Evening star., 1953-05-02
100000 Less
For Arlington
Schools Urged
Limiting Of Pay Rois'
For Teachers to $10(
Also Is Proposed

$500 was recommended to the
Arlington County Board today
by its Interim Budget Committe.
The seven-member committee,
headed by E. j. Holcomb, De-
partment of Agriculture econo-
mist, warned that "the county
cannot live on schools alone; yet
the schools continue to demand
the largest portion of the reve-
nues."
A net increase of $86.587, in
Guiding a 100000 fund for con-
Struction of streets and highways,
is recommended in the general
county portion of the proposed
$17.1 million total budget.
Opposes Public Hearing.
The board received the 22-page
report without comment except
to thank the committee for it's
work. Robert A. Peck, board
chairman, said a request OF
School Board Chairman Barnard
Joy for a public hearing on the
committees report would not be
granted.
Mr.. joys request was con-
tanned in letter to Mr.. Peck in
which he declared the committee
proposal "calls for an emascula-
tion of Arlington'S schools"
The Interim Budget Commit
tee was named after most board
members indicated their reluc-
tance to increase the real estate
and personal property tax rates
appreciably. The 49 cent tax
rate increase needed to finance
the proposed budget has been
advertised but most observers
feel much smaller increase will
be voted.
"The proposed cut of approx
lmately 81 million in the school
budget would change complete
ly the level and quality of in
struction that Arlington'S chill
dren receive" Mr.. Joy said.
Mr.. Joy said the findings in
the report are completely in
consistent with the prevailing
point of view" expressed by cit
izens at recent public hearings.
Mr.. Peck said the county
board felt another public hear
ing would serve no useful pur-
pose.
Proposes Revenue Increases.
An approximate doubling of
the auto license tax from Is
cents per hundredweight to a
$40 fiat fee and from IS to 80
cents per hundredweight for
commercial vehicles is recon-
mended by the committee. Es-
Inmates of revenue from the per-
sonal property tax should be
increased by $88,350 and the
water consumption charge
should be raised from the pres
ent $3.50 minimum per housing
unit to $2.25 to show a revenue
gain of $135,00O.
A surplus of $107,818 will be
available at the end of the cur
rent fiscal year in the general
county operations due to higher
collection of taxes and unex-
pended balances, the committee
said.
The increased revenue from
the higher vehicle license tax
should be used to provide the
100000 capital improvement
fund for streets and highways,
the report declared. No increase
in the business license tax, as
recommended by many organiza-
tions and individuals. is sug-
gested by the Interim Commit
tee.
Arlington's minimum pay level
for teachers compares favorably
with the median for cities of
100000 population or more, the
committee said. Locally, the
committee found, the salary
scale is higher than that of Fair
fax, Prince Georges and Mont
gomery Counties and Falls
Church; equal to that of Alex
andria but slightly lower than
that for the District.
The committee urged that a
school board request for funds
to equalize the salaries of nom
teaching personnel with those
paid for comparable work in
other county departments be de-
MED until a complete study of
the problem is made.
Under instruction items in the
school budget, the committee
recommended that 0,000 to in
crease the number of librarians
be denied; that 33 teachers be
eliminated from the proposed
300 by increasing the work load
of general education teachers
from four to five hours daily,
reducing the number Of "help-
ing" teachers and increasing the
SuPSIN1SOIy ICSPOA1OADLAIC1CO VI
principals to- enable a saving of
$4,000.
Would Cut Office Expenses.
A reduction of $25,0OO from
the $l6S,00 asked for operation
Of the superintendent's Office is
urged. This Office is heavily
stated and huge amounts of ex-
pense in addition to personnel
are provided" the committee
commented.
Administrative costs were
termed excessive Gin relation to
total school expenses" and should
be reduced, the report said. but
no specific cuts were proposed.
The school contingency fund
should be reduced from 100000
to $4,000 so the county board
can retain its financial RESPONSE
bility to the people, it was stated.
The report recommends that
the Office of civil defense be
eliminated and the functions be
transferred to the Department
of Public Safety: that the Office
of executive assistant to the