Evening star., 1938-01-31
GREENBEITH0 ES
T0FULF|LL BUDGET.
BY RENT PRO RATA
Estimate of Needs Is $61,-
813 With Proposed Tax
Rate of $1.8O.
FARMERS WITHIN AREA
FACING LEVY OF 1925
Manager Proposes $57,537 Allot.
ment From q. s. to Be Paid by
Tenant Proration.
B, Stan Correspondent OF The Star,

By Stan Correspondent OF The Star.
GREENBELT, Md, Jan. 3l.-An
annual budget of SCI, ,8l3 for the oper-
alton of this model community until
December 80 will be submitted to the
Mayor and Town Council at a public
hearing in the administration build
ing at o'clock tonight, it was an
nounced by Roy S. Braden, community
and town manager.
Revenue for the budget, which was
due to become effective January !, but
which has just been drafted, will be
raised from several different sources,
1t was said. Since most of the prop
erty in the community is owned by
the Government and therefore not
taxable, most of the assessment will
be against house furnishings and au-
tomobiles. Mr.. Braden has discov-
cred $4,000 worth of privately owned
real estate within the limits of the
community which will be taxed, how
ever.
The proposed tax rate is $l.8O on
the $100 valuation. This will apply
to house furnishings valued at 40,00O:
automobiles at value of $22, 1000, and
the privately owned real estate con-
sisting of farm land not sold to the
Government.
Pro Rata on Rentals.
In the budgetary estimates, Mr..
Braden pointed out he expected to
apply to the Farm Security Admins
tration for an allotment of $57,537
which would be paid by the tenants
through proration on rentals. This
is the first time public announce
ment OF the methods of taxation for
town administration has been made.
In a recent statement issued by
Thomas w. Baxter. supervisor Of as
sessments for Prince Georges County,
it was indicated that either fiat
rate was to be asked from the Farm
Security Administration or that a
real estate tax would be placed against
the community. Either of these meth
ods can be carried out under the
charter. II the county tax of $123
and the State assessment % cents
on the sl00 valuation is placed against
the community and this taxation is
absorbed in the rents, Greenbelters
would be paying a rate of 1925 for
each 500 worth Of property. 1t has
not been definitely decided by the
State and Prince Georges County
to tax the community. however.
Even with the $57,537 from the
Farm Security Administration, and
the $1,476 to be raised from direct
taxation. the budget still will be left
short $4,000. Mr.. Braden said he
expected to receive $4,000 from the
State Roads Commission as q rebate
on gasoline taxes. He did not ac-
count for the source from which the
remaining $500 will come
Farmers Hardest Hit.
Those farmers along the Edmonston
and Branchville roads who did no.
sell their lands for the Government
project will be the hardest hit by
the assessment. They already are
paying the $1.45 to the State and
county and, with the new assess
ment, they will be paying tax rate
of 1925, the highest on any farm
land In the county.
Included in the list of items for
which provision Is made in the ten
tative budget are $20,560 for street
lighting, s4,260 for maintenance Of
parks and Fairgrounds, $1,000 for q
department of public safety, $1,000
to pay the salary of q community
nurse and 5000 for the maintenance
of community cemetery in which
lots will be sold.
SIS Annually for Mayor.
Also provided for in the budget is
a salary Of SIS year each for the
mayor and five councilmen, $1,000 q
year for a town treasurer and $500
a year for Mr.. Braden as town man.
ager.
According to Mayor Louis Bessemer,
there are now 300 families in the
low-cost housing community and it
is expected to have the maximum Of
e85 units by June !, it was said.
MIR. Braden explained that the tax
rate in Greenbelt will be lowered as
the assessment increases.
All figures in the budget are ten
tative, 1t was explained by both Mr..
Braden and Mr.. Bessemer.