Evening star., 1939-06-26
Montgomery
Tax Rate |sCut
Fraction Of Cent
$1,000, $50 Budget,
Rise Of $376,579,
Approved by Board

The Montgomery County (Md)
Board of Commissioners today set
the 1939-40 tax levy at $1.4965, a
fraction of cent below this years
levy Of $50 per 500 valuation,
after adopting budget which will
exceed that of the current year by
$376,579. The total budget for next
year will be $2,800,550.
The budget increase Is expected
to be taken care of without an
increase in the levy through in
creased revenues from various
sources, including property placed
on the tax rolls during the year,
receipts from the State from lateral
roads, gasoline taxes, security taxes
and other items.
The largest increase was in the
appropriation for police, which was
$150,117, as compared with $105 900
for the current year, made neces-
sary by the addition of Is new men
to the force. The increase in the
county school appropriation was
about $4,000, a total of $844,756, az
compared with $826,562 last year.
The Police Court fund was in.
creased from $500 to $12,220 due
to the creation of third court in
Bethesda and the addition of several
court clerks. However, the salary
of Judge Donald A. De Lashmutt at
Rockville was decreased from 81, 400
to $1,000, all three judges now re-
ceiving the latter figure.
New Budget Items.
New items in the budget this year
are 5000 for the county survey be-
ing made by the Brookings Institu-
ton, $50 900 for defraying the cost
Of the general property reassess-
ment and approximately $4,000 to
repay deficit left over from the
current year. The deficit was due
to an overestimate last year Of the
profit from the Liquor Control
Board, about $4,000, and overesti-
mate Of the amount received from
the State for relief, about $4,000,
and underestimate of the election
costs. about $500: remodeling the
courthouse to provide an extra Office
for the new judge of the Circuit
Court, about 81, 200, and failure to in
clude an item for interest, about
Sc 200, and several smaller miscella-
neous items. However, several coun-
ty departments are expected to show
an excess over anticipated receipts
so that the deficit may be about
$22, 900 by the end of the fiscal
year, July l.
One item in the budget provides
for an 81 1900 salary for Mrs. Made
line o. Fennell, county probation
onicer whose appointment was op-
posed by several civic organizations
on the grounds of insufficient ex-
perience. The County Board had
no power over the appointment
which was made by the Judge Of
the Juvenile Court who in turn is
appointed by the Governor. How
ever, the board might have nullified
the appointment by refusing to pay
the salary which is optional with
the board according to law. The
board voted to have her name in
cluded on the county pay roll at
the same salary received by her
predecessor, Mrs. Sadie Wisner, who
held the post for eight years.
The board plans to refund about
$443 900 in bonds and certificates of
Indebtedness during the coming
year, as compared with $273,00O re-
funds during the current year.
Board President Thomas E. Hamp-
ton eplained that the maturities
falling due net year are $656, 500, as
compared with $470,50O during the
current year.
However, total Of approximately
$500, 900 may be added to the total
bonded Indebtedness which as of
June 80 will amount to $10,8OO, 900
If several bond issues approved by
the last legislature are issued. The
issues authorized include SITS 900 for
new schools and school rooms; $4O,-
600 for completion of the Whites
Ferry road; $4,000 for a new road
in the Kensington area, and $1,000
for recreation center in Bethesda.
Items in the budget this year in
clude: Accountant and assistant,
SIS 200; assessor and assessing, not
including those engaged in the gen.
eral reassessment, $11,810; outside
auditors, $1,000; Board of Zoning
Appeals, $2,50O.
Items increased include: Board
Of Zoning Appeals, from $1,000 to
$500; building inspectors, from S.
675 to $4,000, resulting from adding
additional personnel; cattle testing,
from $2,70O to $4,000: clerks to
county commissioner, from $40, ,180
to $22, 300; Health Department, from
$21 $3.50 to $25,020; repairs, fuel and
supplies, from $1,000 to $4,000; in
solvencies, from $4,000 to $4,000;
assistant States attorney, a new Of
flee, $500.
Decreases In appropriations are
for accountants Office from $l5,66O
to $15,200; Circuit Court expense
from s11, ,269 to $10,136: special clerk
fund from $17,640 to $14,600; treas
urer's Office from $27,60O to s25 100;
taxes in error from SAT- to 1898;
elections from $32,500 to $12,125.