Evening star., 1951-03-18
Fairfax Row Due
On S4.9 Million
School Budget
Sum Nearly Double
Present Total; Some
PTAs Want More
BY Mory Lou Werner

A row over school expenditures
started brewing in Fairfax County
yesterday soon after the school
board announced a $4,919,245
budget proposal for 1872.
The sum is nearly double the
current years school budget and
lis greater than the budget for
all county operations this year.
There is considerable senti-
Iment for an even higher budget.
Some PTA groups have gone
on record in favor of a Sc million
school budget, and indorsed a
school tax rate of $3.50 per 500
tof assessed valuation. This rate
first was considered by the school
board. 1t was scrapped in favor
of a $256 rate. however, after
the Board of Supervisors let it
be known they wouldn't approve
the higher amount.
Principal argument offered by
those in favor of higher school
budget is the need for classrooms.
Railways, auditoriums, quonset
Ihuts, classrooms partitioned in
half, churches and even fire houses
have been pressed into service in
Fairfax to meet overcrowded con-
Iditions. Voters approved a sos
million school construction bond
issue last May. but it has been
delayed by suits of Paul E. Rhine
hart, jr, of Vienna. His latest
suit recently was dismissed in
Fairfax Circuit Court. but the
county has not been able to pro-
Iceed with the bond sale while
There is still a chance that Mr..
Rhinehart may appeal.
Hope to Sell Bonds Soon.
School board members indicated
they are hopeful. however, of be-
ing able to sell the bonds soon
and have included $105,496 in the
new budget to pay interest.
But strong sentiment for lower
school bulget-and tax LEWIS ex-
pected when a public hearing is
held by the supervisors next
month.
This is largely because many
county residents had expected a
| 1872 tax rate of about $225, in
cluding both the school and
county administration levies.
Some supervisors had unoffcially
indicated the tax rate could be
held to approximately that
amount because Of the recently
completed reassessment that
raised property valuations from
S64 million to $123 million. They
said a total tax rate of $1.49 on
the new valuation would raise the
same sum that was raised by the
current rate of $3l9 on the old
assessment.
| With the county administra-
ton levy yet to be added to the
school rate. however. the total
rate can be expected to approach
that of the current fiscal year.
This would result in doubled bills
for many. The 1872 budget
goes into effect July /.
Operating Expense Rise.
The proposed new school levy
is expected to raise $2,842,07l.
while the current school rate of
$2.65 was budgeted to bring in
only $1,525,846 State grants and
other miscellaneous sources ac-
count for the rest of the proposed
new budget.
Biggest increase in operating
expenses proposed by the new
budget is a S681.00O rise in in
Istructional costs. This principally
lis a result of a higher teacher
salary scale and the addition Of
some new teachers. OF the total
proposed school levy. $2.05 would
be for operating expenses.
Capital outlay and debt service
expenditures in the proposed bud
get amount to $1,532,077, and the
tax levy required for that purpose
is 81 cents. Only 1921 ASS is bud
geted under this category in the
current years budget. Largest
sum in the capital outlay proposal
lis $812,543 for new buildings and
additions. School officials said an
100000 grant from Gov. Battles
school construction fund would
take care of this, however.
Budget Figures Compared.
A breakdown of the proposed
budget requests. compared with
the current years figures. follows.
with the 1951-52 figures listed
first:
Administration, ,S64,77o compared to
S4S. $50; instruction, S2,340,120 and
Sl;;37s,261: i6nstruetional costs other than
ordinate activities, S9955 and $3.50;
transportations Sl65'6!9 and s13S:9l5;
ment, $3.50 and S195; operation of school
facilities, s212.O15, and S1s2;lOo; main;
S1O6,s4O; fixed charges such as Insurance.
S43,450 and S24, ,450; architects fees.
S4o.1s3s and d. none asked last year; new
for buildings. S66 500 and S45,I25; ONCE
equipment. $1,000 and S4,40O; purchase
of sites, SS1 900 and $40 900; improve
ment. Of sites; s"o;oo0 and $4,000; new
buildings and additions, SS12,543 and
none last year; alterations to old build
ings, $4,000 and $4,000; miscellaneous
capital outlays, $4,000 and S22, 500
payment Of bonds. S2s16 and same
loan fund. SlO1.720 and S94 22O; re-
demption of temporary loans SlS7,467;
interest on bonds Sl05,496 and S62S;
interest on literary fund bonds, S4S,5sl
and S45,966; interest on temporary loans,
| 81 ,49S.
Income, in addition to the
amount raised by the tax rate,
includes:
Anticipated operating surplus, S162 s2e;
from State funds, Si96,574: from mis-
cellaneous sources such as fees, Federal
grants and delinquent taxes, S151,SS7;
anticipated capital outlay surplus, S66, 139;
appropriation from the Board of Super
visors: S87,467i and Gov. Battles grant,
SS02,6 ,677.
ICiIver Snrinn Womnn