Evening star., 1953-07-06
Cut in Tax Rate
Offset by Rise
In Assessments
Except for Farmers,
Few Get Lower Bills
In Montgomery
By ChorIes [. Hoffman

S"SbBSS Ss AbVbbbtu0u
Suburban Montgomery County
residents will have to take 8
close look at their tax bills tc
see the real effects of the 81
cent slash made in the general
county tax rate.
The slash in the old $2.1C
rate represents a 10 per cent
cut. The new rate is $1.89.
But the recent reaSSeSSment in
the suburban area increases
property values on the tax books
about 35 per cent.
The result is the average
suburban area dweller will be
awakened to the fact that a
reduction in the tax rate does
not necessarily mean lower tax
bills. In most cases it won't
Most farmers and businessmen
however, whose properties were
not reassessed this year, will
get lower tax bills.
Old Law Inadequate.
They represent about SITE
million of the county's $646
million real and personal prop
erty assessable base.
The varying effects Of the tax
rate cut is an indictment of the
outgoing State law providing for
f1ve-year assessment cycle.
Under the old law the county
was divided into five areas with
one area being reassessed and
put on the books each year.
The new law provides for q
three-year cycle with all reassesS-
ment values going on the books at
the same time in the fiscal year
1861.
Another assessment bill passed
by the last General Assembly
failed to become law because of
fluke. 1t would have permitted
the reaSSeSSment values made
each year to be put on the books
Immediately instead of waiting
until the end of the cycle.
Farmers Tax Drops.
Take the case of Mr.. Average
Farmer whose farm was assessed
at $4,000 within the last five
years. His property was not re-
assessed this year.
Last year his tax bill was
$108.13 based on a $2.10 county
rate and a 6.25-cent State rate.
This year his bill will be $97.42.
This includes the 6.04-cent State
rate.
1t may even drop another 80
cents to $96.52 if the law passed
at the last county legislative .ses-
sion goes into effect August IS
limiting the recreation program
to the suburban area.
The situation is different in
the suburban area. The sub
urban district tax was cut from
Is to 9 cents. The park and
planning taxes were slaSheo
from 16 to 10.5 cents. The sani-
tary district tax remained at 1C
cents.
Other cuts also were made in
some fire area tax rates and
rates paid in various communi-
ties.
Average Suburbanite's Tax.
Take the case of Mr.. Average
Resident of Silver Spring, who
got all these cuts. His fire taS
stayed at 10 cents.
Last year he paid a $133.63 ta2
bill on his home assessed al
$4,000.
This year this average mans
assessment jumped to $6,750
Despite a total 32.9 cent cut ir
his old $2.67A cent tax rate, hi.
new tax bill will be $158.18.
This same holds true in Chevy
Chase Section 5 where the tota
tax rate dropped from 1921 t,
$2.45. The community tax wa
cut from 80 to 20 cents and tn,
fire tax from 10 to 10 cents.
A man with a home assessed
at $4,000 last year paid SASS:
In taxes.
This year the homes assess
ment will be $6.750 and the nev
tax bill will be $165.6O, despit,
the big tax cut.
Residents this year also Learned
that tax rate cut does not nee
esSarily mean a drop in the cos
Of government. The cut in tn,
county was made despite a $2.6
million increase in operating ex
penSeS.
How Cut Was Made.
It was chiefly the increase il
the aSsessable baSe-it rose from
$496 million to '$646 million
that affected the tax cut.
Montgomery County was tn
only government jurisdiction il
the nearby area to lower it's ia.
rate this year. Prince George
County's real estate rate wen
from So to $213; Alexandria
from $265 to $2.75; Arlington
from $2.81 10 $2.91, and Fairfa
from $2.65 to $2.70. Falls Churcl
held the line at $2.75.
Arlington also raised it's per
sonal property tax rate from S
to $3.50 per $100 valuation.
In Montgomery County tn
only tax rate to go up was tn
fire tax for the old 22d precinc
adjoining Takoma Park. TIL
area gets its protection from tn
city and officials had asked tha
the rate be lifted from 10 cent
to IL cents.
Besides Chevy Chase Sectio
5, Chevy Chase Village lowere
its tax rate from 80 cents to 2
cents; Friendship Heights from
25 cents to 20 cents, and Mar
tins Addition to Chevy Chas
from q cents to 20 cents.
Bethesda's fire tax droppe
from II cents to 8 cents an,
Hillandale's went from Is cent
to 10 cents.