Evening star., 1952-10-21
Tax Question
Sway Vote
In Montgomery
Assessment Dispute
Could Doom Two
LocuI Referendu
By ChorIes |. Hoffman

Af0A44ty 40 P4OAANAAAS ASNS4 ~S4~ ~
tions that may effect the Novem'
her voting and the county's fl.
nancial picture next spring.
Many observers feel the snow.
halling protests over reassessments
many of which have been re-
ported up so to 80 per cent over
present appraisals may doom two
local referendums, which have
had strong backing of non-parti-
san civic groups in the county.
One referendum would increase
the maximum pay for the next
council from $1,000 to $4,000 a
year, but would not change the
basic $20-a-meeting pay rate.
j.. The other would remove the
$4,000 limitation on the county
managers salary and perm pit the
council to set the salary,
Observers feel the voters may
reject these two charter changes
as "spite vote"
, The county parent teacher as
Sociations have been s strongly sup
porting the passage of the bill to
permit the county managers sal
ary raise. d.
Superintendent's Raise Blocked.
The county managers salary
limitation indirectly blocks a raise
for the superintendent Of schools
School officials are faced with the
problem Of getting a qualified
successor for DR.. Edwin w
Broome, who will retire next year
They do not feel a suitable sue
cessor can be found at the SILL.
500 salary now being paid DR.
Broome. ..
The resentment also is seer
strengthening the position o1
School Board candidates who are
running on economy platforms
in the November 4 elections.
The County Council is visibly
disturbed by the mounting wave
of protests as has been indicated
by recent actions.
The council prepared letter
to accompany reassessment no.
tices. which pointed up that the
assessment procedures are carried
out by the State officials.
In a further effort to divest it
self of any connection with the
assessment policies and the appeal
tax court, the council also is
known to be discussing the legality
of removing the name of its clerk
from the assessment notices. Such
a move may necessitate the dis-
carding of several thousand assess
ment notice forms.
Council Displeased.
1t is we'll known among county
Office holders that the council was
displeased with County Manager
Irving G. McNayr's frank state
ment of two weeks ago that he
did not foresee any substantial
cut in the tax rate next year. Re.
ports are that as a result the
council more or less has muzzleo
Mr.. McNayr from making what
they believe are policy state
mentS.
The county manager was slatec
to appear with Finance Director
Alex Hancock and Supervisor o1
Assessments Wilton T. Allen to.
morrow night before residents o1
Martins Addition at the Chevy
Chase Elementary School. His
appearance now is not expected
and in his place probably will be
q member of the county council
Among his. duties, Mr.. McNayl
prepares a budget and recon-.
mends tax rate for presentation
to the council. The council ther
must have a majority vote to de-
crease a budget item, and five OF
the seven members must support
an increase before it can be made
Some council members repeat
edly have told protesting home
owners that increased assessments
do not necessarily mean increased
tax bills.
Some officials see this as a sign
the Council, in an effort to appease
down-county residents, may make
a determined drive to cut the tax
rate next year. They fear such q
move would endanger the county's
present favorable credit standing
in the municipal bond market.
S34.S Million in Bonds.
County officials also are looking
at the financial picture in terms
Of the need for an increased
assessable base.
The county now has bonded
Indebtedness of $348 million, with
about $18 million of this debt
to be retired this year. The Coun.
Gil, has authorized bond issue.
totaling $15.6 million which have
not yet been floated. If all were
sold-and admittedly all are no
expected to be sold-the county
would be within 81 million of it:
debt limitation. ..
Officials are asking themselve'
what will happen to the schoo
ana road construction programs
ifafthe assessable base does no
take a considerable Jump thi
year. They point out that thu
assessable base-except for nev
construction-2will be frozen mex
year until the end of the first new
thfee-year cycle in 1856.
Campbell Cites Battle
disappearing Stevenson
Edmund Campbell, Democratic
candidate for the House in thu
10th Virginia district, said las
night he does not indorse every
thing in the Democratic Part,