Evening star., 1947-02-25
Arlington Board
o|toProbe Of
Reassessment
SIG, ,000, 900 Error
Not Their Affair,
Members Declare

Members of the Arlington Coun-
ty Board today disclaimed any re-
sponsibility for investigating the re-
ported $26,000,00O clerical error"
In the ceunty's reassessment figures
which was revealed last week.
Commissioner of Revenue Harry
K. Green yesterday called on the
County board for prompt action to
ascertain the full facts" regarding
the alleged difference between an
actual assessed valuation of real
estate of $91 100000 and tentative
figure Of $4,000, 900 announced last
fall.
Mrs. Elizabeth B. Magruder,
County Board chairman, said today
that the three-man Reassessment
Board was appointed by Judge Wal
ter T. Mccarthy of the Circuit
Court, and that the reassessment is
strictly "his business" All the
County Board did, she added, was
appropriate funds for the work.
Judge Awaits Report.
Judge Mccarthy said last week
that he was considering the mat
ter" but that he did not know what
course of action he would take until
after he received the final report
from the Reassessment Board.
E. L. Usilton, chairman of the
Reassessment Board, has announced
that his group will meet tonight
to prepare a final report of the
reassessment to be filed with the
court. Other members of the board
are Carroll Wright and Colin C.
Macpherson. The board has de-
clined comment on the reported
error.
Preparation of the country's 1947-8
budget, due March Is, is being
held up pending receipt of the re-
port Of the reassessment, County
Manager Frank G. Hanrahan said
yesterday.
Daniel A. Dugan, a member of
the County Board, agreed with Mrs.
Magruder and added that the $50
called clerical error is either
evidence of gross incompetence or a
deliberate attempt to deceive the
taxpayers.
Election Speeches Cited.
MANY hundreds of our citizens
have either supported or opposed
a bond issue for capital improve
mentS, basing their opinion for the
most part on the $45 100000 in
crease In valuations reported last
October. All Of the arguments, pro
and con, have been wasted, based
as they were on figure pulled out
of the air." Mr. Dugan declared.
Mr.. Dugan said he believed the
only reason the tentative figures
we're released last October was so
they could be used in the campaign
to lead citizens to believe that the
tax rate might be reduced.
It was recalled that Edmund D.
Campbell, who was defeated by Mr..
Dugan, used the figures in his
speeches and indicated that a small
reduction in the tax rate might be
possible.
with an annual increase in rev.
enue of less than 100000, most of
which will be required for increased
operating costs, it is a foregone
conclusion in my mind that a bond
issue is absolutely necessary for
there will be no additional money to
use for capital improvements on a
pay-as-you-go plan," Mr.. Dugan
said.
Wants Figures Checked.
Mr.. Green pointed out that his
Office has no part in the reassess-
ment, merely computing the actual
taxes on the basis of the assessors
valuations and the tax rate fixed by
the County Board.
eff the new valuations are correct,
the residents of Arlington face
curtailment of plans for extensive
improvements, unless they are will
ing to face a further increase in the
tax rate" Mr.. Green declared.
''In am unwilling to accept the
new figures without full investiga-
ton. Frankly, it seems doubtful
that an error of the present magni-
tude could have occurred"
The Commissioner of Revenue
said that the responsibility for the
check up "rests with the County
Board and it should lose no time
in assebling a sufficient and COM
petent force to do the job"