Evening star., 1952-03-23
Arlington Sets
Hearing on Rise
In Business Tax
Board Also Studies
New Increase for
ReuI Estute Owners

i
ReuI Estute Owners
A proposed increase in the Ar
lington retail business license tax
from IL to 28 cents per 500 of
gross receipts will be considered
at a hearing April II.
County Board members yester-
day authorized the hearing to give
notice that they are considering
raising the business tax as well
as the real estate tax to finance
county expenditures in the fiscal
year beginning July /.
A public hearing has been set
for April 8 on a proposed maxi
mum real estate tax rate increase
Of A cents, which would raise
this rate to $3.19 per 500 of prop
erty valuation.
The board must act on a pro-
posed budget Of approximately
$14 million. before midnight
&1RA4 0Vs
Big Increase Seen.
Board Chairman Robert w.
Cox said that If the increase in
the business license tax is adopted,
revenue from this source would
Jump from $45O,OOO q year at
present rates to approximately
81 million.
The proposed maximum rate of
|28 cents, which Mr.. Cox said is
the same rate paid by Alexandria
businessmen, is a 133 per cent
increase
The boards Advisory Committee
on Fiscal Affairs recommended
that the business license tax be
Increased to bring in about 81
million a year.
Mr.. Cox said that II the board
approves the full requests Of Coun-
|ty Manager A. T. Lundberg and
the School Board, the 28-cent busi-
ness tax rate would bring in about
half OF the increased revenue
needed. The real estate rate in
Grease could then be % cents. he
said.
Peck Opposes Move.
Robert A. Peck. Republican, re-
fused to join the three other board
members In their vote to adver-
tise the Ascent rate. He said he
would approve consideration of
that figure only II the board
should provide that a business
mans tax could not exceed 8 per
cent Of his adjusted net income.
The board also will consider
other fees in the business tax ordi-
nance at the hearing.
In other business, the board
rejected a proposal to set up a
Redevelopment and Housing Au-
thority.
Mr.. Cox and Daniel A. Dugan
favored the motion. The third
bipartisan board member, Alan
L. Dean. was absent because .of
illness.
Special Study Urged.
Mr.. Peck and Democrat Alfred
E. Frisbie opposed the motion
and voted instead for creation of
"a special council to study slum
housing.
The board voted to ask the
County Pension and Retirement
Board to submit written report
on an auditors comments which
Mr.. Dugan said "are a little dis
turbing to me-" MIR. Dugan said
the firm Of T. Coleman Andrews
of Richmond had mentioned that
the records are not complete on
two loans.
Mr.. FriShie. chairman of the re-
tirement board, said he could give
his personal assurance that the
funds are ill good order. He said
that loans are made only by
unanimous vote of board members,
including an employe representa-
tive.
Clifford Smith, temporary chair
man of the Employees Advisory
Council. said that county en-
ployeS "are quite concerned about
the auditors report"
400 Employees Covered.
The retirement fund. set up in
1916. totals about 100000 and
covers approximately 400 en-
ployes.
The board also:
Expressed appreciation for do
nation to the county of 23 acres
near Claremont School by Mrs.
Frances w. Freed and agreed to
name the portion to be used for
"a park the Allie s. Freed Park.
Voted to require the securing
of q use permit before a junk yard
can be established, and set new re-
|quirements which the installation
must meet.
Agreed to ask the State Corpo-
ration Commission to require
transit firms to give 10 days no.
tice to the governing body Of any
proposed change in schedule or
rates.
Requested the county manager
to prepare a proposed fire regula-
ton limiting the number of per-
sons permitted in a public building.
|kAnrvlnnd Er,,:& Hro,vare