Evening star., 1947-06-13
Arlington Board
Asked toPush
Tax Loss Curbs
Mann Urges Proposals
Be Made to Get
Federal Payments
By Robert e. RoIIinus

4AG IA AlllS VIII SOt1ASJ @~S@Ao w
day was called on to make sugges-
tions for an equitable adjustment
by the Federal Government to COM
pensate Arlington for the loss OF
tax revenue entailed in Federal
land holdings.
Harrison Mann, candidate for
the House of Delegates in the DEM
ocratic primary, made the request
in a letter to each board member.
Mr.. Mann stated he had written
Senator Byrd, Democrat, Virginia,
pointing out that last year Vir-
ginia voters approved a constitu-
tional amendment permitting State
and local taxation of property
owned by the Federal Government.
Mr.. Mann said he had suggested
to Senator Byrd that appropriate
legislation should be sought at this
time giving the consent of the
United States to an adjustment so
the General Assembly of Virginia
might enact necessary legislation
at the next session in January, l948.
Senator Asks More Comment.
Senator Byrd told Mr.. Mann, the
letter stated, that he would be glad
to cooperate and asked for further
comment.
II feel that Arlington County is
vitally affected in this matter and
that the County Board along with
the commissioner of revenue should
make suggestions to the Virginia
delegation as to what they consider
an equitable adjustment, either
through the payment of a tax or a
lump sum contribution similar to
that in the District of Columbia"
Mr. Mann told the board members.
Both the form of the measure
and the formula for the recovery of
taxes are of deep concern" Mr..
Mann continued. THE problem is
so important to our taxpayers it
should have the most serious con-
sideration by our public officials
Green Has Urged Action.
Earlier this week Commissioner of
Revenue Harry K. Green disclosed
he is urging members of the Vir-
ginia delegation to include Arling-
ton in measures now pending in
Congress which provide for reim-
bursement to localities for losses in
taxable values because of Federal
land acquisitions.
Mr.. Green said real estate now
held by the Government in Arling-
ton is valued at s302, ,504, ,240. On
the basis of last years tax rate of
So per 500 of assessed valuation
(40 per cent of the true value), the
Government holdings would have
yielded almost $4,000, 900 in revenue,
Mr.. Green pointed out.
Tangible personal property and
real estate last year brought Airing
ton about s2,730,574.
Smith in Favor.
Representative Smith, Democrat,
Of Virginia, said yesterday he feels
that some sort of payment should
be made by the Government to
Arlington. Senator Robertson, Dem
ocrat, of Virginia wrote Mr.. Mann
he hopes plan can be worked out
with the Government agencies
which own property in Virginia I'M
der which localities can be COM
pensated to some extent for tax
revenues now being lost through |
Government ownership"
Commenting on Mr.. Mann's letter,
County Board Chairman Basil M. |
De Lashmutt said:
II feel that the Federal Govern
ment should make a contribution
and I feel certain that the board |
stands ready to do all it can to help
bring this baout. The form which
the reimbursement should take is a
matter to be determined"
Board member Daniel A. Dugan
declared legislation covering the
payment of taxes to localities whose
land has been appropriated by the
Federal Government is measure
that is imperative to the economic
stability of Arlington County"
Thinks Board Should Act.
Mr. Dugan said the County Board
should Immediately" inform Senator
Byrd and the Virginia delegation of
the form it thinks legislation should
take. He said he favors specific
payment of taxes by stipulated
amounts for each $100 of assessed
valuation rather than lump-sum
payments.
Board member Leo Lloyd COM
mented:
Mr.. Harry K. Green is far and |
away the best informed individual
in Arlington County on this matter.
I, as one board member, have been
awaiting his suggestions. Naturally, |
we are interested in getting some
fair and equitable arrangement.