Evening star., 1953-05-20
AIexandriaAsks
For Sales Tax 10
.En|argeBudget
1854 Levy Urged
To Meet "a Per Cent
Rise in Expenses
Bv Mory Lou Werner

BY Mary Lou Werner
A 2 per cent general sales tax
is recommended by Alexandria
City Manager Ira F. Willard to
help finance the city's proposed
1854 budget, made public to-
day.
The budget prepared by Mr..
Willard totals $7,295,059. This
is $1,412,153, or "a per cent.
above the 1923 budget of S.
1926.
The sales tax would help pay
for the big increase and would
make it unnecessary to raise the
present real estate tax rate of
$2,75.
In his budget message, Mr..
Willard said the sales tax was
recommended with approval of
the Citizens Advisory Tax Com
mission.
It would take effect on jan
uary l, 1854, and would bring
in an estimated $550,O0 for the
last six months of the 1884
fiscal year. Thereafter, the sales
tax could be counted on for
more than 81 million of the city's
revenue annually.
More Revenue Needed.
The critical necessity for
substantial additional revenue
makes this new tax mandatory"
said Mr.. Willard. He declared
that the only alternative would
be to raise rates on existing tax
sources.
Alexandria has authority in
the city charter to impose sales
tax. Mr.. Willard said the Alex
andria tax would be similar to
Washington's. It would not ap-
ply to food.
Mr.. Willard said he was aware
his recommendation would
make Alexandria the only
Northern Virginia community
with a sales tax. He said Ar
lington and Fairfax County
would have to get permission of
the Virginia State Legislature if
they chose to follow Alexandria S
lead.
The $550,000 sales tax reve-
nue would account for only a
portion of the increased income
necessary for the proposed new
budget. The rest of the gap
would be filled by a $688, 900 in
crease in real estate tax reve-
nue. and a $143,OOO increase in
personal property tax revenue.
Most Of the increased real
estate tax income is expected
to result from the current reas-
sessment, which will be reflected
in 1854 tax bills.
Wouldn't Rely on Bonds.
One major reason for the big
jump in proposed expenditures
Is Mr.. Willard's attempt to
finance as many capital i'm
provements as possible out of
current revenues.
Mr.. Willard recalled that his
recent report on conditions with
in the city said the municipal
government had failed to keep
pace with Alexandria'S growth.
S456,OOO for improvements.
The total amount recon-
for capital improvements
is $456,0OO. The 1928 budget
carried only $236. 500.
The proposed capital improve
ment expenditures include: $75,-
600 for street surfacing; $4,000
for sanitary sewer construction;
$50, 900 for storm sewer construc-
ton; $4,000 for new bridges and
underpasses; $4,000 for paving
alleys; $4,000 for curb and gut
ter construction: $42,O50 for side
walk construction, and\ $4,000
for construction of a new ma
terials shed.
A $224,000 reserve for con-
tingencies accounts for another
big slice of the budget increase.
This is about 100000 above the
1952-53 contingent fund.
Mr.. Willard said he made the
fund big enough to
cover a general salary increase
for city employees. He leaves the
of the salary increase up
to the City Council. A S per cent
overall increase would cost $685.
$50.
The contingency fund also
would provide $4,000 to pay for
street and bridge damages caused
by the recent flood. Another
$22, 500 would pay for garbage
collections at restaurants, hotels
and schools if they cannot con-
tinue under private agreements
with hog farmers.
The City Council, which has
had the budget under study for
more than a week. will hold a
public hearing at 7:30 pm. May
%. The new budget will take
effect July !.
At 8 pm. Monday. the tax
commission plans to meet with
a number Of civic and business
leaders to discuss its financial
of the city and consid-
erations that led up to recon-
of the sales tax.