Evening star., 1949-05-25
Liquor Unit Asks
For New Stores
InMontgomery
County Council Gets
z Budget Proposals;
Tax Heoring Planned

toA iiSOIHuS t0HtCo
The Montgomery County Liquo,
Board has proposed opening ad-
ditional stores in a letter t. the
County Council requesting a state
ment Of policy on liquor sales in
the county.
The letter was received yester-
day by the council, which also
was presented with a proposed
$7.834.628 budget for the coming
fiscal year calling for a 10-cent
increase over the present $1.8S
per 500 basic county tax rate.
In submitting the budget, Coun-
ty Manager Irving G. McNayr also
recommended an 11-cent cut in
the present 31-cent suburban area
levy. Council President Frederic
P. Lee said a public hearing would
be held between June 10 ard Is.
The Liquor Board, in its letter,
estimated net profits during the
next IL months at approximately
$350,o00
Profit Held Incidental.
At the same time, Board Chair
man j. Forest Walker recalled
that the primary purpose of the
law setting up the agency was to
control the sale and distribution
Of alcoholic beverages in the coun-
ty. "a net profit being only incl
dental to the exercise of this con-
troll"
THE question is," Mr.. Walker
said, whether the council desires
to continue this policy or to use
the board for a primarily profit
seeking agency. If so. the board is
prepared to open additional stores
but requires the consent and ap-
proval of the council"
According to Charles B. Busch
er. general manager of the liquor
dispensary system, there now are
six liquor stores in the county. He
said the board has tentative plans
for two more. the locations of
which have not yet been fixed.
The total operating funds asked
by Mr.. McNayr represents an in
crease of nearly $1.300,000 over
current expenditures but reduc-
ton of a similar sum from
amounts requested by department
heads.
Budgets Total II Billions.
In addition. the county manager
submitted a capital budget for the
coming year of $6.654,000 for
schools, roads, storm drainage,
parking lots and plans and land
options for new buildings to house
county offices and the Health De-
partment.
Both budgets. along with pro-
posed appropriations for sthe SUI
burban area and funds collected
by the county for other agencies,
total $17.103 3.869.7l.
Discussing departmental re-
quests. Mr.. McNayr recommended
that the proposed $3,352.918 al
lotment for schools include funds
for the hiring of IS additional
teachers at a beginning salary of
$4,000 a year. He also recon-
mended sufficient funds to pay a
regularly scheduled annual in
crease to all teachers and princi-
pals.
The Board of Education had re-
quested an appropriation from the
county of $3,746,707 which. 1t ex-
planned, would include one-half
the additional salary required to
place each teacher on the salary
schedule In accordance with his or
her experience and training. 1t
also requested that the IS new
teachers receive $4,000 a year
each.
Salary Schedule Sought.
Mr.. McNayr. in his letter, said
he feels 1t fundamentally un-
sound to accept the principle of
raising the salaries of older teach
ers, who are nearing retirement
status. to a much higher level in
order to enable such teachers to
receive better retirement benefits.
Should such a policy be adopted
for all county employees. the i'm
pact on taxpayers would be un-
bearable."
He also urged that the Board of
Education present the Council
with a proposed salary schedule
for teachers and principals. Such
a schedule. he contended. If
adopted by the Council, would
have the effect of obligating the
appropriating authority to place
employees on the schedule so
adopted. and would have the i'm
mediate effect of stopping re-
quests for higher salaries based
on a salary schedule never sub
mitted to the authority empow-
cred by law to provide monies"
Other recommendations in
cluded elimination of the Office of
public utilities agent and denial
Of a request for $25.000 for Mont
gomery Junior College.
The council passed bills au-
thorizing the county manager to
accept streets for county main
tenance, extending the area
served by the Cabin John Volun-
teer Fire Department, setting up
a Rockville FIRE area and estab-
fishing a department Of public
safety, to include police and fire
protection.
Fire Areas Set Cp.
Earlier, the council held hear
ings on measures to extend the
area served by the Silver Spring
Volunteer Fire Department to
take In part Of the section now
cared for py the Kcnsington de-
partment and set up areas for
u