Evening star., 1948-06-15
Hearing Ioh1ght
ToC|innax Fight
On School Funds
Montgomery Civic
Federation Fuvors
81 Maximum Levy

decisive engagement OF MOi1t'
gomery County's battle OF thu
budget, with a concentration o.
forces grouped for showdown or
194s-9 school appropriations.
A bitter controversy that ha.
stirred every county community in
tensified as the time approached
for a public budget hearing before
the county commissioners. The
meeting; scheduled for 8 pm. ir
the Rockville Courthouse, was ex-
pected to attract hundreds Of
citizens.
Although the commissioners viii
receive expressions on any item II
the record s6,25l,633 budget, thu
principal fireworks are certain tt
come during consideration of funds
for schools. The issues revolvt
around Board of Education re.
quest for S3,429 1863 in the next ifs.
cal year, and the counter-recom-
mendation by County Supervisor
Irving G. McNayr that school funds
be limited to S2,885,468.
Under the McNayr proposal
Montgomerys tax rate would total
sl.93 per 500 valuation, an increase
of cents over the current levy
1t is estimated that tax Of 81, II
would be needed to provide all the
schools have asked.
Federation Urges Compromise.
A preview of what's in store at the
Rockville hearing was offered last
night when the Montgomery County
Civic Federation discussed the budget
at meeting in Bethesda. The fed
Grafton engaged in vigorous and
sometimes bitter debate before rec
ommending a compromise between
the McNayr and school board
budgets. 1t urged the commits
sioners to increase the McNayr fig
ure for schools by $125 5,000-to a
total of $3,010,4 ,468-so as to raise
teachers salaries.
The civic federation Endorsed a
maximum tax levy of So.
The s125,o0O compromise figure
coincided with one proposed yester-
Gay by E. NJ Douglas. assistant
school superintendent. Mr.. Doug
last told neWsmen such a sum
over and above the McNayr recon-
would permit continued
operation Of the present school pro-
gram, with some limitations.
The civic federation overwhelm-
ingly rejected proposal by DR..
Russell I. Whyte, chairman of its
School Committee, to recommend
that the commissioners allow the
school system S439,296 more than
Supervisor McNayr recommended.
The principal attack on this pro-
posal was made by Henry J. Smell
lings and Franklin T. Miles of Chevy
Chase. Mr.. Snellings said he de-
plored pressure tactics In behalf Of
teacifers"A~aYld asserted tfiat~ the
county, like a family, has limited
funds for its budget.
Argument on Teachers Salaries.
"Under the McNayr budget, the
schools are getting Sc per cent of
the total county appropriation.
They don't deserve more when all
the other departments have pressing
needs" he said.
DR.. Whyte supported Mr.. Douglas
view that the county must keep its
promise to increase teacher salaries.
In a response to a question he
denied a recent statement by Super
visor McNayr that Montgomery has
as high an average for teacher pay
as any county in the United States.
Mr.. McNayr, who attended as an
observer, jumped to his feet and de-
manded proof of the statement.
DR.. Whyte asked for restatement
of the question and then said he was
sorry, he misunderstood it. He
agreed that he could not name a
higher-paying county but contended
that county school systems are used
principally in Virginia, LOUISIANA
and other Southern States.
who wants to have systems like
them?" he asked.
Traffic Bureau Rejected.
The s125,0OO school compromise
was one of five points proposed in a
resolution drafted by the federation
Committee on Public Finance and
Budget.
The members rejected proposal
urging the county to appropriate
s2S, 900 for county traffic bureau in
the police department. All other
parts of the resolution were ap-
proved. They are:
The commissioners were asked to
increase Health Department appro-
priations by $1,000 for its profess
sional staff.
They were urged to adopt the
budget officers proposal for meeting
all bond maturities with current rev.
enues.
f,nrkin Ie pnrmannnt lead