A home rule county created under this act shall succeed to and be vested with the property, real and personal, money, rights, credits and effects, and the records, files, books, and papers belonging to the county as it formerly existed. Neither the rights or liabilities of the county which existed at the time it became a home rule county, nor a suit or prosecution of any kind commenced before and continuing at the time the county becomes a home rule county, shall be, in any manner, affected by the change, but shall continue, stand, or progress as if the change had not been made. The debts and liabilities of the county, the authorized tax rates approved by the voters, and taxes and assessments levied and uncollected at the time of the change shall stand until expired, discharged, or collected the same as if the change had not been made.