Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1930-12-12
Bond Issue Vote Proposed.

Mr.. George H. Lamar. of the Rockville
Chamber Of Commerce, introduced the fol-
lowing resolution on Monday evening at the
meeting Of the Civ Federation for Mont
gomery County. which was referred to the
Committee on Public Finance and Budget
Whereas, The report Of the Committee
on Public Finance and Budget shows that.
exclusive Of water and sewerage bonds. Of
the total Of bonds on the county as whole
Issued during the past twenty nine years.
81 per cent thereof have been authorized or
issued during the last six years. SO per cent
during the last three years. and AZ per cent
or nearly one-half of the total county wide
bond issues for the whole period. were
issued in 1929 alone: and
Whereas. Under standards set by the
General Assembly Of Maryland for local
self-government. il is a time honored Gus
tom. sustained b. the courts. for local bond
issue statutes to be so framed as to become
effective only after the ratification thereof
by d rect vote Of the citizen taxpayers of
the areas affected; and
Whereas, By the Enabling Act under the
Home Rule Amendment" the Genera
Assembly has undertaken to fix a legal
standard OF Precaution to be exercised,
even by authorities OF county which may
adopt charter form Of government. in
limiting bond issues to per cent of the
ahla haais of a..ch ro,,0ev onA ac.,;e
cally providing that any bond issue or
borrowing of money in any one year in
excess of one-fourth Of per cent of the
assessable basis shall be submitted to the
voters of the county," and
Whereas. IL is patent on the report itself
that its prediction" with reference to
hoped for increase OF from $50 .000. 900 to
$76.' 10000 on the present $1,000. 900
basis OF assessment, in ten years is largely
a conjecture. based upon estimates with
reference to which honest minds might
differ and hypothesis OF development which
may never occur; and
Whereas, The time has come when the
owners Of property that must bear the bur-
dens Of additional bonds for public improve
ments should. as far as practicable. partici-
pate directly in the authorization for the
issuance thereof; and
Whereas. 1t is highly appropriate that
under present conditions. this Federation
should be conservative in its recommends
tons Of further bond issues. and that prin-
oil kNs IL
mend and which the members Of the
General Assembly from Montgomery County
should propose, through further acts OF the
General Assembly. should be made. subject
to be approved before issue by direct vote
Of taxpayers resident within the area
affected
Now. therefore. be il resolved by the
Civic Federation for Montgomery County
40 follows:
First. That il is the policy of the Fedora.
ton to be careful in the investigation oil
the merits Of all proposals Of expenditure.
involving bond issues. and conservative in
Its recommendation to the General Assem-.
bly, for the enactment Of legislation prelimi
nary thereto;
Second. That, unless otherwise specifi
cally provided IN any resolution Of tn,
Federation recommending the issue Of
countrywide bonds for any public improve
ment. such action shall be construed a,
carrying with IL the request Of the Geners
Assembly. through the representatives frou
Montgomery county therein. to provide il
the law that such bond issue shall mol
become effective until submitted 10. anC
approved by. majority vote Of the tax
payers. either at q general election or a
special election TO be called for the pur'
pose and to be provided for by law.
Third. That the Committee on Public
Finance and Budget be authorized and
requested to give careful consideration &c
the matter Of recognized standards oil
safety in the issuance Of bonds. and. in
its report with respect thereto. supply the
Federation with information with refer.
ence 10 the reasonable application OF such
standards, 10 the light Of existing bond
issues (a) to the County as a whole. (b) to
municipalities represented in the Fedora
ton. and (c) the metropolitan area.
Al a joint meeting Of the Mayor and
Council u Rockville and the committee.
composed of Donald A. DeLashmutt. Julian
W. Whiting and Porter C Ward. appointed
by the Mayor and Council several months
ago to make survey with view to zoning
the county seat. the committees prelimi-
nary report was considered at length and
is understood 20 have met with the sp-
proval Of the entire town authorities.
To give the people Of the community
a. opportunity to learn what II is planned
10 do, II was arranged 10 have map pre-
pared and framed and. with other infor-
matioa. placed in the fire enSin. hail here
for public Inspection. Il was also decided