Evening star., 1947-05-13

DuOSet SuiHs9 w
s.. 5.696,7 III Goes
To Commissioners
A proposed Montgomery County
budget, calling for 38-cent tax In
crease and appropriations totaling
$500, ,7i1.57 for the year ending
June 80, 1913, was presented today
to the county commissioners. II
win be given q public hearing at 8
pm, June 10, in the Rockville Court
House.
The board deferred action on the
budget, submitted by County Con-
troller Alexander K. Hancock, IN the
temporary absence Of County Super
visor irving g. McNayr. Mr.. Han
cock and Mr.. McNayr collaborated
Ia preparing the budget.
The proposed tax increase would
boost the basic county rate, now
$1.50, to $1S8.
The proposed appropriations rep
resent an increase of approximately
5000 over county expenses for the
current fiscal year. Mr.. Hancock ex-
planned that although the proposed
increase is comparatively small, a
Jump in the tax rate is necessary to
enable the county to pay OF about
$700, 900 in bonds.
Would Abolish Deputy Treasurers.
He pointed out that s., ,405 800 In
bonds which matured last year were
refunded by the previous Board OF
County Commissioners.
In q three-page statement accom-
panying the proposed budget, Mr..
McNayr recommended that the
ofices Of the deputy treasurers IN
the Silver Spring and Bethesda
County Buildings be discontinued as
Of July /, 1947, and that tax collec-
tions in these areas be handled
through local banks or by mail to
the Rockville courthouse.
He estimated that such move
would save $4,000.
He also proposed that the County
Home be discontinued as an aims
house, effective January L. 1948,
adding that the cost Of maintaining
the, institution for the present IL
or IL inmates is excessive"
"It Is felt" Mr.. McNayr said,
chat q savings of between $1,000
and $4,000 can be effected by dis
continuing the home and turning
this function over to the Department
Of Public Welfare"
Other Recommendations.
Other recommendations included
a. 10 per cent cost-of-liying wage
increase for all county employees.
Elimination of the position of as
sistant gardener under the county
agricultural agent, effective July J.,
1948, and postponement for one
year Of action on the police depart
ment's request for establishment OF
q trafi1c bureau.
MIR. McNayr said the proposed 38-
cent tax increase will enable the
county to meet maturing bonds,
grant adequate departmental re-
quirements, provide for "fair and
Just" salary increases, and furnish
the Board of Education with a
sound operation and maintenance
appropriation" s'
He pointed out that the 2.404 ,278
appropriation recommended for the
Board of Education exceed the 1886
Z appropriation for schools by ap-
proximately $1,400, 900.
OF this additional amount, he ex-
planned, $3.50, 1000 will come from the
county and $780, 900 is expected to
be paid by the State under proyi-
sions Of the Sherbow report.
He informed the county commits
sioners there were only two items
in the school budget on which he
and Mr.. Hancock could not agree.
They were proposals for appropria-
tions of $4,000 to assist the nursery
school program and $25,000 for aid
to. the Montgomery County Junior
College. ;
Construction Curb Urged.
Mr. McNayr said Mr.. Hancock had
opposed these appropriations on the
ground that they are not a proper
activity for the county, and If al
lowed probably would assume bur-
densome proportions in coming
years.
Both Mr.. McNayr and Mr.. Han
cock recommended that school con-
struction during the coming fiscal
year be limited to projects found
absolutely essential" and that bond
issues for the construction not ex-
ceed $2,500,000.
This recommendation" Mr.. Nc
Nayr reported, 'is based on the
recognition of the scarcity of quail
ity materials and extremely high
construction costs"
He also recommended that no
additional bonds be issued during
the coming fiscal year for road i'm
provements and construction and
that other building programs, in
Guiding proposal for new health
department building, be held in