Evening star., 1951-06-22
Basic Tax Rafe
Raised 13Cenfs
In Montgomery
Expense and Capital
Budgets Approved
Exceed $21 Million

Exceed 9Zl MiIitQn
Montgomery County's basic ia,
rate will be increased 13 cent.
beginning July /.
The County Council, in a spe-
cial meeting at Rockville last
night, adopted an expense budget
for the 1951-52 fiscal year of $l1,-
O96,35 and capital budget OF
$10,745, 800. The expense budget
covers operating expenses of the
county, the capital budget goes
for construction projects.
In deciding to increase the
basic tax rate from $1.9O for
each 500 of assessed property
valuation to $2.03, the council re-
versed itself on previous, pre-
liminary decision to defer the new
county library system.
Tuesday, j. Louis Monarch,
council president. said the coun-
Gil had tentatively decided on a
new tax rate of $2.01, 5 cents
lower than the $2.06 recommend
ed in the original budget proposed
by County Manager Irving G.
McNayr
Taxable Base Increases.
The chief reasons the council
gave for being able to adopt a
lower tax rate than recommended
by Mr.. McNayr at that time were
that the taxable base had in
creased from $404 million to $414
million since the manager drew
up his budget and the library ap-
preparation was going to be cut
from requested $206,759 to about
$4,000.
Last night, however. the council
voted ST. to give the library it's
full request and thus clear the
way for the establishment of a
county-w library system. The
adoption of the full request meant
2 more cents on the tax rate.
Councilman Grover Walker
voted against the appropriation.
Mrs. Stella Werner, who could not
be present last night because her
daughter had to undergo an emer-
gency operation, also had ex-
pressed opposition to the full Ii
hrarv apuropriatiOn.
The library appropriation was
the only point of dissention. The
remainder of the budget, which
was substantially the same as that
proposed by Mr.. McNayr was
adopted without debate.
More Funds for Schools.
Montgomery County's expense
budget for the current fiscal year
totals $8.715,471
One of the biggest increases VIII
60 for schools. The Board of
Education will get an operating
appropriation Of $5.484,574 COM
pared to $4,249,188 this year. The
board also anticipates $1,797 400
in State aid, giving it total .ex-
pense budget of $7,281,974.
The School Board didn't fare as
we'll in the capital budget. IT
asked $11,192, ,582 for school con-
struction next year. The budget
as approved allots $7.3 million for
school construction. but authorizes
the board to go ahead with any
or all of the 11.192,582 worth of
planned projects.
The Department of Public
Safety also was increased from
S755.O51 this year to $939,901 for
next year. The police department
will get $847 ,203; the fire depart
ment $42, ,698, and the division OF
civil defense $4,000. The police
department will be able to hire 20
new policemen under the in
creased appropriation.
Othe Budget Items.
Here are some other items from
the new expense budget:
County council, $13,600; judi
cial and State officers, $205,75
Board of Supervisors of Elections,
$89,875: Office of county manager
$153,330; department ofs finance,
$260,208; department of recrea-
tion, $4,000; department of in
spection and license. $128,249;
department of public works, $780,
862, and health department, $318,-
290.
In the capital budget, in addi-
ton to school construction, are
$2,000,300 for roads and Storm
drainage projects; $670,000 for the
new county Office building, and
SITS, 900 for new parking lots in
Bethesda, Silver Spring, Wheaton
and Montgomery Hills.
The expense budget also makes
money available for certain SAL
ary increases. These include
County Manager McNayr, from
$1o,750 to $4,000; School supt.
Edwin Broome, $4,000 to S11.50o;
Director of Finance Alex Hancock,
$8,750 to $9,250, and Police Chief
Charles M. Orme. Sc. 200 to $500.
Planning Tax Raised.
There was only one change in
the special taxes. The Maryland
National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission tax for the re-
gional district was raised from
three to four cents as provided In
a new State law.
Some of the other special taxes,
which were not changed, are
Washington Suburban Sanitary
Commission tax for the metropol-
itan area, 10 cents; park and
planning commissions metropol-
itan district tax, IL cents; SUBJ
ED