Evening star., 1949-07-01
S1.90 Tax Rate,
.Up2c, |sFixed
In Montgomery
Record Budget Hits
Nearly 8 Million;
Suburbonites Save
By J. B. Zotmun

BY }. B. Zotmun
A $l.90 basic tax rate cents
more than last years LEWIS in
effect in Montgomery County.
The rate was fixed yesterday by
the County Council. which adopted
a record S7,907.574 operating
budget for the 1949-5o fiscal year
beginning today.
At the same time the council
approved a reduction from 81 to 20
cents in the suburban district tax.
thus giving suburban residents a
net tax saving of cents.
In its final form the budget rep
resents a $50, 900 increase over the
tentative figure announced Tues
day by the council and a $1.372.-
328 increase over last years total.
The $50,000 will come from Liquor
Board receipts, which had been
underestimated by the council.
Junior College Gets Half.
Half of the S50.000 was allotted
to the Montgomery Junior COL
lege and nearly all of the re-
mainder was used to set up an
emergency fund of $24,611. Small
additional amounts also were al
located to the teachers retire.
ment fund, the County Personnel
Board and the Department Of
Finance.
Council President Frederic P.
Lee warned that the junior college
allotment should not be regarded
as an "all-time commitment" and
expressed the hope that the insti-
tuition eventually would be sup
ported by the State
The councils action followed
receipt of a letter from Mrs. Dur
ward " Sandifer, School Board
president, in which she said the
Board of Education had overesti-
mated by $185,000 the funds it
expected to receive from the State.
AS result, she explained, the
$188,500 lump sum tentatively
allotted the board for the junior
college and other school costs
will do no more than Offset the
reduction in State funds ="
Expected Aid Withdrawn.
She also said the State Depart
ment of Education had withdrawn
expected contributions of $4,000
for the transportation of about
1900 kindergarten children in the
county and $4,000 for crippled
children.
The council took no steps, how
ever. to make up the lack of State
funds. Mr.. Lee pointed out the
School Board has an $1,000 sur
plus from last year which could
be used for the two items.
Approved without change was
a capital budget calling for ex-
penditure of $5,040, 900 for school
construction, $4,000 for roads
and drainage, 100000 for preli-
minary plans for a new County
Office and Health Department
building and 5000 900 for compile
ton of the Silver Spring parking
lot program.
Earlier, at a public hearing on
the proposed budget. John A. Nc
Intire, president of the County
Council of Parent t-TeaCiltr AS
sociations, urged a larger tax in.
crease to care for educational
needs in the county.
Sees Excess as Reserve.
He said any excess over the
amount needed to pay off prin-
cipal and interest on school bonds
during the coming year could be
set aside as a reserve fund.
He was supported by Leslie M.
Able, a former president of the
organization, who contended the
rural area residents are not pay
ing their proper share of school
costs in proportion to the number
of children there.
DR.. Harold P. Morris. represent
ing the County Civic Federation,
wanted a specific appropriation
for the Junior college.
Criticism of the proposed bud
get on the ground it contains 'un-
necessary overhead costs" was
voiced by S. H. Ingberg, Bethesda.
Declaring the county "is getting
too much Government" Mr.. Ing
berg claimed some Health Depart
ment SERVES could be eliminated.
He also argued there are too
many supervisor" in the Board
of Education.