Evening star., 1950-03-28
30-Cent Limit
Put on Tax Rise
In Arlington
County Board Votes
To Advertise Rate
Of $3.75 Per $100
By Robert G. RoIIinqs

ANY increase In CQe Arlington
tax rate this year will be limited
to 80 cents per 500 of assessed
valuation. the county board de-
cided last night.
At the close of the annual pub
lie hearing on the budget for the
coming fiscal year. the board
voted to advertise tentative rate
of S3.75 per $100, or 80 cents more
than the current rate.
A public hearing on the tax
rate increase will be held at 8
pm. April 27.
The board may adopt the budg-
ct and set the tax rate at any
time between April 27 and mid
night April 80. The fiscal year
begins July /.
Under the law. the board may
not set a tax rate any higher
than the one it advertises as
tentative, but it may adopt a
lower one.
To Permit Flexibility.
Robert w. Cox, who made the
motion to advertise a $375 rate,
said the 30 cents will permit fex-
ibility in arriving at what the
rate should be-"
County Manager A. T. Lundberg
has proposed a budget of $685.
721 for general county purposes,
exclusive of schools. This would
be financed by a tax rate of S1.80
per s100.
In addition the County School
Board has advanced a budget of
$3,705,190, calling for a s1.85 tax
rate, or 20 cents more per $100
than is now devoted to schools.
The County Board must set the
final budget and total rate, desig-
mating the amount for schools and
the portion of the total tax rate
applying to that purpose.
Little Opposition.
Last nights hearing was marked
by little opposition to a tax rate
rise. Most of the ITS persons who
crowded the circuit courtroom
either remained silent, favored an
adequate rate" or backed the 20
cents requested by the School
Board.
Malcolm D. Miller. representing
the County Civic Federation,
backed a $3.65 rate but Bertram
Gross, speaking for the Columbia
Pike Citizens Association, and
Harley M. Williams, appearing for
the Better Government League,
opposed any rise in the current
$345 rate.
Deputy County Treasurer
George A. Rucker, speaking for
Treasurer John Locke Green, op-
posed the proposed 20-cent rise
and asked that tax collections be
estimated at 80 rather than 95 per
cent. The latter does not leave
any margin of safety" Mr.. Rue
ker declared.
John Paul Jones. president of
the Arlington County Firemen's
Association. pleaded for a pay
raise for firemen; additional men
and equipment; establishment of
a separate fire call board and
radio station; an additional de-
partment in the north side of the
county, and stationing of lad
der truck on the south side.
Pay for Negro Unit Asked.
Carroll Deskins, speaking for
the North Arlington Community
Veterans Committee, asked for
paid men in the Halls Hill Fire
Department. the county's only
Negro unit.
Improved library facilities were
supported by Mrs. Homer Clark
for the American Association of
University Women, and Mrs.
Laura Boldin of the Soroptimist
Club asked a pay scale for police
and f1remen commensurate"
with other departments in the
metropolitan area.
Reed K. Pond, chairman of the
Citizens Committee for School
Improvement, declared the school
budget as proposed is an AUS
terity budget" which will permit
only limited number of needed
Improvements.