Evening star., 1952-05-27
Council Votes
To Tim Taxes
In Falls Church
Personal Property
Levy Cut 10 Cents;
Realty Rate Retained

has approved a tax reduction for
the fiscal year beginning July /.
The council acted after a FIVE
hour public hearing attended by
nearly 300 citizens in Madison
School last night.
The present personal property
tax rate Of $3.50 per 500 Of valua-
ton was cut to $40. The present
$2.75 real estate tax rate was re-
tanned and the council rejected
proposals for new taxes on utilities
and autos.
The budgets recommended by
the. School Board and City Man
ager w. Rodes Woodbury. called
for about $50. 900 to be raised from
higher tax rates or new taxes.
The council cut the proposed
school budget by $4,000. Mayor
Charles e. Kellogg and council
members agreed, however, that
the council wili consider a School
Board request that money be bor-
rowed to finance, capital improve
ments recommended in its pro-
posed budget.
Board Meets Tomorrow.
John A. johnson, chairman of
the school board, said after the
meeting that the board will meet
tomorrow night to study the ap-
proved budget. The amount rec
commended by the board includes
q 5000 annual salary increase for
teachers. The council made no
objection to the boards plan to
have Supt. Irwin H. Schmitt serve
also as principal Of George Mason
High School next fall.
The total approved budget is
$735,288 an increase of $87,555
over the current years. Schools
will receive $327,341, plus about
$4,000 from the State and Fed
eral governments. If revenues
from the city. State or Federal
governments exceed anticipations,
the school board will receive ad-
ditional funds only by action of
the council.
Part of the $4,000 needed to
balance Mr.. Woodbury's budget
was obtained by increasing the
amount of profits to be trans
ferred from the water fund. This
brought $4,000, an increase from
$4,000 in the proposed budget to
$4,000.
Cuts Approved.
Then these cuts were made:
Fire department material and
equipment, cut $4,000.
Council appropriation toward
purchase of fire truck, $4,000,
eliminated.
Library. reduced $4,000 to
$18,745.
Recreation, reduced $4,000 to
provide for an increase Of $1,145I
over the current year.
Civil defense, cut by $4,000, leav-
ing 1000.
Contribution to Arlington Hos
pital construction fund. reduced
$500 to $1,000.
Reserve for contingencies. cut
$500.
Street construction and mainte-
nance cut $4,000.
The audience made it clear
from the outset of the hearing
that the proposed new taxes were
unpopular. Speeches urging that
current tax rates be retained were
warmly applauded. Also well re-
ceiyed was suggestion by Harold
E. Erwin, auto dealer, that the
council should consider dissolving
the city's charter and becoming a
part Of Arlington or Fairfax
County.
Petition Opposes Increases.
George T. Reeves, former mem
ber Of the Falls Church and Fair
fax County School Boards, pre-
sented a petition with $40 sigma
lures urging that there be no tax
increases. The Rosslyn Gas Co.,
Chesapeake & Potomac Telephone
Co. of Virginia and the American
Automobile Association, through
Spokesmen at the hearing, opposed
the utility tax.
The Greater Falls Church
Chamber Of Commerce opposed
any increase in taxes.
Indorsing the recommended
school budget were the Northern
Falls Church Citizens Association,
the Southwest Falls Church As
sociation, the Madison Parent
Teacher Association, the George
Mason High School PTA, the Falls
Church League Of Women Voters
and the Committee of 100 to Pro-
tect the Integrity Of Our Schools.
Councilman Samuel E. McCrary,
who was married Saturday, was
absent from the meeting.