Evening star., 1945-01-03
a +
Tax Boost Held
Not Needed for
County Projects
BosiI De Loshmutt to
Present Financing PIor
To Arlington Boord

Construction of a county incin-
orator and expansion of the county
sewage treatment plant can be ac-
complished during 1945 without rails
ing the tax rate, without bond issue
and particularly, without any loan
from the Federal Government" {"
Basil De Lashmutt, county board
member, last night told members Of
the Arlington Civic Federation.
Mr.. De Lashmutt, one of the
guest speakers at the years first
meeting of the civic group said
these projects were essential now
and should not be deferred as a part
OF county postwar plans. After the
meeting, he indicated that he may
have plans ready on the two projects
for presentation to the county
board at Saturdays meeting. He
did not say how the projects would
be financed.
Board Member Edmund Campbell
and County Manager Frank Hanra-
han also addressed the federation, in
line with a custom of the .organi-
zation to invite county board men,
bers and the county manager to
speak at the initial meeting of the
organization each year.
Urges Postwar Planning.
Mr.. Campbell, disagreeing some
what with Mr.. De Lashmutt, said the
best service the county government
can render at this time is to be ready
with plans for essential county prof.
ects in the postwar period.
Pointing out the need for an in
cinerator, enlarged sewage treat
ment plant, a new jail, sidewalks,
streets and highways and storm
sewers, Mr.. Campbell said, when
you mention these things, you're
talking in millions of dollars"
The county has grown so rapidly,
he continued, and the need for these
things has come so quickly that
building is ahead of the increase in
tax rates.
A preliminary report from the
county manager on the most needed
public improvements and the best
method to finance them is scheduled
for January Is, he added.
Wants Tax System Changed.
Before could ever bring myself
to vote for an increase in the tax
rate" Mr.. Campbell asserted, Il
must insist that we do something
toward overhauling our archaically
unfair tax assessment"
Pointing out that this is something
which can be done during the war,
he said no tax rate increase should
ever be voted until something is
done to correct many assessment
inequities which now exist.
Mr.. Hanrahan, pledging every
effort on the part of the county
government to give the best service
possible to county citizens during
wartime, said they had been able to
accomplish some construction. He
cited the improvement of four miles
Of old sidewalks and the construc-
ton Of three miles of new sidewalks
last year.
Meanwhile, he added, efforts are
being made to enlarge the personnel
of the engineering department in
anticipation of the construction of
other needed county projects.
Conference Delegates Named.
william G. Watt, presiding at his
first federation meeting. appointed
Mrs. Florence Arnheim, Mrs. Julian
D. Simpson, Glen B. Wall, DR.. Victor
Meyers, C. S. Cobbins, Clifton Hull,
G. Arthur Fuller and himself as
delegates to the interfederation
conference.
On a motion of the executive
committee, the federation adopted
a resolution directing the Revenues
and Expenditures Committee to
study and report on a higher assess
ment Of industrial and commercial
properties in the county to raise
more county funds.
The federation also adopted a
Welfare Committee proposal that
each member group sponsor and
build YMCA groups in each COM
I13llnity :.