Evening star., 1951-09-13
James Resigns
Over Fairfax
Redssessments
Underestimate
OF Revenue Yield
Caused Friction

Fairfax County Assessor Gra-
ham James has resigned under
pressure from members of the
Board of Supervisors in dispute
over the recently completed re-
assessment.
His resignation was accepted by
unanimous vote of the supervisor;
yesterday. His letter of resigna.
ton gave no reason for leaving
but Mr.. James said privately thai
he had been asked by Supervisors
G. Wallace Carper and Morris
Fox to resign on Tuesday.
II had the letter OF resignation
all written when they came tc
my Office Tuesday evening" said
Mr.. James.
Several weeks earlier, he had
predicted that the ak would fall
because the final reaSsessment
figures were so much higher than
the estimate he gave the super
viSorS when the budget was pre-
pared last spring. The tax rate
was based on his estimated real
estate appraisal of $99 million,
and the final figure was $141 mil
lion. AS a result, the county will
receive a large surplus from tax
sources this year.
Resignation Request Denied.
Mr.. Fox and Mr.. Carper denied
they had asked Mr.. James to
resign.
isn't this a general invita- ton
for every one to come in and have
their reasSeSSment figures re-
viewed?" asked Edwin Lynch.
Fairfax County's representative
in the House of Delegates.
Mr.. Fox replied that he was not
condemning the reassessment.
Il think it is the best equaliza-
tion of assessments the county has
ever had," he added.
Mr.. Carper agreed that the re-
assessment was a good job.
But he should have come
closer in estimating the final
figure. We have no right to such
a big SURPLUS" said Mr.. Carper.
Assured Of Expert Help.
When the reasseSsment was
started January /, 1850. Mr.. James
said State tax officials assured
him it could be completed with
the help Of experts from Rich
mond in IL months.
But we had trouble obtaining
men qualified to do the work." he
wrote the board. He said the work
done by some men had to be done
all over again. Mr.. James said the
reaSsessment was further slowed
down because he had to compile
data for the Falls Church and
Alexandria annexation cases, and
for the creation of two sanitary
districts.
When the reasSessment wasn't
over as time approached to set
the 1851 tax rate last spring. Mr..
James was requested to give an
estimate.
The supervisors acknowledged
that Mr.. James had been a tire
less worker throughout the reas-
sessment program. Mr.. Carper
said he knew Mr.. James had come
to work on most mornings at
am, and remained many nights.
He also worked nearly every
Satrday-30 altogether. Since
he had not taken vacation for
a number of years, the super
visors agreed he would be given
a vacation and remain on the pay
roll until November l.. although
he actually stopped work yester-
day.
Mr.. James had been employed
by the County for IL years, and
was assessor since June, 1949.
Tension between two other
county officials erupted at yester-
days meeting.
Treasurer Lewis Coyner, who
predicted at an earlier meeting
that tax bills would be late and
penalties automatically would be
imposed by State regulations, told
the board his Office was not caus-
ing any delay.
Blames Assessment Delay.
Were not getting the assess
ments from the Commissioner of
Revenue as fast as we can handle
them" he added. "All assessments
should have been to me by Septem-
ber l."
Commissioner of Revenue John
w. Ferguson said he was late
getting the figures from the as
SCISSORS Office, and had been
granted a six weeks extension by
State tax officials to forward the
figures to Mr.. Coyner.
He said all real estate assess
ments now have been sent to Mr..
Coyner'S Office, and personal prop
erty assessments should be in the
treasurer's hands by the first part
of october.
Mr.. Coyner wanted to know why
the personal property figures were
not compiled by Mr.. Ferguson first,
since the real estate reassessment
was late.
Mr.. Ferguson replied that
county residents didn't have to
file personal property returns until
May, and that was after the real
estate reassessment figures al
ready had started coming into his
Office.
Both Seek Same Job.
Mr.. Coyner wound up the ex-
change assuring the board he
could get bills out in time to beat
the December 5 deadline if he
has all assessment figures by the
first of October, as promised by
Mr.. Ferguson.
Both Mr.. Coyner and Mr..
Ferguson are seeking the director
of finance position that takes eff
feet with Fairfax's new govern