Evening star., 1946-04-25
Fairfax Votes
Record Budget
Of $2,700,000
21-Cent Tax Boost
Provides for School
Construction Costs

tory-carrying with it a 21-cent in
crease in the tax rate, today had
been approved for the fiscal year
1867 by the County Board of Su-
pervisors.
An unprecedented proportion of
the budget was assigned to school
purposes whep $2,289, ,991.54 was set
aside for school construction and
operation and an additional $88,-
835.75 was provided for retirement
of school debt. Approval was voted
after public hearing in the Fair
fax Court House yesterday.
While the tentative figure for
the complete budget had been set
for $2,729 29,574.76 for all purposes, this
amound probably will vary slightly
due to last-minute Juggling" of
fiscal estimates for general purposes
and R. M. Loughborough, clerk to
the board, said exact figures on the
budget probably will not be avail
able for two or three days.
School Request Unchanged
No change whatsoever was made
in the request of the School Board
for construction and operating
funds which represent an increase
OF 81, 1,249,814.53 over the current fis-
cal year. This in itself necessitated
an increase in the tax rate by 81
cents per 500 valuation of real es-
tate by the net of 81 cents increase
for the overall budget was accom-
plisi1ed by revising revenue and ex-
penditure estimates, transfer of
money from the court house build
ing fund and curtailing the tax
levy, all within the general budget
structure.
When the final figures are COM
piled by Mr.. Loughborough's Of
flee 1t is expected that the overall
budget increase will be in the neigh
borhood of $1,349 ,574.35-the figure
anticipated in the tentative budget
as advertised.
The supervisors entered into a
controversy among themselves at
one stage of balancing the fiscal
plan yesterday so as to reduce by
II cents portion of the anticipated
tax increase The tentative tax rate
had been set at $3.50 as compared
with the existing rate of $225. How
ever, the net result of revisions
places the rate at $2.46 for 1867.
Controversy on Borrowing"
The controversy arose over the
question of borrowing" $34, ~
from the courthouse construction
fund which now totals $161 ,057 and
transferring this amount to antici-
pated revenues from sources other
than taxes. The borrowed" money
was to be replaced out of Alcoholic
Beverage Control profits which the
county receiYes ifom the state
However, the bndEet estimates of
revenue from aABC profits already
had been placed at SIS 900 and while
the supervisors agreed that more
than this amount probably would be
received, the issue centered around
the question of whether the building
fund money should be taken out of
the first ABC money received or the
liquor profits over and above the
SIS, 900.
The supervisors unanimously
adopted a resolution to replace the
building fund money out of ABC
profits but Commemorative Attor-
ney Hugh B. Marsh said the action
was Illegal inasmuch as SIS 900 al
ready had been estimated" as the
receipts from this source and al
ready had been balanced in the
budget. They finally repealed their
previous action and adopted a reso-
luton by Herbert Blunt to repay
the building fund from ABC profits
over and above $4,000 until the
$34, 4,431.72, or as much as Is received
Is repaid.
Teachers Pay Increased.
The existing teachers pay scale
was increased. At present the scale
runs from $3.50 to $1,000 over a
12-year period for those instructors
with a bachelors degree. The new
scale will be from $1,000 to $4,000
over 10-year period for this same
class of instructor providing, how
ever, no teacher will receive more
than a $500 annual increase next
year.
New school sites amounting to
$43,0 are planned for the following
areas: Wellington, Springfield, Ty-
sons Corner, Weyanoke (near An
nandale), Falls Church area (out-
side of town., Bailey's Cross Roads
and additional areas to the Center
Vile School and Vienna school for
colored, both for playground pur-
poses.
New elementary school buildings
were provided for as follows:
A colored school in Falls Church,
100000; Wellington, $150,000; Falls
Church on Oak street, $160,000, and
at Weyanoke, $50, 900.
Additions totaling $469,000 were
provided for the following schools:
Centerville, five classrooms, audi
torium, office and clinic room and
possibly a cafeteria, $4,000; Fair
fax High School, home economics
department, cafeteria, agricultural
building and supplementary heating
plant, $4,000; Mount Vernon High
School, auditorium, gymnasium
cafeteria and four classrooms, $780,
600. Also a greasing and wash room
at the school bus shop, $1,000.
In addition, funds were included
for purchase of six new buses which,
after old equipment has been placed
out of service, will bring to 48 the
number of buses operating in the
system at total cost of $87 $50, or
an increase of about $4,000 next
year.
S Turn GIoat
modestly refused to take any credit