Evening star., 1947-06-18
! - - 81
Commissioned
Approve Budget
In Montgomery
Accuse School Board
Of FoiIing in Program
To Remedy Conditions
By J. B. Zotmon

A budget calling for 38-cent
tax increase and appropriations to-
falling $5,696,711.57 for the fiscal
yeaJs ending June 80, 1948, had the
approval today of the Montgomery
County commissioners.
I The action was taken yesterday
at the commissioner meeting in
Rockville.
At the same time, the Republican
commissioners issued a statement
charging that the Board of Eduea-
ton failed to initiate and support
a school budget last year or dur
ing previous years that would have
remedied the school situation in the
county"
The statement also attacked the
Democratic State Central Commit
tee for the county on the ground
that the committee regards the
Board Of Education as its political
adjunct"
In a prompt reply, H. Stanley
Stine, Democratic member Of the
Board of Education, said his groups
request for funds this year was
cut about $4,000 by the commits
sioners. aHe added that the board
also had asked for a much larger
amount Tor teachers salaries last
year than was approved by the
commissioners.
Nerlich Purchasing Agent.
In other action, the commissioners
appointed Wilbert Nerlich, Darnes-
town, as purchasing agent at sal
airy of $4,500 a year and created the
post of attorney to the supervisors
OF elections at $1,000 year. No
appointment was made to the latter
position.
Heretofore, County Supervisor
Irving G. McNayr also has acted as
purchasing agent. No change was
made in his $7,500-a-year salary as
a result of Mr.. Nerlich's appoint
ment.
Mr.. Nerlich, 81, formerly was an
accountant for the Internal Revenue
Bureau. He previously had been
purchasing agent for the District Of
Columbia Welfare Department and
Board of Assessors. He has lived in
Montgomery County about eight
years.
The vote on the total budget ap-
preparations, which represent an in
crease of approximately 100000 over
current county expenses, was A to l
with Commissioner Wesley I. Sauter
dissenting. Unanimous approval
was given the tax increase.
Sauter Seeks Economies.
Commissioner Sauter said he
voted against the appropriations be-
cause he believed they could have
been distributed more fairly and
economies could have been made to
lower the total.
Immediately after the board ap-
proved the budget and fixed the tax
rate. Mr.. McNayr praised the county
heads for facing the facts" He
said it was the first time in the last
IS years that the basic county levy
has been raised.
F. Barnard Welsh, attorney to the
board, said 27 cents of the 38-cent
tax increase will be used to pay the
debts of the other fellows who pre-
ceded you"
The new budget contains only
minor changes in the appropriations
recommended by Mr.. McNayr and
published in The Star May 13.
Salary Increases Provided.
For example, the Health Depart
ment receives an additional $4,000
to pay for increased nurses salaries
and $4,000 item is restored to the
Welfare Department appropriation
to continue the 20 per cent salary
increase now being paid welfare
employees.
Mr.. McNayr had recommended
that this item be knocked out of the
departments budget although We'll
fare Department officials warned
that such action would result in
wholesale designations.
The Welfare Departments hos
pitalization appropriation is in
creased to provide for $6 day
instead of the present 81 rate for
charity patients.
The Police Department appropria-
tion of $451,343 remains virtually
the same as recommended by Mr..
McNayr with HE exception of
$1,000 salary increase approved for
Police Chief Charles M. Orme. The
appropriation also provides for a
general 10 per cent salary increase
for policemen.
Inspector Barred.
The commissioners upheld Mr.
McNayr's recommendation to elm
mate the Police Department re-
quest for an inspector at $4,000 a
year. They explained that Inspector
Earl Burdine is scheduled to retire
July 4.
To provide funds for the increased
appropriations the commissioners
cut $1,000 from the school main
tenance fund and $4,000 from the
delinquent tax fund. Mr.. McNayr
said the county also expects to
receive about $4,000 in taxicab
permits.
The Commissioners decided not to
discontinue the operation of the
county home as an almshouse. Dis
continuance of the home had been
recommended by Mr.. McNayr.
Criticize School Board.
In their statement criticizing the
Board of Education, the commits
sioners said:
TT was only after the present
Board of County Commissioners was
elected on platform pledging SUBJ
stantial support for Montgomery
County schools that the Board of
Education came out for a program
offering hope to the teachers and
the citizens of the county"
The commissioners also urged the
Board of Education and the super
intendent of schools to furnish the
commissioners with the name of each
teacher and the salary to be re-
eeived under the new schedule pro-
vided for in the school appropriation
of about $4,000, 900.
They explained such request was
made because the commissioners
have no control over disbursement
of the appropriation for teachers