Evening star., 1922-08-13
ARLINGTON SCHOOL
BONDS NOT BURDEN
Prof. Kemp Shows Increase
in Taxation Through
Floating of Issue.
snsci,l n1snatch TO The Star.

Special rispatch to The star
CLARENDON, Va, August IL
-rhe time has arrived when the peo-
rle of this county should begin TO
consider seriously and in business
like manner the education of their
children
The above is a statement of Prot.
Fletcher Kemp. superintendent of
Arlington county schools, who, with
the county school board. is conduct
ing q campaign of educating the tax
payers and voters of school needs
as 4 preliminary to proposed build
ing program.
Bond Issue Favored.
In Arlington district prominent
CItizeus of all sections who have
formed an organization known as
the citizens advisory board to the
hoard OF education have not only
tndurSed the program of building as
set forth by Prof. Kemp and agreed
TO do all they can to boost the prof.
eCt to u successful end. but have
gone on record as favoriug the float
ing Of honS; to carry on the work.
Like citizens organizations are t" be
formed in Washington and Jefferson
districts.
Realizing that the taxpayers of the
county will want I" know Just how
they will hc individually affected if
the proposal meets with success at
the polls. Iruf. Kemp has made Il
thorouah study Of this phase of the
questi"n and makes the following
statement.
Detail of Taxation.
''rhe special school bonding law
enacted by the last legislature for
Arlington county provides that bonds
shall not stand for longer period
than thirty years, nor to be sold be-
low par or at a rate of interest eN-
ceeding per cent. nor the amount
for such school improvements shall
exceed II per cent of the assessed
valuation of the property of Airing
ton cSInty. The total amount ask ed
for in the proposed bond issue Tor
school improvements in the county is
$4,000. which is ; per cent of the
total assessed valuation of property
In the county.
The total assessed valuation of
property in Arlington district
amounts to SJ.a>6.93I; i'll jefferson
district si.5SJ.4a9 and in Washing
ton district S3.3i9.505. If the total re-
Quired amount for bonds in Arlington
district of 1854, 900 should he spent at
one time the increased rate of taxes
for that amount for the first year
upon the present assessed valuation
would amount to tn" sum of $3.50
on the Sl.0t0 If the total amount
in Jefferson district OF $4,000 was all
spent az one time the increased taxes
for such improvements on the pres
ent assessed valuation would be 81 30
on the $1,000 In Washington dis
trICt. if Tho total amount Of SlJ1OOO
should b" spent at one time the in
creased taxes on the present as
seSsed valuation would amount to
S4.20 on the $1,000.
Could Sell Mt Far.
From information obtained from
bond brokers it is most positive that
these bonds. if approved 10y the peo-
pie. could be sold at par value with a
rate of interest not exceeding ) per
cent, and in estimating on the per
cent haSs for the total amount in
Arlington district the taxes would be
increased $3.50 on the 81 900. while
in jefferson district they would be
increased sl.50 on the $1,000 and in
Washington district $3.50 on the
$1,000. II has been shown pre-
NiouSly in the building program that
all amounts asked for in the three
respective districts are not to be
spent at any one time. but they are
10 extend over Il period of yearS
thereby relieving the people of a
burdenSome rate of taxation for such
Improvements. Thus the people win
get adequate school facilities in the
easiest possible way.
1T is very proba BILE that all of the
bonds asked for in the respective dis
tricts will not he sold before the ex-
p1ratlon OF SIX or seven years after
such bond issue has been approved
ny the people. 1t was shown pre-
viousiy in the building program that
within the period Of the last eleven
years the assessed valuations in Ar
lington county had increased during
that period 259 per cent and if the
assessed valuation in the county con-
tlnued to increase at that rate. we
find that within the next five wears
there Will be an increase of 12S per
cent. and. if such be true it can
readily be seen that before all of the
bonds are sold there Will be a much
lower rate required to care for such
bonds.
Tax Rate WcuId Be Small.
We find also that the payment of
the sinking fund and interest on the
first bond sold will reduce the rate
considerably before all of the bonds
would have been disposed of In view
of these positive reductions the
school officials feel most safe in max
ing the statement that if the people
approve of this proposed bond issue
in Arlington district the tax rate for
any one year for such improvements
will not exceed 50 on the $1,000. in
Jefferson district it will not exceed
$50 on the $1,000. and in Washing
ton district it will not exceed $3.50
on the $1,000. We can further state
that these last estimates in our judg-
ment, are the maximum and in all
probability the rate Will be less than
stated.
In view OF the figures that have
been given. in adopting suitable
building program for the children of
Arlington county a burdensome tax
will not be placed upon any indI-
vidual. The school building program
has provided for nothing but that
which is absolutely needed in order
that the children of Arlington county
may have a fair chance in the educa-
tional world. Arlington county has
not been extremely generous in pro-
vidlnE adequate revenues for educa-
tional purposes and the revenues that
have oeen provided have been prop
erly economized. School funds should
not be Wastefully used at any time
or IT any place. but every COM
munity should by adequate taxation
see that the children are not pc
nalized by failure to provide neces-
sary school buildings and facilities.
4
ARl INGTON COUNTY.