Montgomery County sentinel., 1940-03-28


fore the Board of County Commits
sioners Tuesday at a public hear
ing on the proposed Montgomery
County budget.
Expected opposition to the new
budget for the fiscal year begin
ming July l, 1910, and ending June
30, 1941, failed to materialize.
AS released, the budget calls for
a total levy of $2,849,592.25 as
compared to the 1889 levy of $2,-
S00,550.64. This increase of $40
041.61, according to Thomas Earle
Hampton, president of the board,
provides for the paying of $780,
600 in bonds and certificates of in
debtedness maturing; a $4,000 in
crease in the school budget and in
crease in social welfare appropria-
tions; plus an additional $4,000 in
the contingent fund. This Mr..
Hampton said will make possible
"pay-as-you-go" policy.
Mr.. Hampton, who conducted the
hearing, stated that the Board of
Commissioners would be glad to
hear anyone who had instructive
information for the board regard
ing the 1910 levy. Frederick p.
Lee, chairman Of the public finance
and budget committee of the Mont
gomery County Civic Federation
spoke on behalf of the civic body.
Mr.. Lee stated that each year
the Civic Federation studied the
levy and made recommendations.
This year, Lee said, the Federation
took three actions, as follows: 1,
Voted against a reduction in the
tax rate; 2, voted to maintain the
tax rate at $1.50, and, 3, voted to
not increase the tax rate.
Lee continued, "In our vote on
maintaining tax rate of $1.50, we
recommended it only if there was
a So per cent reduction of the ma
turity bonds and certificates -
they have gone us one better by
stating they could reduce the bond
ed indebtedness 66 2-3 per cent
this year. The commissioners
have established the tax rate of
$1.5O and we are gratified by this
matter. It agreed with our own
views, and we want to express our
appreciation of the policy you are
establishing on holding public
hearings on the budget"
Harry Martin, Kensington, then
took the floor and proceeded to
lambast the Taxpayers Associa-
ton. Mr.. Martin claimed that
damage done to Montgomery
county is unlimited and that mem
4bers of the association are using
this means of advertising them
selves.
In further comment on the Tax
payers Association, Mr.. Martin
said, "Mr Washington /. Cleve-
land does not own any real estate
here; Mr.. Dricker is a govern
ment clerk and knows nothing Of
our county affairs. He owns no
property in this county. Mr.. Daily
lives in Alta Vista, voted in two
elections - l do not know what
his position is. Mr.. Brabson is a
lawyer, he sent telegram stating
he did not want to come here to-
day, but wants you to come here
Thursday night. Mr.. Stratton
lives on Hampden lane. He is orig
inally from Illinois, and we do
not want anything that has Illinois
connected with it. Mr.. Zentzins
is connected with the Star paper.
Mr.. Cleveland has told him a lot
of wrong statements and these are
published just for the sake Of pub
licity. am not going to work with
Mr.. Cleveland, and l expect the
Board Of County Commissioners to
not work with him either"
"I say, let all this rotten propa-
ganda be stopped. This board
should be treated with dignity. l
will say that this board knows
more about financial measures than
anybody in the so-called Taxpay-
ers' Association. Their actions are
the biggest burlesque / have ever
known"
W. Lawson King. Gaithersbure
/