Evening star., 1941-02-28
Bill Seeks Permanent
Assessment Board in
Montgomery County
Another Measure PIuns
For Concurrent Fiscal
And TuxubIe Year
BY BEN II. PEARSE,
Star Staff Correspondent.

ANNAPOLIS, Feb. ga bill to
establish a permanent board of as
sessment for Montgomery County,
to replace the five-year general re-
assessment now in effect with con-
tinuouS assessment system, was to
be introduced into the Legislature
today by Montgomery County Dele
gates.
A companion measure, changing
the date of flnality from January
to June 80 and providing for adding
new construction to the tax rolls at
quarterly intervals instead of once
a year was introduced yesterday. 1t
also seeks to eliminate confusion
over the taxable calendar and fiscal
year by defining the taxable year as
the fiscal year, which starts July
in Montgomery County.
Meanwhile, the Senate passed
three bills introduced by Senator
Robert Peter and sent them to the
House. where they were referred to
the Montgomery County delegation
Two deal with extension of the Rock
vile town limits to the eastward on
both sides of the Viers Mill road.
The other provides for turning over
half the fines and recognizance for
FIXTURES in the magistrates courts to
the Circuit Court library fund.
Fire Department Bill introduced.
Montgomery delegates also intro
duced a measure to require approval
of the county commissioners for
establishment OF paid or volunteer
fire company, to authorize the COM
missioners to establish regulations
for such companies and to define
zones of primary and secondary re-
sponsibility" for companies of all
kinds in the county.
Delegate James w. Gill, delegation
chairman, explained it was intended
to apply particularly to Bethesda,
where paid and volunteer companies
are operating separately. Under the
bill, the commissioners could de-
termine which company would have
primary" responsibility on fire calls
and thus would be in charge.
Under the permanent assessment
board proposed, the county commits
sioners would appoint a chairman
at salary of not more than $500
a year and two members at salaries
of not more than $4,000 each.
Would Exempt County.
In addition to present assessors
duties of adding new construction
to the tax rolls, the permanent
board would equalize or assess all
old properties throughout the coun-
ty over a five-year period, taking
one-flfth each year. The bill in ef-
feet would exempt the county from
the present State law requiring gen.
eral reassessments every five years.
The 1889 reaSsessment cost the
county about $4,000.
The bill relating to the taxable
year and date of finality would end
long standing controversy and add
an estimated 100000 to the county
revenues next year. A Statewide
law two years ago, which applied to
Montgomery and most other coun-
ties, set the date of flnality at Janu-
airy l and established the calendar
year as the taxable year.
AS the date of finality In Mont
gomery County had been June 30,
the change to January lost" to
the county taxes on new construc-
tion during the six-month period,
normally the period Of heavy build
ing. The proposed change to make
the taxable year coincide with the
county's fiscal year instead of the
calendar year will facilitate adjust
ment of tax refunds on property
sales. No change in the States tax
able or fiscal years is involved.