Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-12-28
Delegates Face
Dilemma on
School Pay Bill
Montgomery Group
Being Pressured to
Support Increase
By ChorIes [. Hoffman

output tII$ISOSS
By ChorIes l. Hoffman
The all-Republican Montgomery
County delegation to the General
appears likely to get off
on the wrong foot no matter which
way it votes next month on over
riding the governors veto of a
bill to increase teachers minimum
pay.
Tremendous pressure is being
exerted in the county to swing the
delegations support behind the
bill.
The delegation, however, must
face reality when it casts its bal
lots. Its votes to override the
veto could enrage the governor to
a point where other county legis-
lation would be endangered.
State Parent Teacher Associa-
ton groups in general have urged
that the veto of the pay measure
Bill 48-be overridden.
Among the leaders in the move
is the Montgomery County Council
of Parent Teacher Associations.
Senate Bill 48 would increase the
present $4,000 minimu INTO $4,000
for certified teachers and hike the
yearly raises from 500 to $3.50
for a 12-year instead of a 16-year
period.
Urges Veto Be Upheld.
The Green CommiSsion-which
recently completed a study of the
State system of school financing
urged the governors veto be up
held.
The commission came forth
with its own recommendations
calling for similar $500 a year
raise with little increase in State
aid during the next two years.
The new minimum would not be
used in calculating equalization
funds to be paid the county.
The weather. counties-Mont-
gomery, Prince Georges, Anne
Arundel-feel they would receive
an inadequate share of State
funds under the Green Com
mission recommendations.
The issue boils down to q clash
between advocates of more State
aid for schools and proponents Of
local school financing. Gov. Nc
Keldin is strong supporter Of
the latter.
Cite Drop in States Share.
The Montgomery PTA group
feels that the State has failed to
carry its share of school operat-
ing costs in recent years. In the
last five years, they point out, the
States share in the county has
dropped from "a per cent to %
per cent.
The result is, they say, that real
estate owners in the county are
being called on to pay tremend-
ously increased taxes to support
the schools. The county has no
authority to ttax intangible wealth
for support of schools.
Under Senate Bill 48, Mont
gomery stands to gain $2,835 900
over the three-year period 1853
1856. Under the Green Commits
sion recommendation the county
would get only $545 900 and most
OF it would come in the third year
when the minimum pay would be
raised to $4,000 with the new fig
ure being used in equalization fund
calculations.
Senate Bill 48 would provide
So, 280, 900 more a year in State
aid. The Green Commission would
cost the State only about 50 mil
lion the first year and about $50
million the third year.
The Montgomery group feels
the State-which showed q SIS
million surplus this years. in a
better position than the counties
to Withstand the increasing bur-
den of school costs.
!, Viewed as Poor Compromise.
The Green report - called a
good job by many-came up with
a weak compromise to assure
some school legislation this COM
ing Assembly session, school
groups contend.
The Commission had charged
that under Senate Bill 48, teachers
stood to gain only 81 million in
pay raises while the bills pro-
visions were to cost the State more
than So million a year.
The Montgomery PTA group
points out, however. that State aid
is based on lbs times the mini
mum salaries. Although the
county now has a $2,94O minimum.
this figure has no effect on the
amount of State aid the county
receives.
The local group also has blasted
the Green Commission recon-
mendation to increase in the third
year from IS to rs cents per 500
assessed valuation the minimum
tax rate a county is required to
levy for schools. This would cost
Montgomery $4,000 in 1886
when it becomes effective, the
group says.
If the PTA group fails to force
overriding of the veto. it will then
work for Improvements" in the
Green Commission recommends
lions. The Governor is practically
committed to sign q bill passed
along lines Of the Green recon-