Evening star., 1952-11-12
Counci|looks
To Tax RateCut
OnAssessments
Members DiscIuim
Responsibility for
Higher Valuations

responsibility ror
Higher Valuations
Montgomery County councilmen
seeking an answer to mass pro-
tests over sharply increased prop
erty assessments, are cycling hope
fully q cut In the tax rate next
June.
The Council again yesterday dis
claimed any responsibility for the
assessment increase and produced
a f1ve-page brief from the county
attorney upholding their view.
The Council met in open ses-
sion with Supervisor of Assess
ments Wilton T. Allen, the Appeals
Tax Court and Assistant County
Attorney Joe M. Kyle.
Mr.. Allen told the Council and
representatives of a number of
county civic groups that county
residents are not being penalized
under the assessment procedure.
Mr.. Allen said Montgomery
County's ratio of assessments to
sales prices is below that of any
of five comparable areas he has
checked.
Al to So Per Cent.
The ratio in Montgomery is run
ming from Al to SO per cent, he
said. compared with IS to 70 per
cent in Baltimore City: So to 63
per cent in Baltimore County;
about 60 per cent in Anne Arundel
and Washington Counties and SIS
per cent in Prince Georges County.
The assessment supervisor said
he believed the lower ratio was
justified because of the more ar
titficial" sales prices put on homes
in Montgomery.
Mr.. Allen said the suburban
area, in 1948, was assessed on a
1941 property value basis. He said
present assessments are being
made on present values and re-
suit in sharp increases in many
cases.
The supervisor said the average
increase in assessment would be
about 20 to Is per cent. He con-
ceded, however, the increase would
be much higher for older resi-
denceS.
Councilman Harold Hammond
said that, in effect. suburban resi-
dents had been getting a break
for the last several years.
They have been paying under
what they should have been pay
ing" he said. n
Taxible Tax, Rate.
Councilmen SSgaikf noted in
creased assessments do not neces-
sarily mean increased tax bills
The tax rate, they said will depend
upon the funds needed to provide
services demanded during budget
hearings by residents.
- 1t. Gen. Charles D. Heron
chairman of the Appeal Tax Court
said about so per cent Of those
who protest their assessments gel
relief from the court.
Gen. Heron. contended the
council held ultimate responsibility
for assessments.
Councilman George Nesbitt
urged that the assessing Office be
given more space to handle the
public. MI. Allen had said that
there was only about 10 square
feet of space and two chairs fol
the public in his Office.
Mr. Nesbitt suggested the county
study the possibility of assigning
impartial assessors to the tal
court to handle cases which the
court reviews. At present. as.
SCISSORS woi iking under Mr.. Aller
are called on to review their owr
assessments.
Finance Director Alex Hancock
criticized the procedure whereby
residents must appeal findings o1
the tax court to the State ta1
commission.
New Board Proposed.
MIR. Hancock said a State boarc
of equalization to handle assess.
ment appeals should be created tt
supplant the commission in thi.
work.
Mr.. Hammond said the Council
has been anxious to obtain mort
taxing powers to relieve the ta1
burden now carried by real estate
owners.
Yesterdays session also pro
duced the announcement tina
Charles D. Sanger had resigned
from the tax court. Mr.. Sange
said the time required for the jol
was more than he had anticipated
Mr.. Sanger warned yesterda,
that home owners are "being taxe'
pretty heavily" He added he say
a need for other revenue-pro
ducing means.
w. F. Sickle. president of tn
County Farm Bureau. said tn
problem was not one merely o
high assessments. He said the rea
problem was "the cost of runnin
the county government, the efi
cheney with which it operates"
James r. Miller, president Q
the newly formed Montgomer
County Taxpayers, Inc, told tn
Council his group is hiring an ex
pert to make a complete analyst
of the operation Of several count
departments.
Morris Allen Of Silver Sprinl
who repeatedly is the man to b
hired by the taxpayers groul
urged the Council to publish tn
budget requests Of county depart
ments earlier so that citize
groups can study them befol
public hearings are held. H
recommendation was supported b
Mrs. Thomas Lee Smith, pres
dent of the County League {
Women Voters.