Evening star., 1952-01-17
Alexandra Acts
On Bond Sale for
An Area
Issue Of $2.4 Million
Is PIunned to Finonce
Improvements, School

1 y
Alexandria is preparing to sell
q $2.4 million bond issue for capi-
tai improvements in the 7.6 square
miles annexed from Fairfax
County. and to build a new 80
room elementary school to serve
the downtown area.
City Attorney C. Floyd Williams
was instructed by the City Council
last night to confer with bond at.
torneys about preparing the new
issue for sale.
The issue Is to include. approx.
imately $1.380,00 for capital i'm
provements in the annexed area
which represents IL per cent Of
the areas assessed value. Coun-
|cilmen agreed to spend IL per
cent within the area. instead of
choosing one other alternative Of
the annexation law requiring all
tax funds from the area for the
next flve years to be spent solely
in that territory.
Payment to Fairfax Included.
It also is proposed to include
$500 900 in the issue for new Lee.
Elementary School on which the
School Board already has received
bids. The council authorized the
School Board to award the Lee
School contract to the F. H. Mar
tell firm Of Washington, low bid
der. In addition to the bond
money, 1t win be financed by q
$129. 900 grant from Gov. Battles
emergency fund for school con-
|struction.
The other item to be included In
the bond issue is $156,OOO, which
|the annexation court ordered
Alexandria to pay Fairfax County
for improvements put into the
Iannexed territory.
No referendum is necessary for
cities to sell general obligation
bond issues.
List OF improvements.
Mayor Franklin P. Backus said
improvements proposed to be made
In the annexed area from the
bond issue tentatively were budg-
eted as follows: r.
A new elementary school, pos
|sibly in the Shirley-Duke area,
$500. 600: sewers, $3.50 900; streets,
SIPS. 900: parks and other public
lands, $4,000: fire and police sta
tion, $150,000; fire equipment.
SIC, ,202 so; traffic lights, $3.50;
signs and other street equipment,
/ $2,130; trucks for trash service,
SIS. 1000: garbage truck, $500.
Mr.. Backus said all the pro-
lposed capital expenses totaled
about 81 ,430, 900, which is more
than the IL per cent the city is
required to spend under the ale
tentative that was chosen.
The Council approved an oper-
Iating budget Of $229, $50 for the
annexation area for the next six
months. Beginning with the new
fiscal year July !. the annexation
area operations then will come
within the overall city budget.
Many Items Omitted.
DR.. T. F. McGough, city health
|officer, appealed for the provision
|of two nurses in the annexed
AREAS operating budget. He was
GRANTED one nurse who will be
paid in full by the State.
G. Luckett Watkins, acting city
manager, said the budget is ian
Emergency budget" and that many
desirable items are omitted.
The greater part Of last nights
four-hour meeting was devoted to
consideration Of amendments to
more than 10 sections Of the city
charter. These were prepared by
a charter committee composed Of
Councilmen Beverley, Bendheim.
and James M. Duncan. Alex
andria's charter went into effect
in April, 1850.
Alexandria's delegation in Rich
nond will be sent copies of the
proposed charter changes which
include election Of mayor and
vice mayor by popular vote; recall
OF councilmen serving on the
planning commission, and provid-
ing an additional civil and police