Evening star., 1946-04-30
Arlington Board
Adopts Budget
With Tax Boost
Authorizes Request
For $1,550,0OO
Bond Referendum

Arlington's 18th annual budget,
providing for a 15-cent tax rate
increase and establishing a $4,000
fund to set up pension and re-
tirement system for county en-
ployes, was adopted today by the
County Board. 1t becomes effec-
tive July /. 1916.
The board also voted to direct
Commonwealth Attorney Law
renee w. Douglas to prepare resolu-
tions requesting the Circuit Court
to certify referendum by county
voters on a bond issue of $780,
600.
The funds; If voted, would be
used to construct an incinerator,
enlarge the county sewage disposal
plant and expand the courthouse.
The tentative budget, submitted
last month by A. T. Lundberg, act
ing county manager, was revised
by the board to include S260,000I
additional net estimated revenue,
with the budget as adopted totaling
more than $5,0O0,000.
So Per S10O Valuation.
These added funds were gained
by basing the estimated income on
a 80 per cent tax collection basis
instead of 85s per cent; a $1,000
increase in estimated revenue from
the State gasoline tax, and $4,000
added revenue from increased build
ing permit fees.
The new tax levy, amounting to
50 per 500 valuation, includes SITS
for general purposes and SIPS for
school purposes.
Although the retirement system
fund was provided, neither the po-
lice and firemen's plan nor that to
benefit county employees generally
was adopted. Action in making one
or both of these plans effective, it
was said, will be taken sometime
before the fiscal year, beginning
July /.
The plans have been under fire
from Board Member F. Freeland
Chew, who has criticized the finan-
cial structures of the two proposals.
Board Member Leo c. Lloyd, chair
man of the County Boards Retire
ment Committee, however, has de-
Tended the proposals and has con-
tended plans in other nearby COM
munities are far more generous.
Blanket Raise Provided.
The new budget contains, in ad-
dition to several merit increases, a
blanket increase of 5000 for all reg
ular salaried county employees.
Approximately s15O,OO0, including
approximately $4,000 of an unex-
pended county postwar fund bal
ance, was allocated to the construc-
ton of county streets, sidewalks and
storm sewers.
Board Chairman Edmund D.
Campbell, commenting on the coun-
tvs 1s46-47 financial plan, said, I'VE
have stretched our estimated rev.
enues to point beyond conserva-
tive budget practice because of the
extreme need of the county for ad-
ditional services.
I'm the budget, which has lust
been adopted, provision is made for
capital expenditures on streets and
sidewalks to the full extent of the
tax increase in the general fund.
However, all members of the
board will recognize that the capital
expenditures in this budget are
wholly inadequate to meet the mini
mum needs which have developed
as result of our very rapid growth
in population during the war and
immediate prewar years.
Holds Needs Urgent.
These needs are so great and so
urgent that we do not believe they
can be met on any pay-as-you-go
basis within the reasonable financial
ability of our taxpayers.
1--WE do believe they can be met
by bond issues, to be amortized at
low rate of interest, and within
reasonable tax increases to provide
for the payment of bonds, if the
people of Arlington desire"
In connection with the proposed
bond issue the board also asked
the acting county manager to pre-
pare preliminary plans on the cost
of laying permanent pavement on
those county thoroughfares con-
sidered essential. Similar plans are
to be made with respect to curb
and gutter, sidewalks and storm
sewer construction. This informa-
ton, Mr.. Campbell said, will be
made available to citizens in order
that they may consider if such capi-
tai expenditures also should be
financed through a bond issue.