The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1938-02-24
COUNTY CONSOLIDATION
is NOW BEING PROPOSED
Continued from Page One)

Consolidation would reduce the an
nual cost of county government by
S577,000, Mr. Weitzell asserted, bas-
ing his figures on the 1935-1936 coun-
ty budgets and taking into consider
alton certain proposed changes in the
internal fiscal organization of Mont
gomery county. Total tax ievies would
be reduced five per cent of rs cents
per capita.
May Not Reduce Taxes
There is a possibility that this saw
ing might never be realized in the
form of reduced taxes" the report
points out. GAS social and economic
progress is made, new services are in
demand and other services are eX-
banded. However, this makes CONSOLE
dalton. more desirable, so that these
services may be possible as they be-
come necessary without an extra bur
den on the taxpayers.
Furthermore, with the tendency to
shift the tax base away from general
property to other sources of revenue,
it becomes increasingly desirable to
consolidate the smaller and less
wealthy counties with those of greater
resources. This would facilitate a
more equitable collection and reallOca-
ton of tax funds"
Mr.. Weitzell would divide Mary
land into seven districts on the basis
of geographical and physical charac-
teristics of the areas Of the State;
convenience in the establishment Of
district seat of government; amount
of taxable basis and tax budget which
would constitute a more adequate unit
for local government; population and
the service needs of the several dis
tricts.
Groupings Proposed
The redistricting, which is possible
under the Maryland Constitution, by
act of the General Assembly and vote
of the county residents involved,
would consolidate:
Garrett and Allegany counties into
District l.
Washington, Frederick and Carroll
into District 2.
Montgomery and Howard into Dis
trict 3.
Baltimore and Hartford into Dis
trict 4.
Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, St.
Mary's and Prince Georges into Dis
trict 5.
Kent, Cecil, Queen Anne's, Talbot
and Caroline into District 6.
Dorchester, Somerset, Wicomico and
Worcester into District 7.
Benefits May Set Forth
The report thus lists the advantages
of the redivision:
Consolidation would tend to place
both the services and costs of gov
eminent on a more equitable basis.
Aid the smaller and poorer counties
by utilizing without unjust discrimi-
nation the relatively greater wealth
of the richer counties.
Eliminate many duplicating eXpend-
lures.
Make possible a unit large enough
and involving a budget large enough
to be of efficient size.
Make possible centralized and au
thoritative governmental unit.
Increase the possibility of more
equality in assessments and taxation,
now needed throughout the State.
Make possible the survival of a sys-
TEN of sound democratic local govern
ment, namely home rule county gov
eminent.
The report also proposed a limited
executive plan of county government
for the present administrative organi-
cation.
Under this, a board of commission
ers would be elected, but the eXecu-
tive of the county would be appointed
by the board itself. The board would
have the authority to appoint all de-
partment directors on accommodation
of the executive, and the executive
would appoint all the personnel of the
departments on accommodation of de-
partment heads.
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