Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-10
NEW GAS TAX BILL
FAVORS COUNTIES
Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun
and Prince William
Benefit.
BY LESTER N. INSKEEP,
Stan Correspondent of The Star.

RICHMOND, Va, January 10.-The
special commission authorized by the
last General Assembly to make recon-
mendations for. a new method of dis
tribution Of the gasoline tax met I'M
expectedly last night. made public a
report that is more favorable to both
Arlington and Fairfax Counties than
| any of the new methods previously sug-
gested and this morning offered bill
in the Senate to make the recommen-
dations a law.
Headed by Senator Saxon w. Holt of
Newport News, the commission has held
several meetings since its appointment
by Gov. Byrd, and while it was known
that some recommendation would be
made at this session of the General As
sembly, the suddenneSs with which last
nights meeting was held and the final
report made came as a shock to the
legislators, many Of whom have not yet
had an opportunity to make q careful
study OF the new schedule.
Under the proposed plan, Arlington
Countys share, based on the fiscal and
not the calendar year and with a posi-
bility that some of the provisions recon-
mended were not included, would be re-
duced from $69,181.85 to S53,O29. LIST.
and Fairfax Countys share from S45,-
1929 to Sal, 425.46. Loudoun's share
would be reduced from S69,441.25 to
SAC, 1878. Prince Williams share
would be increased from $l6,632. OF to
$17,799.11.
Distribution Method Cited.
Under the present method of distri-
button the amount of the tax returned
to the counties Is based upon the
amount of the tax revenue paid YEARLY
into the State treasury by the counties
IN 1925. Under the new method the
proceeds from one-half cent of the total
5-cent tax would be distributed upon
the present basis, cent upon the basis
OF area, population and total State
taxes and local levies, giving equal
credit to each Of the three factors.
After brief study of the figures
Delegate Hugh Reid Of Arlington stated
that. while the figures indicate a loss
ior Arlington County, that loss is $1,000
less than anticipated under the first
proposal OF the commission, which was
State taxes and local levies. The
census OF 1880 will undoubtedly in
crease the share of both Fairfax and
Arlington. he believes.
special proviso in the bill gives
any two counties geographically con-
tanning city with a population he
tween $4,000 and SO, 900 credit for such
population, one-half to be attributed tn
eacn county. The census Of 1890 will
snow Alexandria to have a population
IN excess OF $4,000, as the Combined
popuiatlon OF the annexed territory
lyng IN Falrfax and Arlington is ap-
proixmately $500, Of which $500 re-
size IN the former territory of Arlinp-
ton County. These two counties are in
the unique position Of having lost non
uiation by annexation, but gaining in
Lne population actually counted In the
distribution. ''''
Arlington to Received More.
While 1t is difficult to recomnut. t,.s.
figures without giving the task consiIe
cradle time in thought, Reid believes
mat Arlington County would receive
more under the new method in 1871
tnan 1t did in 1929 under the old
"A lurtner proviso of the bill is to the
eHect that IF at the end of the vear
1881 1t shall appear that any coi,ntv
mas received for that year less than s5
per cent OF the amount 1t would have
received If the entire amount had been
oistrlputeo by the same method now
Delng practiced for the distribution of
sucn revenue, such excess so lost shall
be paid to such county or counties ont
OF the motor vehicle tax apportioned to
the counties Of the State for the month
OF January, 1882, before its distribu-
tion. Under this arrangement Airing
ton County would be paid a suffcient
amount to bring its share for 1880 up
to $50, 803.30.
Under this plan Arlington County
cannot lose more than IS per cent and
Fairfax County more than 10 per cent
OF their present revenues, with a fair
chance that the increase in population,
which has not heretofore been con-
sidered, UP to or well above normal.