Evening star., 1934-02-04
ARLINGTON 1934-5
BUDGET s871,942
l5.Cent Tax Raise and Res.
toration of County EN-
pIoyes' Pay Features.
~ a Stan Correspondent Of The Star

lo-cenl increase III Cne TAX Tdte LOT
$100 assessed valuation were high
lights of the budget for schools and
general operating expenses as submit
ted to the County Board by Roy S.
Braden, county manager, and Schools
Supt. Fletcher Kemp and made public
today.
In addition. Braden recommends
full restoration, effective July /, of
the 10 per cent pay cut imposed on
county employees last year. Three
county officers, including himself, are
excluded from the restoration. The
others are Harry K. Green, commits
sioner of revenue, and Charles T.
Jesse, treasurer. Braden explained
that the budgets of these two officials
have been approved by the County
Board and submitted to the State Fee
Commission. While all recommended
tions were not approved by the COM
mission, he said, the two officers
showed an increase of about S2,400
over the present budget.
The increase in tax rate, which
brings it up to s235 per s1OO taxable
property, makes it the highest since
the first year of operation of the
county manager form of government.
Under the estimates the increase
would go entirely for schools. to be
used for retirement of a portion Of
Arlington County's school indebted
ness, highest in the State.
General Fund Rate.
However, the taxpayer is offered a
str4 p,-ol kHxyo fol
ing of the many funds, estimated that
the rate for the general fund should
remain at Sl.l5, identical with the
present fiscal year. This was accom-
plished despite the fact that it was
necessary to absorb 10 cents per sl00
valuation for operation of the sever
age system.
The estimates for general operating
expenses and for schools we're pre-
sented as separate units by Braden
and Kemp, respectively. The total for
all services excepting schools was
placed by the manager at 511,221 SO,
or more than $4,000 under last years
budget. OF this about $1,000 was
chopped off the general fund and the
remainder from the water operating
fund. the latter due to a reduction in
the amount necessary for water works
debt service. Kemp's figures placed
anticipated expenses of schools at
s360,72l. or approximately $4,000 less
than the amount he asked last year,
which was not granted by the board.
County officials said - is impossible
to foresee what changes the County
Board will make in the estimates, as
1t has two months for considera-
tion. Public hearings are conducted
in March. Last year the board made
a considerable cut in the school es-
Inmates, but it Is not believed the
people would tolerate a large slicing
this year, as, according to school Off
cials. it would affect the efficiency of
the system.
Exemptions Affect Score.
Under terms of the pay cut. en-
ployes receiving less than 81 300 were
exempt, and about score were at
fectsd. The county manager has pro-
vided for full restoration without re-
questing an increase in the tax rate.
It is believed the board will approve
the proposal.
Braden has requested, in his section
Of the budget, additional fire depart
ment funds for the purchase of ade-
quate equipment for the men. He
ambulance. The volunteer depart
ments have been forced to use a
piece of heavy equipment whenever it
has been necessary to transport sick
or injured to hospital. The matter
Of minor equipment for fire fighters,
such as helmets, masks, running
suits, boots and coats, has been
neglected IN the last few budgets,
Braden said, because of the large
amount of machinery purchased and
the question of payment.
Stating that the need is great for
q colored nurse to more adequately
take care of the public health nurses
work among the colored people in
connection with tuberculosis and in
FAINT welfare work, the county man
ager included an addition of $500 i'll
his estimates. Braden pointed out
that the colored population furnished
almost so per cent of the tubercu-
loeis, and that employment of the
nurse has the Endorsement Of DR.. P.
M. Chichester, the health officer.
In the matter of revenue that may
be expected during the year, Braden
pointed hopefully to the proposed
restoration of the Federal employees
pay cut and the construction Of the
county system of sewers as means of
bringing in money to county Golfers
by way Of better collections and more
liberal spending. He estimated that
H110 n0n rxd11 ho fatoy4 ", thA
head Of miscellaneous taxes, includ-
ing various county license and service
fees, the gasoline tax, land redemp-
lions and delinquents.
Tax Collections Low.
Percentage of tax collections
reached new low in the county dur
ing the past year, when less than 72
per cent Of assessments were received,
compared with from 80 to IS per cent
for former years. In order that funds
for general county expenses may be
raised. it will be necessary to collect
IT'S per cent of the total levy, which
with the miscellaneous would furnish
the needed 1881 ,35668 for the gen.
eral fund. This amount Is arrived
at by applying the general tax rate of
81.05 to the total assessed valuations
OF SIS 900 900. If it is found that the
county falls slightly behind in their
program Braden said, expenses will
be curtailed to meet it.
Although Arlington County schools
are ranked first in the State in the
matter OF efficiency rating, Braden
said that the debt service has not
been run on businesslike basis. While
he did not recommend that the board
should adopt all proposals included in
Supt. Kemp's estimates, he stated
that the present standard of the
county education system should be
maintained, with the 15-cent addition
to the tax rate applied to debt serv-
ice. This increase, he said, is neces-
sary to take care of school obligations
as they fall due. The county has been
permitted to default in the matter of
literary fund payments to the State,
and it hoped, the manager said, to
put school finances on q better