Evening star., 1940-03-24
Montgomery Tax
Base Is Increased
By $28,258,105
Commissioners
To Retuin Present
Rute of 81. so
BY BEN H. PEARSE.


tangible personal property in Mont
gomery County for 1901 will be
$l35,245,9 ,920, an increase of approxi-
mately $28,258.105 over last year,
Thomas E, Hampton, president of
the Board of County Commissioners,
announced yesterday.
Final tabulation of the new assess
ment figures showed that real prop
erty valuations had jumped from
$l00,6l5,675 last year to $l24,761 ,18O
and that tangible personal property,
which last year was about $6,372, 900,
had increased to $10,484,74O.
Mr.. Hampton said that a budget
for the next fiscal year had been
drawn up for approval by the county
board this week and that hearings
on the proposed budget and levy
Will be held during the week to re-
celve suggestions from citizens and
civic associations before it is signed.
In accordance with a law passed at
the last session of the Legislature,
the budget must be approved and
the levy signed by April l.
No Change in Levy.
No change in the levy of S1.50
per $l00 valuation was indicated and
no final budget estimate was an
nounced, but Mr.. Hampton said that
the proposed budget showed a net
increase over the current budget of
about $4,000 and would permit the
county to pay off 1862, 500 of
county bonds and $107, 100 in certifi-
Gates of Indebtedness maturing in
1901. The bonds to be paid off
represent about two-thirds of the
total bond maturities occurring dur
Ing the next fiscal year, the largest
amount the county has ever paid off
IN any one year, he said.
Meanwhile, o. Merton Kile, presi-
dent of the Montgomery County
Civic Federation, in statement re-
leased yesterday, expressed keen
disappointment at inability to lower
the tax rate in view of the in
crease in taxable property and urged
economics to reduce county expenses.
Increased by Reassessment.
Only about s5,OOO,OoO of the total
increase of $24,145,5O5 in real prop
erty values was due to new con-
structlon during the past year. Mr..
Hampton explained, so that nearly
S2O,OO0,O0O of the increase was due
to the reassessment. The largest
part of the increase, nearly 80 per
cent, was recorded in the metropoli-
tan area. including the Colesville
election district, the remainder in
the upper part of the county, in
cluding most of Potomac and Rock
vile and half of the Olney election
districts.
The largest single increase was
found in the valuation of public
utility holdings, approximately 81
100000, part of which is included in
the real estate and part in the tan
glble personal property valuations.
The result of the reassessment in the
farming areas has been to equalize
valuations but not to increase an
preclably the total assessment of
the farming section as a whole, ac-
cordlng to MIR. Hampton.
Vote to Continue Tax Rate.
THE majority members of the
board, Commissioners o. w. Roby,
r. w. Farmer and myself, after a
study of the assessable basis, the
requests of department heads, the
requirements of the county govern
ment and other factors involved"
Mr., Hampton said, decided to vote
In favor of continuing the present
general county tax rate of $3.50 per
S1OO assessed value.
The proposed levy does not in
clude a salary increase for any Off
clal or employe of the county and
Alexander K. Hancock, the county
accountant, has assured us that the
board will not finish the current
fiscal year with any deficit in any
county account"
increases in the proposed levy
total $159,000 and budget cuts
amount to about $4,000, leaving a
net increase of about $4,000, Mr..
Hampton explained. One of the in
creased items, election expense due
to the primary and general elections
this year, is estimated at $4,000
and includes $500 for the rental of
voting machines.
$4,000 Contingent Fund.
The proposed levy shows a contin-
gent fund of $4,000. an increase of
about $4,000 over last year, which
can be used in part toward placing
new county construction on a pay
as-you-go-basis, he said. Immediate
construction needs face the county
as a result of the fire which de-
stroyed the Richard Montgomery
High School in Rockville recently.
Settlement of the insurance on
the school and equipment and fur
nishings is still being negotiated but
Is expected to bring between $4,000
and $4,000. A junior and a senior
high school building to replace the
old structure is expected to cost
about S250,O00
The largest item in the proposed
budget is $4,000 for public schools.
The lateral road fund has been
raised $4,000, appropriations for
the County Welfare Board, $14,247
and care of delinquent children
$1,000, according to the estimates.
The commissioners will meet to-
morrow at pm. to take up the
proposed budget, Mr.. Hampton said.
In his statement urging economies
In county expenditures, Mr.. Kile
pointed out that the federation has
recommended abolition of the Coun-
ty Liquor Control Board, the con-
solidation of the posts of counsel to
various boards into the single office
of county solicitor, and establish
ment of a county purchasing de-
partment.
In view of the aroused attitude of
the citizenry on the matter of econ
omy and efficiency" he stated, lit
would seem to be good business to
take steps to eliminate some of the