Evening star., 1949-12-23
More SeIf-HeIp
Proposed for
Virginia Towns
Commission Suggests
81 Ways to Reduce
Burden on Stute
By the Assoeiotsd Press

~ INV StsSVSFSiS0 'Sss
RICHMOND, Va, Dec. 23.-A
report designed to make 1t pos
sible for localities in Virginia to
more self-suf1iciency in
financing governmental opera
lions was made today to Gov.
Tuck and the General Assembly.
The 81 members of the Com
on State and Local Reve-
nues and Expenditures said Of
the big report which contained
81 recommendations:
1--WE believe that the adoption
of the recommendations will
90 a long way toward revitalizing
the local property tax in Viz
ginia ="
The commission was of the
opinion that the State cannot
continue indefinitely Ito increase
It's appropriations to local govern
ments to finance services which
the localities desire but for which
they are unwilling to tax"
No Estimate Available.
Garland Gray of Waverly, q
State Senator and chairman Of
the commission. told reporters no
estimate was possible on a dollar
basis as to just what the report
would mean to the State and To-
calities.
The commission urged strict
economy in government and de-
clared the situation now confront-
ing Virginia demands the restric-
ton of expenditures rather than
increased taxation"
Any increases in State taxation,
1t said. should be avoided for the
foreseeable future" and it sug-
gested that the Commonwealth
should live within It's income.
The two primary factors which
have affected State and local fis-
cal operations most in recent
years, the report stated, have
been the declining significance Of
the property tax In financing the
local government and the States
use OF many revenue sources
which have proved to be highly
productive, especially under the
inflationary conditions"
Signed BY All Members.
The report was signed by all
members of the commission.
However, seven fled explanatory
statements" disagreeing with some
of the recommendations. They
were: State Budget :, Director
j. H. Bradford. Delegate Robert
Whitehead of Nelson. Charles w.
Wampler of Harrisonburg. DR..
william H. Stauffer Of Rich
mond, research director for the
State Chamber of Commerce:
William B. Speck, executive secre-
tary of the League of Virginia
Counties: Jonathan w. Old. jr..
of Norfolk, and W.. L. thinner,
III, of Richmond.
Mr.. Whitehead and Mr.. Speck
said they believed a sales tax was
inevitable before long. Mr.. Wam-
pier, a member of the State Board
of Agriculture, came out for adop-
ton of such a tax.
Four-Year Retaliation Urged.
The report suggested a quad
revaluation Of real estate
in the cities and counties every
four years, with an assist by the
State Department of Taxation.
State budget practices would be
tightened and revised under the
recommendations. Most special
funds would be abolished. There
would be a new administrative
control unit for the Governors
office. The State Highway De-
partment would take over primary
road work in cities.
State income tax laws would be
made to conform in some respects
to Federal methods Of figuring
and deductions. The
purpose is to widen the base"
to include more low-bracket wage
earners, a spokesman said. Indi-
viduals might find increases or
decreases.
Exemptions of 5000 each for
spouse and dependents
would be allowed. There would
be an exemption of 5000 each for
taxpayer and spouse at age IS.
The State Board of Education,
under commission proposal.
would be reassessed as to its
with emphasis on sub
ject-matter requirements rather
than on regulatory power. County
school board members would be
by the county board Of