Evening star., 1949-04-20
Higher Budget
Fails 10 Boost
Tax in County
Prince Georges Cuts
School Fund Request,
Drops Some Items
BY ChorIes A. McAIeer

drops Some Items
By ChorIes A. MeAIeer
Prince Georges County's realty
tax rate Of $1.97 per 500 assessed
valuation will remain the same
during the next fiscal year ever
though the county budget il
higher.
Continuance Of the same taz
rate was authorized yesterday
when the county commissioners
formally adopted their 1949-50 op.
Grating budget. The county's over
all budget expenses next year will
total $4,022. .509.81, compared tc
the current $3.7o2 .244.40. =
Couldn't Stand Increases.
County officials previously had
predicted there would be a 27-cent
tax increase this year. Board
President Harry w. McNamee.
when questioned on this yesterday,
had this to say:
We had feeling the taxpayers
could not stand an increase at this
time. In order to hold the tax
rate down. we had to cut the
school budget and other requests.
All departments took a cut except
those set by law"
Actually. the request of the
county Board of Education suffered
the major cut from the original
proposed county budget calling fol-
expenditures of $4,351 1890 The
School Board, although requesting
a total of S2.333.638 for the COM
ing year, will get an even $4,000
900. The current school budget
is $1,675,274.
One other budget 1tem--the
county's eight-week summer rec
reation program-was eliminated
entirely. In its place the board
authorized a lesser appropriation
to provide for appointment of a
county supervisor of recreation
and four member county Recrea-
ton Board and staff.
Summer Program Opposed.
The commissioners reversed
themselves when they voted to 2
yesterday not to appropriate
$23,890 for the summer program
When c. Paul Barnhart, principal
of the Bladensburg High School
and director OF the vacation pro-
gram. submitted his request on
March 8, the commissioners con-
sented to it when told it was $40
under last year.
Commissioner John H. Beall,
who proposed yesterdays motion
to reject it completely. asserted:
I've can't do two programs at
once" COMMISSIONERS IT. Ham
mond Welsh, who seconded the
melton, and Norman H.. Collins
agreed with him. Mr.. McNamee
and Commissioner D. Leonard
Dyer opposed elimination Of the
SuIIlIilCI plOSl dul.
Appointment Of the recreation
supervisor and his staff was urged
last week by a delegation of more
than so county residents as the
start Of a three-year $4,000
year-around recreation program
for the county. !
School Head Stunned.
County School Supt. G. Gard
ner Shugart. informed of his de-
partment's reduction. reported he
was stunned" by the informa-
ton. Asserting the school budget
was based on 5000 more pupils,
Mr.. Shugart declared the COM
missioners' decision will prob
ably mean those children will not
have the materials and services
that they should have--that we
have been custornarily supplying
them" -
The cut also may mean that
"many school buildings that need
repairs and maintenance will not
get it," Mr.. Shugart declared
It may also result in insufficient
teachers, he added.
The school superintendent said
1t will be up to the Board Of
Education members themselves to
make a final analysis of the cut.
Mr.. McNamee declared: "We al
lowed so much to take care of
tines school budget. It's up to the
school board to distribute the
amount appropriated to them"
The budget includes 98 items,
many of which received more
money due principally to an in
crease in the county's assessable
basis from $l55. .895,570 to $685.
10s,625.
Building Funds Lacking.
The budget includes no provi-
sions for financing the county's
proposed $I0.650.0 900 school con-
struction program. although it
was pointed out that money for
this can be borrowed from the
State or that other funds, such
as slot machine revenue If ap-
proved, can be used for such pur-
poses.
The commissioners also an
nounced yesterday that the coun-
>ty's metropolitan district tax will
Jump from 42s to ga cents per
500 this year to finance the sale
of $780, 900 in bonds last August
Other taxes will be 10 cents for
the Washington Suburban Sani-
tary Commission; Ills cents tan
.02-cent increase) for the State
realty tax; 8 cents compared to
5 at presently for those living in
the metropolitan area of the
Maryland National Capital Park
and Planning Commission Re-