Evening star., 1950-01-15
Arlington Asks
Bill 10 Establish
Assessment Unit
County Delegation
In Assembly Urged
To Offer Measure
BY Robert c. RoIIinas


of Assessment Review and Equal.
ization was requested of the Ar.
lington delegation to the virginia
General Assembly by the County
Board yesterday.
The request, adopted on motion
Of Robert w. Cox. newest member
of the board, also would provide
for appointment by the county
manager of a full-time profess
sional assessor.
In other actions, the board:
l. Voted to hold public hear
Ing on rezoning back to a resi-
Dental classification of a tract
OF land on which Woodward &
Lothrop proposes to build a
branch store.
2. Agreed to appoint advisory
committees on various subjects.
3. Asked for legislation permit
ting a referendum on the ques-
ton of nonpartisan elections for
local Offices.
Promise Fulfilled.
In requesting the authority to
revamp the county's property as
sessment procedures. Mr.. Cox was
fulfilling campaign promise
made last year.
During the race, Mr.. Cox de-
clared Arlington could obtain
much-needed additional revenues
by equalizing assessments so that
an increase in the tax rate would
not be necessary.
Mr.. Cox, attending the first
regular meeting of the board since
he assumed Office January /, had
called for "a modern scientific
assessment system to iron out
inequalities and to assure justice
and fairness on property taxes"
AS proposed, the legislation
would establish a board made up
of the commissioner of revenue,
the County treasurer and a third
citizen" member to be selected
by the County Board.
Reviews Suggested.
Under the setup, the assessor
would make all initial determina-
tions and the board would review
them at open meetings. After the
review. property owners would be
notified and given an opportunity
to appeal the assessment. These
procedures would apply to ali
valuations. including the regular
quadrennial reassessment of all
real estate.
Arlington real estate now is re-
assessed every four years by a
three-man board named by the
Judge of the circuit court. Be
tween these general reassessments
new construction is assessed by
the commissioner Of revenue.
Under the existing law, the as
bessed valuation of property can
be changed only by general reas-
sessment or when the land is re-
Eoned.
Proposals Outlined.
Mr.. Cox said he proposed to give
the Board of Equalization author
lty to reassess any property on
which the actual value had
changed.
The action on the Woodward 81
Lothrop tract on South Glebe road
between Second and Fifth streets
was taken at the insistence of
William e. Day, an attorney, who
lives in the neighborhood and who
has fought the proposal to build
D branch on the site since it was
first advanced in October, 1946.
Mr.. Day reminded the board
that attorneys for Woodward &
Lothrop had promised at the time
the property was rezoned from
residential to commercial in De-
cember, 1916, that if it were not
put to use as a store site, they
would be the first to ask for its
return to a residential classifica-
tion.
Mr.. Day said nothing has been
done toward building store and,
as matter of fact, Woodward g.
Lothrop never has purchased the
acreage.
Legal Actions Cited.
Attorney Ernest Gearhart. an
associate of Thomas w. Phillips,
who represents the department
store. said the reason no progress
had been made is because Mr.. Day
has kept the matter in court and
one of the legal actions still is
pending.
ANY argument about the delay
In using the land is invalid" Mr..
Gearhart declared.
The decision to advertise the
property for rezoning was adopted
by a 81 vote. with F. Free!and
Chew opposing it.
ITO intervene while the case is
pending in court" Mr.. Chew as
serted, would be the most serious
mistake his board has made In
the IA years have been a men,
ber."
Committees Planned.
The board agreed to appoint
on January % a nine-member
fiscal advisory committee and an
advisory committee to the County
Planning Commission.
In another resolution the board
voted to ask the Federal Govern
ment to declare the Nevius tract
surplus property and dispose of II
bince it Is not to be put to the
purpose for which the Govern
ment obtained 1t.
The land was bought by the
Government as site for veter-
ans hospital. It adjoins Arling-
Ton Cemetery at the intersection
pf Lee boulevard and Arlington
Ridge roaI The Gouar,, ~ a., 4