Evening star., 1952-02-28
Assessment Act
Altbyk kcNayr
AsSchoo| Drag
Assembly Committee
Hears Plea FOR
County Exemption
BY j. D. EStmsA
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IN January u 1885
Earlier, Mr., MrNRyV appeared
beipFe The House HIdpcatipn' Can.
mites W OPPOSE legislation to add
$500 70 the State teacher salary
scale nv foFclng counties 10 raise
thelF minimum school tax from
90 10 80 cents,
The county manager said the
proposal, sponsored by Montgom-
aFy Delegate Robert A, Wallace,
would result In q loss 10 the county
OF between s2b0,000 and e2T0,O0O
q year In State equalization funds.
Cites Laws PFOvlsl0ns,
In his talk before the Ways and
Means Committee, Mr.. McNayr
explained that, under the new %.
Aessment law, all property evalua-
tlonS In each county will DO made
But no objected strongly 10 Q
over O three.year period.
provision that no assessments can
DO place on the books until after
the end OF the third year.
This, no said. would amount
to q three-year moratorium on
assessments, Consequently, he
pointed out, the county's assess.
able base would remain almost
stationary during that period; and
It's ability to issue bonds. depend.
ing on an increase In the assess.
able base would be practically
blocked"
He said he spoke also for the
Washington Suburban Sanitary
Commission. which would be afs
fected similarly.
I'VE need to continue our school
construction program, but this re.
quires an increase In our assess.
able base each year." he emphas.
lied IA
Estimates Gains. Fl
During the coming fiscal year.
We expect to add between SIS and
$40 million to our assessable base.
And II the county's present rate Of
growth continues. It would mean
an increase Of about $76 million
in the assessable base during the
next five years"
Chairman A. Gordon Boone.
Democrat. Of Baltimore County
said the committee would defer
action until he had q chance to
consult with officials Of his county.
During the hearing on the Wal.
lace proposal, Dr.. Thomas q.
Pullen. IT,. State superintendent Of
schools. said the bill 10 raise the
school tax levy In the various
counties would cut 44,16S, ,0bi from
the States contribution 10 sCho0iA
tii1def the equalization fund,
As d result, he said, many cotifi.
! ties W0uld lose more from the
State than they would Eaifl under
MI. WAiiaee's legislation, He
added that, although he svffibas
thlRed with Mr. Wailaees 6bIeets
IVES he would have 10 oppose the
bills
II Meanwhile, the House ad0bted
q resolution calling for A thoF6ugh
study OF assessment p9lleles and
Fleth9ds In the VAPi6us e0vntles
and Baltimore city,
i BRekeFs OF the resolution said
taxpayers IN certain counties
carry a heavier taE lead than
these IN ether sections because Of
VARYING assessment standards,
five sponsors
The Ave sponsors Of the project
are washington County Delegates
0meF Y, kayl1F, jFp Charles i,
poWney, Republicans, and HeW-
ard u, Ankeney, Democrat, pele-
gate jerome Robinson, Democrat.
LOT the eth Baltimore District, and
Carroll W, Royston, Democrat, OF
Baltimore County,
In another development, 1t was
learned Montgomery County could
not be exempted from provisions
OF bill that would clarity assess
ment procedures in the various
counties.
| Montgomery's State Senator De.
witt 8, Hyde said Attorney Gem
eral Hall Hammond had informed
him the exemption Of Montgomery
County would make the measure
unconstitutional. Consequently,
Mr.. Hyde said he will ask that the
provision be eliminated.
The clause was placed in the bill
to make certain Montgomery
County would continue to assess
new construction on a half.year
and three-quarter-year basis. But
Senator Hyde said the attorney
general told him an old law still