Evening star., 1949-03-08
89-CentTaxRate
Increase Asked
In Arlington
Board Gets Budget
TotoIine $9,115,457; :.
Hearing Set March "a

Hearing Set March "a
A proposed Arlington 1949-50
budget requiring a tax rate in
crease of SO cents per 500 of as
sessed valuation was under study
by the county board today pre-
paratory to a public hearing
March "a.
Amounting to $9,115,4 ,457, includ-
ing $3,067,O56 for schools, the
budget was presented to the
county board last night by County
Manager A. T. Lundberg in a As
minute meeting at the courthouse.
The measure, for the fiscal year
beginning July l, would raise the
property tax rate from $3.25 to
$4.14. The budget is based on an
assessed valuation of $136, ,000, 900,
an increase of SIS, 100000 over last
year. and 80 per cent collection
of taxes.
In addition to the revenue from
the property tax, the budget will
be financed by an estimated $225,.
600 from the recently enacted
business and professional and mo-
tor vehicle license taxes, plus sup
plements from the State and Fed
eral governments.
Based on Lump Sum Fund.
Mr.. Lundberg explained that
the county portion of the school
budget is based on lump
sum appropriation of $2,579,056
(rather than the proceeds from q
share of the tax rate) and IS per
cent of the revenue from the busi-
ness and professional license tax,
estimated by him at $4,000.
The lump sum is equivalent to
the revenue from S1.95 of the tax
rate, he said. If the new license
tax were not considered as a
source of funds, the revenue from
$2.05 of the tax rate would have
to be used, he said. The current
appropriation for schools is equal
to $1.46 of the tax rate, Mr..
Lundberg told the board. The
schools also would receive $488, 900
from State appropriations and
miscellaneous sources.
The county board was criticized
from many quarters last year for
not giving the school board full
amount requested and for placing
the appropriation on a lump sum
basis.
Daniel A. Dugan suggested that
school funds for next year be
based on a portion of the levy so
that the schools could share in
any excess tax collections. r.
Freeland Chew expressed surprise
that the school proposal was 80
high.
/. School Surplus Reported.
Chairman Basil NJ. De Lash
mutt announced that an auditors
report showed a school surplus
available for appropriation" Of
$424,000 at the end of the last
fiscal year. although, he said, the
school budget showed the surplus
as zero. He said he thought the
County Board should have some
statement" on the matter from
the School Board to give full
rounded picture
On motion of Mr.. Dugan, Mrs.
Elizabeth Agnew, clerk, was in
structed to arrange for a con-
ference between the County and
School Boards. The conference
was requested some time ago by
the educational body but had
been delayed by the County Board.
Mr.. Dugan also moved that the
March "a public budget hearing
be held in quarters larger than
the 300-seat Circuit Court room
but his suggestion failed of a Sec
ond. The change had been re-
quested by several citizens groups.
Dr. De Lashmutt and Mr.. Chew
both said they thought the court
room was the proper" place to
transact county business.
Institutional Costs.
OF the more than 1926, 900 in
crease requested by the school
budget, instructions costs
amount to $508,413 over the ap-
preparation for the current year.
Other large increases include $92,-
311 for debt service: $65,061 for
maintenance Of plants and $29,-
900 for operation of plants.
The debt service item reflects
a result of the passage Of bond
issues totaling more than $780,
900 for school construction.
In the county budget, interest
and retirement of bonds is es-
timated al $149,295. an increase
of $26,165 over the current year.
County bonds include a 100000
incinerator issue voted last year.
The county budget includes the
following items:
Planning Division-$208,811, in
Guiding $125,000 as Arlington's
share of the $500,0Oo required for
purchase of rights of way for ex-
tension of the George Washing
ton Memorial Parkway from
Spout Run up the Potomac River
to Chain Bridge. Federal and
State appropriations covering the
balance already have been made.
$979,545 for Highway Group.
Highway Division-$979,545, in
Guiding capital outlay for perma-
nent improvements . on Wilson
boulevard from North Dinwiddie
to North Jefferson streets; on
Lorcum lane from the George
Washington Memorial Parkway to
North Edgewood street; on North
Lynn street from Wilson ooule-
ward to North Nineteenth street.
and the north half Of the Wilson
Boulevard Bridge over -Four Mile
Run. Also included are funds for