Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1950-02-23

proposed to the delegates that GER
tain small annexations be provided,
since the town administration had
obligated itself under FILA. re-
quirements to these areas. The
state delegates wisely suggested
that this time the overall long
range expansion of Rockville be
planned.
The mayor and council, with it's
city manager, Mr.. Mcdonald, i'm
mediately made a detailed study of
the anticipated growth of Rockville
and its environs. Early in Jan
uary, 1949, a plan was presented
for skiold expansion.
Part of the plan called for an
nexation of the Lincoln Park area,
an old but substantial colored sec
ton within half a mile of Rock
vile. This was considered neces-
sary for several reasons. First
again, was sanitation. The Board
Of Health having already suggest
ed to the county commissioners
that some solution to a most un-
sanitary area be provided. Second,
the Board of Education had Great
ed in this area the center of Negro
education for Montgomery County.
1t contained the only Negro high
school in Montgomery County, and
had been purchased for a junior
high school and junior college. 1t
had also been decided to move the
Negro elementary school from
within the commercial area of
Rockville to this Negro educational
center.
Other large developments such as
extension of Rockcrest, Croydon,
and Harriet Park, already partial
ly developed, plus planned de-
velopment of Twin Brook and a
Simmons addition to Rockville.
necessitated this large expansion
program.
The plan was presented to the
State Senator, Roy Tasco Davis,
and the State Delegates, r.. DIM
can Clark, Dewitt S. Hyde, J4lian
P. King, Anders R. Lofstrand, John
R. Reeves, and Leona NJ. Rush. AL
though the legislative delegation
was sympathetic, it demanded
proof that the expansion program
was acceptable both within old
Rockville and in the areas to be
annexed. Maps were made and
published in county and Washing
ton newspapers. The mayor, mem
bers of the council, and the city
manager spoke with every organi-
cation at length. Full explanations
of the proposed expansion were
given to all organizations and in
dividuals who would listen. The
proposed plans were presented to
and discussed for the Rockville
Chamber of Commerce, Rockville
Rotary Club, Rockville Lions Club,
the Women's Club, the Garden
Club, Rockville Citizens Associa-
ton, Rock Crest Citizens Associa-
ton, the Lincoln Park Haiti Citi-
zens' Association and the Rock
vile Volunteer Fire Department.
The proposed plans were receiv-
ed unanimously by every organiza-
tion without dissenting voice.
The reason for this may be in, the
method of proposed taxation and
benefits. The law provided %
that, when any properties in the
new Rockville should receive bene-
fit of the sanitary utilities, full
rate would be imposed; (2) any
properties not receiving sanitary
utilities but receiving any other
functions such as street mainten-
ance would pay only that portion
of the basic tax rate which the
function bore to the entire tax rate
within the town; (3) any unde-
veloped properties receiving no
benefits would pay zero tax rate.
There is some doubt as to the con-
stitutionality of this zero tax rate,
but it felt that all the parties in
volved will live up to the provi-
sions of the law.
In addition, in order that all tax
payers of old Rockville could be
assured that funds for the neces-
sary expansion of the new area
would not place tax burdens on old
Rockville, provisions were made
within the law that all extensions
of utilities or streets, curb and gut
ter, and storm water, would be on
basis of front-foot benefit tax
against the particular property de-
irving these benefits. Rockville has
never had front-foot benefit ass
essments Of any type, and it is
doubtful that it will ever have.
Capital improvement debt serv-
ice for sewer or water plant neces-
STATED by the new expansion would
be calculated on the ratio of tn
new area against the old. Thirty
cents of the city tax rate goes for
service of debt. In the accounting
systems, funds derived from that
rate for the old city are used for
the old city bonds and funds for
rev capital improvements in the
expanded areas are segregated for
bond service for that project. 1t
must be borne in mind, however,