Evening star., 1947-04-16
Arlington Board Hears
Pleas 10 Restore Cuts
In 1918 Budget

The Arlington County Board has
two weeks in which to act on a.
proposed 1947-8 budget of s., ,352, ,37l
and proposed tax rate increase Of
not more than 80 cents, following
a public hearing last night at the
courthouse.
Virginia law requires that the
budget be adopted by the board by
April 80. Failure to act results in
the adoption of the measure as
submitted by the county manager.
AS proposed, the budget includes
1858, ,179 for schools. The current
So tax rate is divided into $l.75
for general county purposes and
SLIPS for schools.
The board last night heard a re-
quest by Arlington Civic Fedora
ton representatives that cuts made
by the county manager in depart
ment heads requests for the Health.
Police and Fire Departments and
the library system, be restored and
at least 5000 be provided for en-
ployment of an expert planning
consultant on a per diem basis.
The federation also asked that funds
be included to cover the salary of
a full-time voters registrar at the
courthouse and for the codification
Of county ordinances.
Budget Check Urged.
The federation representatives
said that ''it Is believed no increase
In the tax levy would be necessary
for these restorations and additions
to the budget"
A re-examination of the items in
the school budget was suggested
by the federation spokesmen ito see
If some increased items might be
reduced so as to provide several
thousand dollars for capital i'm
provements.
DR.. Oscar LeBeau, chairman Of
the Citizens Committee for School
Improvement, was applaudsd by the
audience when he sought informa-
ton on teacher salary scales.
"The only way we can be con-
vinced there is a definite teacher
salary scale in Arlington" he said,
sis to see a mimeographed or
printed plan such as other progress
sive school systems make available" I"
Bargaining for Teachers Charged.
The hiring of Arlington teachers,
he charged, is done on IAN in
dividual bargaining basis
At that point School Supt.
Fletcher Kemp shouted, II defy you
to produce evidence of that"
Opposition to any increase in the
tax rate was expressed by the
Chamber of Commerce delegate
unless it is restricted to and desig-
mated for the amortization and in
terest charges on bonds to be
issued for general county and
school system improvements"
County firemen requested that
two new pieces OF fire. fighting equip
ment be purchased each year to
replace overage and worn out equip
ment. Spokesman said Is of the 20
pieces now in use should be replaced.
Training Program Asked.
The firemen also requested that
a ladder truck be housed on the
south side of the county; that q
permanent fire training program be
inaugurated; that sufficient run
ming clothes and boots be supplied;
that spare hose be furnished for
each pumper; that q separate
switchboard for fire calls be in
stalled and that the county fire
chief 'be given authority to operate
the affairs of the Fire Department
in the same manner as the other
departments of the county"
Other citizens asked for funds
for sidewalks for children using Co
lumbia pike and South Wakefield
street to get to Bancroft School:
development OF Walter Reed drive
to provide a street for the proposed
clubhouse of the Wonens Club Of
Arlington; establishment Of an alco-
holic clinic, and . centrally located
recreatioral area for adults.
The Organized Women Voters and
the Glen Carlyn Citizens Associa-
ton were among the organizations
which asked for increased funds for
libraries.
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