Evening star., 1950-04-30
Arlington Board
Votes 18-Cent
Tax Rate Boost
Increase Designed
To Finance School
Budget of 50 Million
By Robert c. RoIIines

BY Robert c. RoIIinss
An 18-cent increase in the
property tax rate. bringing the
total to 1858 per 500 of assessed
valuation, was voted yesterday by
the Arlington County Board.
The new rate, designed to A.
nance total county and school
budget of more than 50 million,
will be effective with the new fis-
cal year beginning July /.
Property owners will find the
increase reflected in tax bills re-
ceived in the fall and payable
by December S.
Robert w. Cox, freshman men,
ber Of the board, who moved that
the 1888 rate be adopted, esti.
mated the increase will cost the
owner Of a $4,000 home about
$40.
Reassessment in Progress.
Arlington property is assessed
at 40 per cent of market value,
based on the 1940-41 level. The
last reassessment was in 1946 but
another one is in progress and will
be completed by the end of this
year.
Schools will receive all of the
revenue from the 18-cent increase.
The board set the tax rate for the
general county fund at $1.80, the
same as the current rate. That
was the figure proposed by County
Manager A. T. Lundberg. The tax
rate for schools was set at $1.82.
an increase of 18 cents over the
current rate. The school budget
totals $3.7 million.
The School Board originally had
requested a 20-cent increase but
later said 18 cents would be suf-
flcient.
Reason for the change was a
decision to eliminate a $25, 900
item for major repairs at the
Thomas Nelson Page school.
Will Abandon School.
Mr.. Cox, who read an 11-page
statement in connection with his
tax rate motion. explained that
the school board has decided to
abondon the Page school, sell the
land and build another school
elsewhere. He declared recent
developments have made the land
occupied by the school worth a
great deal more money and less
desirable as site for school,"
He apparently referred to the
purchase of a large nearby tract
by the Hecht Co. as q site for
q store.
MIR. Cox said the salary in
creases provided by the budget
amount to about 5 per cent for
clerical employees; approximately
10 per cent for firemen and po-
licemen, and as much as Is per
cent for some executive positions.
The raises will be made under
o revision of the county pay scale
recommended after study by a
consultant of the Public Admin
tstration Service. Mr.. Cox said.
Net Increase of $32,179.
Mr.. Cox's motion included
changes in Mr.. Lundberg's
budget resulting in a net increase
of $32,179.
These revisions provided funds
for three paid firemen at the
county's only Negro fire company,
Halls Hill. After Mr.. Cox's motion
was adopted, Board Chairman
Daniel A. Dugan commented the
Halls Hill action NAKED the full
fillment Of his one remaining
campaign promise.
Mr.. Lunberg had set up a $29,-
$50 item for another fire company
This was changed to give funds
for the Halls Hill firemen and for
constructing a temporary building
10 house new ladder company at
the county property yard, plus
three paid f1remen to staff it. The
property yard is off the Shirley
highway near darlington.
Street Departments Listed.
Other additions will give $1,000
for Improvement of Fairfax drive
from North Highland street to
Washington boulevard in Claren-
don; $500 for South Four Mile
Run drive and $4,000 for Arlington
Mill drive.
Mr.. Cox said the money to cover
the increases agreed to by the
board, had been obtained "by re-
ducing the managers budgeted
contingency fund to q very low
figure"
This puts the general county
government in just about the same
position as the schools in this re-
gard, both will have to depend on
additional revenue from an in
creased assessed valuation figure
to provide them contingency
money" Mr.. Cox explained.
THAT is tighter budgeting than
some people like but I believe it
is sound" asserted Mr.. Cox, who
is the budget officer of the Federal
Communications Commission.