners or county council shall pay for:
(1) the referendum;
(2) the original election of officers required under § 4–210 of this subtitle; and
(3) the reasonable costs of third party consultants hired by the county commissioners or county council to analyze issues related to the proposed incorporation.
(b) If the referendum results in incorporation, the municipality shall repay the expenses specified in subsection (a) of this section to the county within 1 year after the incorporation takes effect.
(c) After 1 year from the effective date of the incorporation, the county commissioners or county council may withhold any payment due to the municipality to satisfy any unpaid expense specified in subsection (a) of this section.