Evening star., 1953-04-28
SS5O,OOO Set
As Falls Church
Budget for 81
Is 100000 Over 50;
Manager Urges Cut
To Retuin Tax Rute

"A budget of approximately
$850,000 has been proposed by
the Falls Church City Council
for the fiscal year beginning
July /.
This amount is about $780,
900 above the 1952-53 budget.
The council set a hearing on
the budget for 8 pm, June 8 at
City Hall. A 12-cent increase
in the real estate tax rate would
be required if the full budget
were adopted.
Present real estate tax rate is
$275 per 500 of valuation, and
the personal property tax rate is
$40. The latter levy would be
unchanged.
Asks Trim Of $1S,245.
City Manager w. Rodes Wood
bury, in submitting the general
and school budgets last night,
recommended that the council
cut the total by $18,245 and
maintain existing tax rates.
The city budget as proposed
totals $842,720. OF this amount,
general operations would require
$485 .005, and schools would re-
quire from $357,714 from city
funds.
The general fund appropri-
alton suggested is about $62 900
above the 1952-53 amount, and
the school budget, if approved,
would be $55,000 higher than
this year.
Increases in general expendi-
lures would be required by en-
ployment of part-time health
officer, full-time nurse and full
time sanitation officer. Mr..
woodbury. also recommended
employment of another police
man to supervise parking meters,
a planning consultant to work
out master plan for the city,
and three additional street la
borerS.
ReaSSeSSment Planned.
Reassessment of property is
scheduled for 1854, and part of
this cost is included in the fig
ureS submitted to the council.
Mr.. Woodbury. said if the
council approves the full budget
a room tax should be placed on
landlords who rent more than
two-dwelling units. This would
apply to apartments and rented
homes, and would be levied at
the rate of 81 per room per
month.
An alternate method Of bal
ancing the proposed budget
would be to impose a local auto
license tax, the manager said.
Action to order a referendum
on school construction and street
and, sewer bond issues was de-
ferTed. The council had expect
ed the vote would be held the
same day as the municipal elec-
ton, June 8, but last nights
postponement will delay the ref
erendum beyond that date, city
officials said.
Favor Smaller School Fund.
A SITS, 900 proposal for schools
drew opposition from Mayor
Charles E. Kellogg and Council
men Samuel E. McCrary, w.
Raymond Taylor and Francis
A. Wagner. They favored a
smaller amount.
City Attorney Lytton H. Glib
son was asked to redraw the
referendum resolution to permit
citizens to vote separately on
plans to buy Oak Street School
or build a substitute, to add to
George Mason High School and
to build new elementary school
facilities.
Similar action was taken on
a proposed $500,000 bond issue
for other city improvements.
Mayor Kellogg and Herman L.
Fink, vice chairman of the City
Planning Commission and a
candidate for Council, said they
opposed setting up 100000 to
plan a municipal building and
acquire a site. They agreed the
project should be delayed until
the city's master plan is pre-
pared.
Mr.. Gibson said he was re-
luctant to have the Council act
on the bond issues last night be-
cause Of requirement that reg
ular Council meetings must be
in City Hall. Last nights meet
ing was held at George Mason
High School, outside the city.
ReappOint Member.
Mr.. Wagner, who resigned
from the City Planning Commits
sion at the last meeting after a
heated rezoning hearing, was re-
appointed.
In other business, the council
voted to hold a public hearing
at City Hall May Is on a pro-
posal to rezone to commercial
about is acres on North Wash
iagton street near Great Falls
street. The tract is the Davis
property at 245 North Washing
ton street, where North Wash
ington Street Properties, Inc.
plans to build stores and Offices
On the same date, rezonine
of the Berman tract near West
Broad and West streets, previ-
ously denied, will be reconSid-
cred. Apartments are planned
for the 10-acre tract.
The resignation of Lyle S
Murphy as city fire marshal was
accepted, and Wayland H
Simms, $40 Maple avenue, was
appointed to replace him.
ChuntiIIy Fire Auxiliary
Mrs. Thelma' Smith has beer