Evening star., 1952-07-20
Change toCitY
Might Be Costly
For Arlington
County Leaders List
Major Pros and Cons
To Be Considered

Would it cost Arlington half 6
million dollars to become a city:
Could incorporation ward of
some of John Locke Green's law.
suits?
These are some of the questions
raised by Arlington residents as
they discuss the possibility o1
changing their county into a city
1t has been the county's lead.
ing topic of conversation since
Friday when The Star reported
that. petition asking a referen-
dunn on Incorporation was before
Arlington Circuit Judge William
D. Medley.
So far. the discussion hasn't
reached the debate stage. County
leaders are not anxious to take a
positive stand on either side
Most of them prefer to wait fol
a report from the recently ap-
pointed County Government Study
Commission.
But there is plenty of talk of
what would be gained, and what
would be lost.
Money Angle Stressed.
State Senator Charles R. Fen
wick was quick to point out the
money angle.
During the last three years,
Arlington averaged $1,112,585 in
State grants for roads. That in
cluded $341,5 ,567 annual average
in gas tax rebates for secondary
roadS-which cities do not re-
ceive-plus additional revenues for
other highway work. Cities have
to put up higher percentage of
matching funds for those funds
that fall in the additional
revenue" class.
Senator Fenwick said if Airing
ton had been a city during the
past three years, the total high
way revenue would have averaged
only $538,943.
That's the big stumbling block
the money we would lose," said
Senator Fenwick. 1.-THE question
is whether the advantages out
weigh the disadvantages"
Three Major Changes Listed.
He saw three major changes
that would result from incorpora-
ton:
l. The city council would have
the right to issue certain amount
of bonds without referendum.
The proposed charter limits these
non-referendum bonds to a five
year duration, and to 3 per cent
of the total real estate assessment.
Bonds for longer terms, and in
excess of the 3 per cent assessment
figure would require a referendum
This is a far more conservative
feature than is found in the
charters of most Virginia cities.
which have the authority under
general law to issue bonds up to
18 per cent of the total assessed
value, without referendum.
2. The city council would have
the right to grant franchises to
public utilities. The county does
not now have that authority.
3. AS a city, Arlington would
have the power to annex land
from adjoining counties.
Advantages Limited.
Senator Fenwick said Arlington
may ind no real advantage in
the second and third points he
mentioned. He said the right to
issue franchises would exclude
the right to fix rates, and it would
have no effect on utilities already
operating because they have fran
chlses from the State which are
not revokable.
He said the value of annexation
was questionable in Arlington's
case because the surrounding area
of Fairfax County is principally
residential. He said there was
no particular financial advantage
to annexing large residential
areas, and cities usually try to
annex territory with room for
lucrative industrial DEVELOPMENT,
Senator Fenwick said he wanted
1t understood that he had no OBJ
lection to incorporation as such
1T just boils down to a question
OF what are the advantages and
what are the disadvantages"
He recalled that in 1912 he got
the first legislation through the
General Assembly authorizing an
Arlington Incorporation referen-
dum. That was done hurriedly
when Arlington was worried about
the possibility of becoming a part
OF the District of Columbia. SEN
ator Fenwick said subsequently
Judge Walter Mccarthy appointed
a charter commission, which came
up with the proposed charter now
at issue. That charter was
wrapped up in legislation passed
at the 1946 General Assembly
session authorizing a referendum
on petition of the voters.
Bond Provision Favored.
Howard Cannon, civic leader
agreed with the three maio,
changes listed by Senator Fenwick
He thought the non-referendun
bond issue provision was par.
ticularly advantageous. He sale
major bond issues still would come
before the voters, but the cit,
council could go ahead with les.
expensive projects like municipa
parking lots.
Mr.. Cannon is chairman Of 8
subcommittee of the Government,
Study Commission. His subcom,
mittee at the present time is en-,
gagged in a survey of the pros anc
cons of incorporation.
Robert w. Cox, chairman of tn,
County Board, said he preferre,
to await the Government Stud,
Commissions report before com,
menting on the incorporation pro
posal. MIR. Cox sponsored creation
of the 36-member commission. HI
said it is scheduled to report il