Evening star., 1947-03-05
Civic Federation
Against TdxRate
Cut in Arlington
Direct Election of
Members Of School
Board Urged

will oppose any reduction in the
county tax rate this year, 1t was
decided last night at the March
meeting at the Lyon Park Com
munity House.
Mrs. Florence Cannon, chairman
of the Committee on Revenues, de-
clared that now more than ever
there is critical need for bond
issue proceeds
She said the committee is con.
vinced of the need because net reye-
nues available for capital improve-
ments will be approximately $3.50 900
less than anticipated because of the
error" in the reassessment figures.
The committee has calculated
that no increase In the tax rate in
April, 1948, win be necessary on ac-
count OF the bond issues, she said.
S9,250,000 Bonds Proposed.
Every effort should be made by
all who want to see Arlington
brought up to even a moderate
standard Of public improvements to
see that $6,000.0oo worth of bonds
are authorized for public improves
ments and $3.50, 900 authorized for
school Improvements, Mrs. Cannon
declared. .
The federation went on record In
favor OF the direct election of mem-
oers Of the county School Board.
The group previously had favored a
referendum allowing voters to
choose the method of naming the
School Board.
A resolution calling on Virginia's
delegation in Congress to slpport
the Senate bill which would give
District residents a chance to ne
heard on the question of daylight
saving time was adopted by the
federation on motion of George G.
Updegrah Of the New Ballston Cit
izens' Association.
introduction Of legislation in the
next session of the General Assem-
bly, providing for a full-time prom.
erty assessor to be appointed by the
county manager and approved by
the County Board, and establish
ment Of board of equalization for
assessments, were asked by the fed
Grafton.
The federation voted to repeat its
request that the School Board peti-
tion the Circuit Court to cali an
election on $3,250, 900 bond issue.
On recommendation of the commit-
tee on revenues of the county gov.
ernment, the federation also asked
that the School Board act in SUM-
cient time to allow the referendum
to be held early in May so that
vote may be held simultaneously ON
school bonds, bonds for county inn
lprovements and a method of select
ling school board members.
it Action Of the County Board in di-
4 lrecting the county manager to pre-
pare and distribute to the taxpayers
l1a pamphlet covering Arlingtons
d financial condition was commended
lby the federation
School Improvement Projects.
i The federation voted to petition
the School Board to use the pro-
!, ceeds of the school bond issue to
,tprovide for full-day sessions of the
! first and second grades; public kim
dergartens; reduction of the teach
er-pup1 load to a ratio of / to 80,
and improve the secondary school
curriculum. The items asked by the
federation are those contained in
the four-point program of the Citi-
zens Committee for School I'm
provement.
The federation also voted to ask
the School Board to publish a synop-
sis Of past, current and requested
budgets as far as possible In ad-
vance of budget hearings.
In other actions, the federation
voted to request legislation permit
ting women to serve on juries and
provide that no person who had
been called for jury duty in the pre-
ceding two years would be sum-
moned again. It appointed a spe-
cial committee to study methods of
improving the county library sys-
tenn. The committee comprises Ray
mond P. Elissien, Alvin Seebode,
Malcolm Miller, Mrs. Edith Weston
and Mrs. Esther Graves.