Evening star., 1935-01-16
TAX BOOST LOOMS
IN MONTGOMERY
Increase of IS to rs Cents
Per S100 Held Needed
to Meet Debts.
BY JACK ALLEN,
Staf Correspondent OF The Star.

ROCKVILLE, Md, January To-
The present general property tax rate
Of 80 cents must be increased by from
IS to rs cents to meet bond maturities
of Montgomery County during the
1856 fiscal year unless refunding
legislation is enacted by the Mary
land General Assembly or additional
sources of revenue are discovered by
the county commissioners.
County Accountant Alexander
Hancock reported to the commits
Sioners yesterday that provisions
must be made to meet 81 Sl,008.960l
in bond maturities during the new
fiscal year beginning July /, the obli-
cations including s580,50O in princi-
pal on bonds and interest charges to-
falling s42S,46O.l3.
He recommended, however, that the
interest be retired from current rev.
enues for that period and that legis-
lative permission be sought to refund
the principal. Interest retirement
alone, Hancock's report stated, would
necessitate an increase in the tax
rate of from 40 to As cents.
Other Changes Proposed.
Hancocks report. submitted at the
request of the commissioners to as
sist them in the preparation of legis-
lation affecting the fiscal affairs Of
the county. also proposed the enact
ment of bills permitting the renewal
of suburban district certificates of
Indebtedness. a general property re-
assessment and the imposition Of
service charge by the board for COL
lecting special area taxes.
Presentation of the report, a round
table discussion of general county
legislation and the appointment of
Ralph S. Fowler, Chevy Chase attor-
ney, to supplant DR.. Benjamin c.
Perry as a member and chairman of
the Liquor Control Board featured
the boards meeting. 1t is expected
that the entire legislative program
may be drafted at tomorrow's session.
The accountants report showed
that the bond maturities during
1856 will total s1008, ,960.13. while
those during the 1861 year. pro-
vision for which also must be made
during the State Legislatures cur
rent session, will aggregate $704.-
525.13, including 1898, 500 in principal
and S411,025.13 in interest.
Reassessment Is Urged.
Hancock said that general re-
assessment Of the county should be
completed in time for the l936-S7
levy. asserting that it probably would
increase the taxable basis of the
county to some extent. He explained
that the last assessments were made
in 1929 and that they are prob
ably no longer correct and are
possibly not equitable as between
various sections of the county"
Furthermore, he declared, there
have been so many transfers and
other changes made on the assess
ment dockets now in use that it prob
dUIy Will Uc llcCCoSdAy SOOAA w PAO'AAS
new dockets whether or not there is
new assessment.
Hancock suggested that legislation
be enacted this year to permit the
county to charge for collecting taxes
and assessments for special taxing
areas. the charge to be at least l per
cent of the amount which the treas
urer Is ordered to collect for each such
taxing area.
It was pointed out in this connec-
ton that the county is required at
the present time to bear the cost OF
collection of State taxes in Mongom-
cry and also taxes for the Washing
ton Suburban Sanitary Commission,
the Maryland National Capital Park
and Planning Commission, Montgom-
ery County suburban district, S fire
department areas and IL other special
areas.
It is expected that Frank Dwyer,
Laytonsville merchant, will be ap-
pointed tomorrow to supplant Downey
M. williams. Dwyer also Is Repub-
lican. The new board Is to hold its
first meeting on Friday.
Mrs. Anna S. Albert of Rockville
was named a special clerk in the
office of the supervisor of assessments
at . salary of $720 q year.