Greenbelt cooperator. (Greenbelt, Md.) 1937-1954, 1940-04-25
AUTO OWNERS MAY GET
TAX RELIEF ORDINANCE
By Frank LOTUS


in the future if the ordinance to that effect
which given its second reading and referred to
Solicitor F. Marbury at the Last meeting of the
Town Council goes into effect.
When the bill introduced for its first read
ing by its author, Councilman Thomas B. Kicker, it
pointed out that IS per cent of the residents in
Greenbelt owners and that they pay Large
portion Of the taxes. Supporters of the bill also
emphasized that owners already pay huge amount
of state and county taxes, besides their other per
sonal property taxes, and the Greenbe1t tax on cars,
viii CHI are considered personal property
Town Manager Roy S. 8raden opposed to the bill
because he felt that the $Aoo received from car o-
ners could not be made up if the taxes owners
abolished. NJ against the ordinance because
the budget for the present year has already been a.
dopted and this budget includes an estimate OF the
amount received from personal property tax, includ
ing automobiles" Some, however, felt that the gap
that would be left in the budget by the $oo could
be filled by other taxes. Councilman Kicker stated,
NJ don't how anyone can be assessed any higher
and compelled to pay any taxes by the removal
of the automobile from the personal property tax
Law" The ordinance is identia1 to the personal
property ordinance in effect except that 1T
does not provide for the assessment Of automobiles
personal property.
Council Imam Edward Walther was in favor of the
measure and was optimi that the $4,000 which the
budget requires personal property could be
collected wi thout assessing the autonobile les. VI
appreciate the that So per cent of the personal
property taxes of Greebelt are collected from car
owners, but believe that if this burden is lifted
from then the So per cent ($Aoo) can be raised by
having all of the personal property in Greenbelt
eva1uated by appraiser and taxes assessed accord
ingly."
Automobi les were not assessed at than $500
any Last year, though an individual may
have esti mated the value of his to be
The ordinance referred to the town manager
With the request that he refer tito the town solici-
for his legal opinion the NATTER committee
composed of Council linen Thomas B. Ri cker, George N.
Gawtfrop, and Comcilwoman Mary Ruth Taylor was a-
pointed to follow up the reference Of the bill to the
solicitor, and obtain all possible information on
the subject of taxation, the councils authority on
the subject, its limitations concerning it, and any
other information which might be Of help to the
council in deciding whether to the ordinance or
not. This committee will comnmicat with Mr.. Mar
bury.
The lease from the federal government for the
swimming pool, lake, and recreation receiv
ed and approved, being given to Mayor George Warner
with the instructions to about changing few
items. Rates for the sxi mining pool were also ex-
ahmed and these rates Will be published Later in the
Cooperator. Action the rates viii be delayed
until citizens have chance to read them.
Hrs. lucille Hemingway, secretary of the Green
belt Garden Club presented letter to the council,
asking that the council appoint again this year
committee study the "rules of the contest" and
appropriate 800 for prizes in the Garden Club
tests
An ordinance establishing special Replacement
fund" introduced for first reading. This ordi-
nance would establish fund to replace equipment
and tools used in Greenbelt.
All ordinm passed by the Town Council must
have two readings, the second reading at the next
regular meeting of the council follosdng the first
reading.