Evening star., 1952-02-13
Council Backs
70 Broaden
Tax Powers
SO cost-of-Living
Pay Roise Voted
County Employees

yesterday Of the Montgomery
County Council.
It also voted q 5 per cent cost
Of living pay raise for all county
The council will meet with the
Montgomery County delegation to
the State Legislature to decide on
steps to be taken in support Of
Senate Majority Floor Leader
Louis Goldstein's announced In
tention to seek legislation EXTEND
ing the county's taxing power,
Yesterdays action came after
Mrs. Kathryn Lawlor told other
councilmen that real estate owners
in the county "now were being
taxed to the hilt." al
Mrs. Lawlor referred specifically
to occupancy taxes for apartment
dwellers. county license tags and
taxes on public utility bills, as;
means to equalize the tax burden,
For Omnibus Bill.
Councilman George Nesbit said
he believes Senator Goldstein's
bill should be an omnibus bill that
would permit counties to adopt
one or more taxing methods.
I'm sure any taxing powers we
can get will be welcomed by the
citizens who have confidence In
us to use the powers properly"
Mrs. Lawlor added.
Mr.. Nesbit pointed out that the
county would suffer from the use
OF liquor and cigarette taxes, be-
cause they would hurt those busi-
nesses which face competition
from the District.
The Council plans to meet with
the delegation. then 20 to An
|napolis if public hearings are held
on such a tax measure.
The pay raise voted yesterday
was made retroactive to February
l. The Council also authorized
1.-THE Board Of Education to grant
a similar increase to its employees.
Cost Estimated.
According to County Manager
Irving G. McNayr. the raise will
cost the county about $4,000
for the rest of this fiscal year and
about $456:O00 next year. One
councilman said it will mean about
Ia 10 per cent increase In the tax
Irate.
Mr.. McNayr said the County
has sufficient surplus funds in
salary items to pay for the raise
granted general county employees.
He added that the Board of Ed
fucation can foresee funds for the
raise, but the county will have
to tap its contingent fund in the
early stages to help the board.
Mr.. McNayer said the raise ID
in line with the county's policy
of keeping abreast Of wage rates
in the surrounding area.
The council was urged by the
County Farm Bureau yesterday
to take the ruling of the Board Of
Election Supervisors on the elec-
ton of school board members to
the Attorney General or the Cir
cult Court.
The election supervisors recent
| ly ruled that the first four elected
members Of the school board
would be chosen at large, rather
than by districts, as the law pro.
vides for In later elections.
"The council will be shirking
its duty" letter from the bureau
said, if it fails to insure the elec-
ton Of the members by district.
Test Suit Suggested.
Mrs. Stella Werner suggested
that the Farm Bureau file a tax
payers suit, or test case on the
ELECTION supervisors ruling.
| The council indorsed a proposed
bill to reorganize the National
Capital Park and Planning Com.
mission.
o. K. Anderson, traffic engineer
with the Department Of Public
Works, told the council the coun-
lty now has 1000 light units in
the two suburban districts. OF
lthe total. 2,100 were installed last
Iyear, three times as many as In
any previous year. Mr.. Anderson
said.
Mr.. Anderson also reported that
progress Is being made toward
lerection Of a traffic light at the
intersection Of Sligo Creek park
iway and Piney Branch road.
/ During a public hearing yester-
lday before the council, residents
talong McComas avenue, Kensing-
lton, charged the Washington Su-
burban Sanitary Commission with
negligence in repairing roads torn
up for laying Of sewers and pipe
lines in the area.
| $4,000 Estimated Cost.
Some so residents Of the area
appeared before the council on
proposed rebuilding Of more than
a mile Of McComas avenue. The
work was estimated to cost $146,-
900 with the county paying 60 per
cent Of the bill.
Residents contended the road
way would cost many Of them at
least 5000 year. If the bill had
Ito be paid within 10 years.
The council yesterday also set
March II for a public hearing on
Ia proposal to permit the Bethesda
Fire Department to procure land
flor q substation from the United
States Public Health Service on
grounds Of the National Institutes
lof Health. It also announced ap-
lpointment Of nine new county EN-.
lployes.
Reserve Officers Plan
oil E.:l