Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-01-29
Arlington Gain
From CityFee
Put at S250,000
County Board Head
Fovors Incorporation;
Treasurer Is Opposed

License fees which could be COL
lected under the proposed incorpora-
ton Of Arlington County as a first
class city would yield about $25O, 900
a year, Edmund D. Campbell, chair
man of the County Board. last night
told the Cherrydale Citizens Asso-
citation in debate with County
Treasurer John Locke Green.
Mr.. Campbell, speaking in favor
Sof the charter, which has been
drafted tentatively, said moderate"
license fees ranging from $40 to $3.50
year could be assessed for various
purposes. The additional revenue
would be equivalent to about Is or
80 cents on the tax rates, Mr.. Camp
bell said. He said he did not favor
. city automobile tax.
Under Incorporation, he continued.
Arlington can finance the construc-
ton of an incinerator, sewage dis
posal plant and courthouse enlarge
ments, which at present it cannot
afford
Green Sees Tax Increase.
Mr.. Green opposed incorporation
because he said. it will increase
taxes, office holders and bureaus.
The only difference between the
present government and the one
propoSd, Mr.. Green asserted, is
to name a city attorney. At that,
he said, "he is not elected"
How could he represent the
people in a controversy, he asked
when he is appointed by the man
ager and the council?"
Pointing out that the county tax
levy has increased from $1031,OO0
IN 1910 when he became treasurer.
to approximately $2,500,O00 in 1945,
Mr.. Green said the budget during
those years has been based on an
30 per cent collection.
Actually he said, "the collection
tgures are almost 20 per cent higher
than that" -
Would Increase Officials.
Provisions of the department of |
finance in the charter, he said, will |
create the same situation now ex-
listing in Richmond where three Off |
Gals handle the same amount of
work as the Arlington County treas
urers Office.
BY this plan, he stated, citizens
will not get as much value from their |
tax dollars as they do now. Under |
the three classes of debts provided |
in the charter, he said, the council
can pledge the credit of Arlington
for 100000 under the first two
classes and "can put you in debt for
100000 without your consent"
A proper assessment of land val
ues, he added, will provide ample
revenue. He cited, as an example, |
the sale of piece of county prop
erty for $4,000 on which only $154 in
taxes is paid annually.
Referring to annexation, Mr.. |
Green said Arlington does not need |
any more land. There are 14,3O6 /
acres of assessed land in the coun-
ty, he said, with almost 1000 now in |
undeveloped land.
Not Real Issue.
Mr.. Campbell said he agreed with
Mr.. Green on equalizing real estate
assessments, but added this is not
the real ISSUE"
Arlington is in fact a city-the
third largest in the State of Vir-
ginia-destined possibly to become
the first largest.
incorporation does not raise the
taxes of the homeowner one dollar
1t provides revenue from other
sources, thereby relieving the home
owner who is too heavily taxed
now"
The only increase in government
cost. he added, is by the addition
of city attorney. He will not cost
Arlington more than $1,000. Mr.
Campbell asserted, and will save
the city many times more than