The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1934-02-16
TAX REDUCTIONS
CUT COUNTY LEVIES
State Funds For Roads And
Schools Help Ease The
Heavy Tax Burden

A survey of the results OF the To-
cal tax reduction program enacted at
the last regular session of the Legis-
lature, showing the approximate er-
fects of the State admins ration S
legislation to this end, has been
completed by Walter N. Kirkman,
Marylands budget director-purchas-
ing agent. His findings were made
public last week.
They disclose, approximately, that
county levies throughout tie State
were cut from IL cents per 500, as
in Garrett county, up as high as So
cents in Dorchester county, by
means of additional State aid for
schools and roads.
For roads alone, according to es-
Inmates prepared by the auditors OF
the State Roads Commission and in
cluded in the resume by Mr.. Kirk
man, $3,643,251.26 will be given
the counties by the State fer main
tenance of their systems, under the
arrangement by which the State
takes over the maintenance and pays
for it out of the 11a cent lateral
road gasoline tax.
Toward school expenses, accord
ing to figures Supplied Mr.. kirkman
by DR.. Albert g. Cook, Superinten-
dent of Education, the state dll
contribute $1,740,4S3 toward reduc-
ticn of local levies. That L. to be
effected throughout the year by
turning over to the counties for
school purposes half Of the 100000
annual pool created by the Legis-
lature in accordance with the pro-
gam and by reason of lowering OF
legal requirements for county ap-
preparations toward the schools.
The s3,000,00O pool, operetive for
1894 AID 1895, is to be made up OF
funds aceruing from the State tax
leyy-wEich was cut from rs to %
cents per $100--but not expended
in budget appropriations and from
diversion of motor-vehicle fnes to
this purpose.
Out of the fund the counties get
$1,000, 0O0---or half--to enable
them 70 lower their levies fer their
school systems, and the other half
ifs dedicated TO retirement cf $12,-
Oo0, 900 in bonds authorized to re-
pay unemployment relief.
According to State Roads Com
mission estimates Of it's allotmepts
to the counties on the mileage basis,
and the amounts contributed to
county road maintenance IN terms
Of cents on the tax rate. Cecil coun-
ty will receive $15S,S45.16 TO apply
to levy reduction; equivalent to
.431 cents on the rate.
In some of the counties, due to TIL"
allotment on a mileage basis, the
s.nount set aside for expenditure by
tic roads commission, ITS figures
show, is greater than the county
had, prior to the institution of the
tax-reduction program, levied for
expenditure ON its roads.
Some counties, it was found dur
ing the survey, did not taxe adyan-
tags Of cutting local levies to the
fullest extent made possible by the
increase in state aid both TO schools
and to their road systems.
BY eounties, as compared by DR..
Csok, the increase in State aid to
schools and levy reductions made
possible by lowering OF salarS sched-
ules and expenses, amounted in saw
ings to the taxpayers of the counties
- their local bills ranging from
&c nigh as 80 in Allegany county
down 20 lis cents in Hartford coun-
tv In Cecil county the reduction
was equEvaient in cents on the tax
rate to .15z.
Allotments to tae counties from
the s1.5OO.O0O of the States 49,
O0O, 900 pool was computed on
population basis.