Evening star., 1948-03-11
Budget Of $3.50, ,!10S,
.21-Mi||ion Increase,
Weighed by Arlington
By Robert c. RolIinos

Welgneo Dy Arlington
By Robert c. RolIines
The Arlington County Board to-
day had under consideration an
$S,38O,l08 budget for general and
school purposes, representing an
estimated $2,673,722 increase in ex-
penditures over the current year.
| A public hearing will be held in
the Circuit Courtroom of the Court
house at pm. March 20. The
budget must be adopted and the
tax rate set before midnight, April
80.
The proposed budget, which was
presented to the board at a special
meeting last night by County Man.
ager A. T. Lundberg, Is divided into
s4,587,813 for the county govern
ment and $3,917,533 for schools. a
total of $8,505, ,346. fund
transfers which are subtracted from
the total, however, make the actual
budget $8,380,10
AS proposed. the budget would
necessitate 50-cent increase in
the total county tax rate of $3.25
per 500 of assessed valuation. The
increase. however, would go en-.
tirely to schools If the budget Isl
adopted as suggested.
fov rot ~ i,aa Il
for county purposes and $l.25 for
schools. The county portion of the
budget as developed BY MIR. Lund-
berg calls for maintaining the tax
at 50 but the school budget asks
for additional revenue which would
require a raise in the school share
of from SIPS to SITS.
The entire tax rate is set by the
County Board, all five members Of
which have expressed opposition to
any increase in the present rate.
Although board members have not
commented on the matter, it is
thought that the group might give
the schools larger proportion of
the total tax and obtain needed
funds for county expenses from
other sources This would result
in maintaining the current 1925
rate.
Some observers have expressed
doubt that other sources can be
tapped in time for the new fiscal
year which begins July /. These
sources are county business and
professional tax and a county auto
mobile license tax. A bill provid-
ing for the former has been passed
by the current session of the Gen.
eral Assembly and is awaiting Gov.
Tuck's signature. The automobile
license measure has been acted on
favorably by the House but has
not yet passed the Senate.
In addition to almost $350,000 in
capital improvements, the budg .
provides funds for higher salaries
for county employees under a pay
scale plan recently adopted by the
board, /
1T should be noted" Mr.. Lund-
berg said in his letter of transmit
tai, that in order to maintain the
present tax rate of 50 for the general
fund, many vital projects have not
been included in this budget"
The school budget, as proposed,
provides for an operating fund of
$2,444,053 and a construction fund
of $l,473 ,480. The latter would
come from the sale of bonds au-
thorized last year.
In letter to County Board
Chairman Daniel A. Dugan, Barn.
ard Joy, School Board chairman,
said the school budget is based on
an estimated 80 per. cent tax COL
lection. The measure, he wrote,
includes an item of $54,694 for
county recreation which would re-
qui1e S cents of the proposed So
cent tax increase.
TT is the feeling of the School
Board" the chairman wrote, that
this item more properly belongs In
the county budget
Mr.. joys letter declared that the
decision to request an upward re-
vision in the tax rate "at this time
was difficult one for the School
Board to make"
1T must be recognized that dur
ing the past two years, income for
school purposes has been below ex-
penditures and that in the current
fiscal year expenditures will prob
ably exceed last years budget by
s170,000," he stated.
TO carry on the schools as they
have been carried on this year
would require a 15-cent tax rate
increase If the budget is to be bal
anced. The School Board is def
nltely OF the opinion that, COM
mensurate with the growth of the |
county and with the improvement
of other county services, the abso-
lutte minimum for an adequate
school program in Arlington County
would be s2,278,220 and would re-
quire 35-cent increase In the tax
rate.
However" the school chairman
continued, within budget of $2,-
278,220 it would not be possible for
the School Board to make provision
for cost-of Living increases for
teachers or proper maintenance of
all school property. both of which
are felt to be essential; nor would
it be possible to include provision
for the recreation program" /