Evening star., 1936-09-27
MARYLAND SPLIT
ON RETALIATION
Sectional Fight Looms Be.
tween Eastern and West
ern Shore Groups.
BY JACK ALLEN,
Stah Correspondent of The Star.

Staf Correspondent of The Star.
ROCKVILLE, Md, September 90
A bitter sectional fight over real and
personal property reassessment is ex-
pected to develop when Maryland's
two County Commissioner Associa-
tions meet at Cambridge on October
19 to discuss proprosed legislation for
consideration by the State Assembly
In 1887.
A firm stand against revaluation has
been taken by the Eastern Shore
group, while the Western Shore body
has voted to wage an active cam
paign for a Statewide reassessment
Of all properties next year.
The question is one Of five major
problems to be taken up at the con-
ference of the two organizations.
Other proposals deal with lateral road
maintenance, division of gasoline tax
proceeds, extension of additional aid
to State hospitals and relief taxa
ton.
Reassessment Held Necessary.
Ohicials of the more powerful
Western Shore Association feel reas-
sessment opposition on the Eastern
Shore is due chiefly to the fact low
assessments prevail in that area and
revaluation will impose a larger por-
tion of the State tax burden upon
the nine counties lying between the
Atlantic and Chesapeake Bay.
1t Is believed on the Western Shore,
where the association embraces ID
counties, a reassessment is necessary
not only to correct widespread diff
ferentiation said to exist in assess
ments on holdings of comparative
value, but to correct inequalities due
to constantly shifting property values
A representative of the University
of Maryland, now making a study OF
Montgomery County in conjunction
with the Statewide tax study being
carried out by that institution, has
estimated a reassessment locally will
add S20,000,000 to Montgomery's as
sessible basis.
Many Acres Lost"
He has informed members of the
Board Of County Commissioners in
formally assessments in the upper, or
rural section of Montgomery show
little need of change. but those in the
suburban area have widespread differ
entiation and should be corrected.
The Western Shore group has
powerful support from an important
source for Michael j. Lindsay, super
visor of assessments for the State Tax
Commission. has held such a step
necessary next year.
Lindsay recently told the Western
Shore association present assessments
were made 10 years ago. He said many
acres on which records have been lost
because of changes. transfers and re-
visions would be discovered"
It is thought the two associations
will be more in accord on other legis-
lative questions to be discussed in an
effort to work out program for con-
sideration by the lawmakers when
they convene at Annapolis in January
One of the chief items is the
suggested return of lateral road main
tenance from the State Roads Com
mission to the counties, who feel the
work can be done more economically
by the local governments than by the
highway department.
Another is the enactment Of new
scale for distribution of proceeds from
the State gasoline tax, which are
used for secondary road upkeep and
road debt financing. The Western
Shore body is engaged in a study to
determine whether a smaller portion
of the receipts can be utilized for
debt service. thus increasing the
maintenance fund.
Hospitals COngested.
Taxation for financing State relief
requirements offers still another ques-
tion for the two associations with the
Western Shore body prepared to fight
any move to shift the burden from
the schedule of special levies now in
effect to real and personal property.
Congestion in the State hospitals
will be brought up and the Eastern
Shore is to be asked to follow the
Western Shores lead and request
funds to provide additional hospital
facilities.
The congestion has become so great
the institutions have been closed to
new patients for the present.