Evening star., 1949-03-10

School Request,
Trims Budget
SIoshes by Board
Aimed at Blocking
Tax Rate Raise

The Fairfax County Board OF
Supervisors yesterday trimmed
budget proposals for 1949-50 to
avoid an increase in the general
tax rate. but returned to the
School Board. unapproved. the
proposed $2,506,048 budget for
schools.
In tentatively rejecting the
school budget. the supervisors
shifted the responsibility for re-
questing a possible 10-cent tax
increase for school operations.
The present levy in Fairfax
totals $3.19 for each 500 valua-
ton. OF this, $240 is for school
operating expenses. Is cents for
school debt and capital outlay,
80 cents for the general county
fund. IA cents for fire protection
and l cent for the police retire.
ment fund.
Appropriation Sought.
The supervisors said the School
Board proposals did not indicate
how $50.000 of the amount bud
geted was to be raised. The board
wants direct appropriation from
the county fund. the earmarking
of liquor tax revenues or an in
crease in the school debt tax from
Is to 35 cents:
The supervisors indicated they
want the board to show the tax
increase request in its budget.
Even so. several supervisors i'm
piled they would not vote for the
higher levy, funds from which
would be applied to the construc-
ton of emergency four classroom
buildings.
Supervisor Arthur I. Shaffer
said he thought it ridiculous" for
the proposed buildings to cost
$4,000 to $4,000 each.
II think we ought to have some
thing to say about the negotia-
,tion of contracts for these build.
'ings,' said Supervisor c. B. Run
yon. "One architectural firm in
Richmond gets all the school busi-
ness"
Public Hearing to Be Held.
A public hearing advertised 80
days in advance will be held when
the anticipated 10-cent increase
formally is proposed in the school
levy. The final decision on the tax
levy then rests with the super
'visors. The county's budget for the
l949-50 fiscal year must be adopted
before May /. The fiscal year
begins July !.
Although officials were unable
to estimate the total county budget,
exclusive OF schools, it is expected
to exceed 100000. The current
budget, exclusive of schools, il
s568,039. The present assessment
base is $50,775,027, while the
1949-50 base will be $54,588,1e2.
The county lost approximately
SIS, ,0oo, 600 in taxable real estate
and personal property when Falls
Church became a city. Gains were
made elsewhere, however. The new
school levy will apply to Falls
Church because the city schools
still are operated by the county.
Cuts Are Listed.
The supervisors yesterday cut
approximately $4,000 off the pro-
posed Sanitation Department
budget. $4,000 from the Library
fund, S3,l00 from the planning
commission request and reduced
Police and Fire Department re-
quests.
The supervisors authorized hir-
Ing six new policemen during the
coming fiscal year instead of the
10 requested. A request for a q
cent increase in the Accent fire
levy was turned down.
Commemorative Attorney Hugh
Marsh and Sanitary Engineer
James J. Corbalis. ir., were in
structed to visit the State Water
Control Board for clarification of
sewage regulations for the Po-
ton1ac River. The Water Board
recently warned Virginia cities
and counties against emptying
additional sewage into rivers. Fair
fax was advised that further sewer
extension would be illegal unless
provision were made for a dis
posal plant.