Evening star., 1953-07-07
Citizens Asked
10 Help Decide
On School Plans
Question Of Floating
New Prince Georges
Bonds Is Big Issue
By J. [. Michoel

BY J. |. Michoel
Prince Georges has asked a
group Of leading citizens to help
solve a school dilemma caused
by a population influx and i'm
pending freeze of the county's
tax base.
The question is whether to try
to. sell new bond issues or de-
velop plans for greater use Of
existing facilities.
A committee chosen by the
county commissioners and board
of education will discuss the
problem with it's sponsors at a
dinner meeting Thursday. The
initial conference will begin at
$3.50 pm. in the Hedin House
Hotel, 1902 Newton street NE.
T. Howard Duckett and w. w.
Lewis of Hyattsville; T. Earle
Bourne, University Park, and DR..
John M. Warren of Laurel have
agreed to serve as committee
members.
Those Invited.
Invited to join them are w.
Carroll Beatty, College Heights
Estates; Griffith OurSler, Clin-
ton; Dudley Smith, Mitchellville; !;
Adrian P. Fisher, OXon Hill; Ell
lery Denison, Takoma Park; Mrs.
James Conant, Glenridge; Mrs.
Dudley AiSt, Brandywine; Joseph
c. Longridge. College Park and
Abram Gottwals, Upper Marl-
boro.
The committee will have two
colored members, Chesney Mack
of the Berwyn area and boswell
Brooks, Fairmount Heights.
School authorities will point
out at the joint meeting Thurs
day that pupil enrollments
jumped from 17,144 in 1910 to
$3.50 when classes were dis
missed in June. At least AZ, 900
are expected next September and
a total of $4,000 is predicted for
the fall of 1854.
In the same period, the number
of classroomS has increased from
396 to 1,119.
SIG Million in Bonds Sold.
To meet the growing need for
more space, county bond issues
totaling SIG million have been
sold since 1945 and $6.3 million
has been borrowed from the State
credit pool.
In addition, the county has
been allotted Federal grants
totaling $2.5 million and has re-
ceived SIT million from the
State which does not have to be
repaid.
But despite expenditure of
$26.5 million, the need for more
classrooms is reported so acute
that 1,500 children probably will
be on double shift when classes
are resumed this fall.
The last Legislature gave the
county authority to sell more
bonds but some of the commits
sioners feel that course is un-
wise. Commissioner Edward j.
Waters has said he will oppose
further bondsales.
He pointed out the county's
bonded Indebtedness now totals
$25 million, of which $21 million
is for school buildings.
Also to be considered is Prince
Georges contingent liability with
Montgomery County for 500 mil
lion of Washington Suburban
Sanitary Commission indentures.
New Assessment Procedure.
Seriously complicating the sit
uation is a new law changing
the States real estate assess
ment from a five to a three year
cycle.
Under the old statute, new
evaluations for one-fifth of the
county were placed on the books
each year. The new law, effec-
tive next January /, provides
that reappraisals be kept off the
records until three-year cycles
have been completed.
That means that the county's
tax base, expected to be about
$400 million at the end of this
year, will be frozen at that figure
until 1857, unless the law is
changed.
Commissioner w. Everett Mar
ton suggested more use of pres
ent school buildings, through
longer school hours. longer terms,
evening classes or other means.