Evening star., 1943-06-01
Montgomery
Board Receives
Two Budgets
Walker and Hancock
Differ on Subject
Of Bond Payments

Two separate budget estimates for
Montgomery County for the new
fiscal year beginning July l, differ
ing only in their provisions for the
payment of maturing bonds and
proposed additional services, were
submitted to the Board of County
Commissioners yesterday by j. For
est Walker, clerk of the board. and
Alexander K. Hancock, county &C
countant.
In summary which accompanied
the detailed budget as drawn up by
Mr.. Hancock, Mr.. Walker estimated
that $439,00 is sufficient amount
of its bonded Indebtedness for the
county to retire in any one year,
and that additional services should
be provided, with no increase in the
tax levy.
Mr. Hancock's estimate provides
for full payment of the countv's
1861 ,05O bonded indebtedness which
falls due during the year in order
that the county may be placed On a
sound financial basis and may better
meet the expenses of needed i'm
provements after the war.
Commissioners Can Revise.
Mr.. Hancock also pointed out that
additional services in the county
should be paid for from tax in
cerases and not from funds trans
ferred from those earmarked for
debt payment.
Mr.. Hancock explained that he
and Mr. Walker worked together on
the budget estimate and decided on
submitting two summaries when it
was found that they disagreed on
the debt refunding and service items.
He pointed out that the Commis-
sioners need not accept either esti-
mate, but may revise the budget in
any manner which they believe will
serve the best interests of the
county.
State Tax Lower.
A public hearing on the budget
vas set for 8 pm. June 10 at the
court house in Rockville.
1t was understood that the Com
missioners plan to fix the general
county tax rates and sign the an
nual levy late this month. The
present general tax rate of ST so for
each S100 of real and personal prop
erty is expected to be continued, it
was said The State tax will be
12@. cents, or Il. cents lower than
last year.
The principal difference in the
two summaries is in the estimated
funds for bonds and interest. Where
Mr.. Hancock provides total of
S1.153.9l667 in this item, Mr.. Walker
reduced this estimate by S222000
which would be used for other
services.
Under Mr.. Walkers summary. this
$222,000 fund would be used to in
crease the contingent fund. includ-
ing civilian defense and the lateral
road fund. and would also provide
a $4,000 fund for teacher bonuses.
Teachers Bonus Omitted.
In Mr.. Hancock's estimate, the
teacher bonus item was omitted.
He explained that this fund would
be raised through the issuance of
county notes.
Comparison of these items as in
cluded in the two summaries is as
follows:
Bonds and interest-Mr. Hancock,
s1,l53,91667; Mr.. Walker, 1891 9l6.67.
Contingent fund-Mr Hancock. $685.
e35.28 Mr.. Walker, Sl16935. %.
Lateral road fund-Mr Hancock,
s151 ,425.40; Mr.. Walker, s2ll 425 40.
Teacher bonuses-Mr. Hancock,
nothing; Mr. Walker, $4,000
Neither the estimates by Mr..
Walker or Mr. Hancock anticipate
an increase in the tax levy and
place the total expenditures of the
county for the next year at $3519,-
27099. balanced by estimated reve-
nues of the same figure. This repre-
sents an increase of S27l 1852 over
last years budget.
Revenues Outlined.
Estimated revenues include gen.
eral revenues form the general
county levy, $2,675 55458; taxes at
specific rates, $50 1863 25; general rev.
enues other than taxes, S203,8108 SO;
restricted revenue, Sl93, 3,62414, re-
stricted receipts other than taxes.
S356,912l9. The budget does not
include surplus funds or budgeted
FUNDS on hand.
{ The budget estimates the total
cost of government in the county.
based on 100000 population. as
e32.88 per capita. This includes
debt service sll.36 per capita;
schools. 1882 per capita: roads.
81 SO; law and order, S3l6; general
government. S238; charity and cor
rection, S1.41: health, Sc cents: other
functions. $3.50, and fire protec-
tion, 20 cents.
Civic Group Approves