Evening star., 1951-03-22
PrinceGeorges
Budget Set al
$40 Millions
Record Figure Puts
Education Costs
At 81 Millions

The Prince Georges County
commissioners have drawn up q
record breaking $40 million budget
for next year with 81 million ear
marked for education.
The budget for the 1882 fiscal
year beginning July, l would be
about 81 million larger than the
current budget although a change
in the accounting procedure makes
the difference seem greater.
The total figure for next years
budget includes an estimated S3.5
million to come tlom the State
and other sources for the Board
of Education. Outside revenue for
schools was not included in pre-
Ivious Prince Georges County
budgets.
10 Cent Tax Raise Seen.
To make up the 81 million diff
ference. the commissioners are
contemplating a 10 cents increase
in property taxes. That would put
new taxes at 50 per 500 assessed
valuation.
The ST million difference be-
tween the current budget and the
one proposed for next year is
caused almost entirely by an in
crease in school funds. This year
the Board of Education received
a total of Sc million from the
county. State and other minor
sources. In the proposed budget
the Board would receive a total of
a little over ST million.
Another major feature of the
proposed budget, released yester-
day by the commissioners, is the
complete commission of the Rec
reation Board. The board was
allowed $4,000 in the l949-5O
budget. $4,000 in the current
budget and had asked for s63, ,730
for 1872.
Called Least Essential"
Thomas E. Latimer, president of
the commissioners, said the Rec
reation Board was omitted because
lit was necessary. to leave out
something" and the Recreation
Board was viewed as "least essen
stial."
The new budget also provides
no funds for civil defense. Al
Though no money was appropri-
lated for that purpose in county
budgets of recent years it had
been felt that such an appropria-
|tion would be Forthcoming in the
new budget.
It is possible that both omis-
IsionS will be changed after a pub
llic hearing on the proposed budget
scheduled for 10 am, March 80.
lin the Courthouse at Upper
Marlboro.
;, Breakdown of Figures.
The proposed budget for next
year breaks down this way:
Il Legislative and executive, SAT-.
!, 100: judicial, $148,2l9: registra-
tion and election, $62, 1868; A.
nance, $154,701.16; legal counsel,
, Sill ,450; zoning appeals board,
$3.50; general government build
ings, $64.241.
Police department, S287,750:
.. fire department, $86,220; sheriff,
S24,450; cab inspector. $3,9O1.25;
animals, $4,000; coroner fees, So
900.
! Highway supervision, $3.50, ,783;
road maintenance and construc-
ton, $624,857; bridges, 1926, $780,,
health department, $8S,882; pay
ments to Prince Georges General
Hospital, 100000; patients in 9TH
er hospitals. $9O,50O.
Public welfare department,
$104,154,15; almshouse, S27,175;
county welfare agency, $45,86o;
jail, $4,000; delinquents in other
institutions, $1,000; probation,
$15,375.
i Board Of education. $685.
I075.56; Maryland School for Blind,
$4,000; agricultural extension serv-
ice, $22.820; liquor control board.
$3.50; veterans service council.
Sc, 600; Memorial Library, $51,7S4.
Pension contributions and pay
ments. $4,000; game conserva-
Ition. $500: interest and debt serv-
ice charges, $63 ,558.33; bond re-
demption, $4,000; sinking fund,
$23 500; provision for county sur
vey. $25. 900, and surplus for
emergencies, $26,50o,