Evening star., 1950-06-20
Council 10 Study
Budget etReaction
In Falls Church
Meeting Set Tonight;
Tax Increase Meets
General Approvol

Will meet at y CLOCK UOnlRQC at
City Hall to study public reaction
to it's proposed 195o-5l budget
and to, set the tax rate.
At a public hearing last night
at the Madison School. attended
by more than 100 persons, the
= councils lean year" general fund
budget and the School Boards
proposed 25-cent tax rate increase
met general approval.
The present city tax rate is
$4.55 per 500 assessed valuation,
divided between the general fund,
which gets $1.90, and the school
fund, $2.65. Proposed for the COM
ing year are retention of the gen.
eral fund tax rate and an increase
in the school rate to $3.50, bring
ing the new total, if the council
approves, to $4.80.
City Manager Roy F. Dunn said
a reassessment now in progress
can be expected to bring in some
additional revenue in 1872.
Would Cover Bond Issue.
The School Board requested the
tax increase to pay the cost of a
100000 bond issue approved by
the voters last November.
General fund expenditures
would be $278,619, an increase of
approximately $1,000 over the last
IL months expenses. The School
Board plans to spend 1926, 6,456.46,
q rise of $82,870.18 over the cur
rent year.
A report of the Municipal At
fairs Committee of the Greater
Falls Church Chamber of Com
merce opposed an increased tax
rate. A spokesman said the
School Board plans to have $685.
1898 on hand at the end of the
next fiscal year. This money
would be used for school opera
tions until tax receipts begin to
come In about December /, 1851.
$1S,75O Increase Seen.
Michael j. Byrne, secretary of
the chamber, who presented the
report, said the 25-cent increase
would bring in $18,750. If there
were no increase, Mr.. Byrne said,
the School Boards balance at the
end of the 1950-51 fiscal year
would be $51,212.19.
Instead of raising the tax rate,
he declared, the city should make
an effort to save the $18,750 "by.
studied economy" If this were
unsuccessful. he added, the money
could be borrowed as a short
term loan for less than $100.
This position was opposed by
John r. Miles, a member of the
School Board and educational di-
rector of the United States Cham
Der of Commerce. Mr.. Miles said
1t had been clearly understood
that when the bond issue was
passed the tax rate would be in
CIeaSeQ Dy 20 Genus.
Deficit Financing Seen.
A. E. Casgrain. of the Northern
Falls Church Citizens Association.
said the Chamber of Commerce
should mature and not go around1
cutting school budgets"
Karl Anderson, a member of
the council. and Mrs. Albert Kay.
1886 Grove avenue, said the $18,750I
would have to be repaid in the
following fiscal year and the
chamber was therefore advocating
deficit financing"
Several residents inquired about
the city's plans to remedy poor
surface drainage conditions. Lee
M. Rhoads, of the councils FL
nance Committee, said thorough
survey of all drainage problems in
the city is being made.
New Bond Issue Predicted.
The City Manager predicted
that a bond issue will be necessary
to provide a satisfactory storm
sewer system.
Mr.. Dunn said the proposed
budget will permit him to employ
one more policeman, bringing the
total to ID full-time men and one
part-time officer.
DR.. William D. Claudy, a men,
Der of the Volunteer Fire De-
partment, urged the Council to
include in the budget funds for
replacement and repair of his de-
partment's equipment.
Mr.. Rhoads said a $2,420 allo-
cation for administration of JUS
tice might have to be increased to
$4,000 because of establishment in
September of a Civil Court, as
provided in the city's new charter.