Evening star., 1952-03-06

Fairfax Supervisors.
|; Ask Legal Ruling on
Spending Surplus
A showdown over disposition Of
Fairfax County's 81 million tax
surplus is approaching. as the
Board Of Supervisors awaits legal
advice on whether it can be spent.
The legal opiiiion was requested
of Commonwealth's Attorney Hugh
B. Marsh yesterday. after the SUI
lpervisors heard the School Boards
plea for permission to spend about
100000 Of the surplus. That Is
the amount of the excess expected
from the school levy portion of the
tax rate.
Mrs. Anne wilkins, supervisor
from the Falls Church district. Of
Ifered a resolution to grant the
School Boards request, provided
Mr.. Marsh finds 1t legal. There
) was no second.
did I hear you second my reso-
Ilution?" Mrs. wilkins asked Su-
lpervisor Arthur Shaffer.
i Wants Opinion First.
"I'd like to, but I think we
ought to get the answer to the
legal question first" he replied.
He added that there was no
Question in his mind Of the School
Boards need for the money.
/ Supervisor Maurice Fox Of
Dranesville district then offered
1.-THE resolution asking Mr.. Marsh
to study legality Of spending the
ISurplus. Mr.. Shaffer seconded
the motion and urged Mr.. Marsh
Ito make a report within two
weeks.
! Nearly 100 pectators jei1tned
1.-The. board rom to slppott the
School Board geQuest. .
Mr.. Fox asked why the surplus
couldn't be put into the budget so
there could be 4 public hearing
ion whether it Should be spent.a
Bond Funds Eearmarked.
Robert F. Davis, School Beard
member who presented the School
Board request, said the supervisors
would be under pressure at budget
time to cut taxes and that there
lis an immediate need for extra
money for additional claSsrooms.
HE explained that all funds In
1.-THE sos million school construc-
'Ition bond issue are earmarked for
specific projects and that more
lclassrooms are needed.
i Mrs. H. c. Crowther, School
Board member from the Mount
Vernon district, suggested that the
supervisors hold separate hear
,Iing on the surplus question, II
they want to get public sentiment,
Instead of Jumping it in with the
Forthcoming 1923 budget hear
ling. Mrs. wilkins offered mo-
; Ition to that effect, but there was
i, no second.
:, C. Wallace Carper, chairman Of
1.-THE Board of Supervisors, said he
was unwilling to act on the issue
until the definite amount OF the
surplus is known.
Edward Gibbons, representing
1.-THE Taxpayers Advisory Associa-
Ition, urged that the surplus money
/. Ibe returned to the taxpayers.
Water Rate Boost Opposed.
The surplus has piled up this
, year because property assessments
] Iran about $40 million above .ex-
|, pectations.
The supervisors voted to oppose
. a proposed rate increase sought
elby the Virginia Water Co., which
) serves part Of the county. Ray
lmond Lynch, who urged the super.
visors' action, said the increase
would amount to Is per cent above
present rates. The supervisors in
structed County Executive Carlton
C. Massey to appear at a hearing
'|before the State Corporation Com.
. mission Monday to oppose the
increase.
John Mason, q Federal Power
Commission attorney, who lives In
Jefferton Village, was appointed
to a vacancy on the county's Pub
lie Utilities Commission on rec
ommendation Of Mrs. wilkins.
Building Inspector Named.
E Dewey G. Croy. SO, of-Franconis
: was appointed building inspector
oIat an annual salary Of $1,000
r beginning April. He will succeed
4 Hugh D. Dollins. who has helt
i the position since the office wa.
e leStabliShed last August. Mr.
IDollins is to be retained In tht
tlofice as an assistant. Mr.. Gro,
yIhas been employed for the las
{ eight years in the Alexandris
building inspectors office ant
z gIcurrently Is the assistant build
ling inspector there.
ell On recommendation Of Sahitar.
slEngineer James j. Corbalis, jr.
ltIthe supervisors authorized engi
: lneering surveys for Sanitary Dis
i |tricts No. 3 and 4. This is tht
D. first step in planning sewer servic'
It for the two districts. No. 3 Is u
Isl the Mclean area, and No. 4 !
!. lin Mount Vernon District betweel
-lSanitary Districts. Nos. / and
i A resolution was adopted per
y Uniting department heads Il
If choose subordinate personnel, OF
l. approval Of the county executive
.eIMr. Massey said this apparentl,
= had been the custom, but tina
rtIthere had never been any ofiicia
policy to that effect.