The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1933-05-12

GOVerIlOT hlCCulc Ou IlS fS1oe VI
April signed the State Administration
Gasoline Tax Bill and so put its pro-
visions into effect throughout the
State. The new law makes available
$2,181 1880, or seventy per cent. OF
the 11sc. lateral road gasoline tax,
for ~ the payment of interest or re-
tirement of county road bonds, ~ the
maintenance of county roads, 81 the
construction Of additional new roads
in any county when maintenance costs
and road debt service does not exhaust
the county's usual share of the 11ac.
lateral road gas tax.
A part of any county's share of this
tax may also be spent to maintain
municipal streets and to pay debt
service on municipal street bonds
under an ALLEGATION to be recommend
ed by the County Commissioners.
The State Roads Commission will
begin maintaining the county road
systems and paying the county road
debt service in each Maryland county
at the start of each county's usual
fiscal or administrative year, which be-
gins with the next county levy after
the final enactment Of this law on
April 81, 1888.
The tax relief possible through State
payment of county road maintenance
and county road debt service could not
have been given in any Maryland
county before October 1, 1888, when
the appropriations made in the State
budget passed by the 1888 Legislature
begin and which is the commence
ment of the next State fiscal year, ex-
eept through amendment of the pres
ent State Roads Commissions budget
for the current State fiscal year. Such
amendment will be Immediately initi-
ated by the State Roads Commission
and Governor Richie has expressed
his approval, which will allow the
money now accumulating under the
17sc. lateral road gas tax to be
expended from the date of the next
levy in any Maryland county in the
same manner that this fund will be
expended for the twenty-four months
Of the next two State fiscal years
which follow October 1, 1888, under
the terms of the new State budget
and new road law.
County Commissioners TO Recommend
Expenditures
The new State law for the first time
gives the Boards Of County Commits
sioners of the twenty-three counties
of the State definitely determined
status in connection with the expendi-
ture of State Roads appropriations
and specifically authorizes County
Commissioners to make the original
recommendations covering the ex-
penditure of the county's share of
the 1Rc. lateral road gas tax in the
following language quoted from Sec
ton 7(a) of the new law:
"Prior to the time each year when
the annual tax levy is made in each
county, and upon the second Monday
of each year; and thereafter from
time to time, the State Roads Com
mission shall seek the recommends
tions of the County Commissioners
or other duly constituted public
authorities of the several counties
having jurisdiction over roads and
streets thereof with respect to the
following matters, to wit:
(1) What part of the funds al
located to the county under the pro-
visions of this section shall be ex-
pended for the construction of
Lateral Roads as part of the State
Road system;
(N What part shall be expended
for the construction, reconstruction,
and maintenance of county roads or
bridges or municipal streets;
(3) What part shall be expended
for debt service;
az What specific roads shall be
constructed, reconstructed, or main
tanned under the provisions of this
section, and what methods and
material shall be used therein and
the estimated cost thereof;
(5) The manner and amount in
which funds allocated for the con-
struction, reconstruction or main
tenance of county roads shall be
divided and expended in, upon and
with respect to. the several munich
palities, sections and roads of said
county; and
(6) The base rate of pay to be
paid for unskilled labor employed by
the State Roads Commission in the
said county in connection with the
construction, reconstruction o. main
tenance of county roads and munich
pal streets.
"The County Commissioners or
other duly constituted public road or
street authorities of the several
counties and municipalities shall
have the right to submit at any
time, and from time to time, re-
Communications with respect to the
regoing."