Evening star., 1953-03-22
Iydes study
Tax Source in
Federal Areas
May Reop Funds
From Privute Firms
At U. S. installations
By WiIIiom J. Elvin

Tax authorities in Virginia
and Maryland are nibbling at
the wealth of potential revenue
on Federal installations while
Arlington prepares to take a real
bite.
Commonwealth's Attorney Will
liam j. HaSsan told the Arling-
ton County Board yesterday that
he believes the board may be
able to tax private property and
business receipts at Washington
National Airport and other Fed
eral installations. including COM
mercial concessions at the Pen
tagon. The new source Of
revenue would amount to sew
eral hundred thousand dollars
annually.
The first development came
from Annapolis last week.
The Maryland Court of Ap-
peals upheld a property tax
levied by Anne Arundel County
against privately-owned build
ings on Federal property at Fort
Meade. ..-,
The Maryland Tax Commits
sion had contended earlier that
the tax on improvements was
legal. although the commission
threw out an assessment on the
land, which is owned by the
Government.
A similar ruling was made by
Virginia Attorney General ].
Lindsey Almond. jr.
AS a result, John w. Fergu-
son. Fairfax County assessor,
announced that his county would
tax a 450-unit apartment project
at Fort Belvoir, Va. One official
said that one project. known as
Lewis Heights, might bring in as
much as $4,000 a year in rev.
enue.
At the Arlington County
Board meeting yesterday. Mr..
Hassan said he and Commis-
Sioner Of Revenue George D.
Fischer had been studying the
problem.
The board asked Mr.. Hassan
and Mr.. Fischer to continue their
study, and also requested its Fis-
cal Affairs Advisory Committee
to submit a report.
The Commonwealth'S Attorney
said the studies may show q
need for additional legislation
before the airlines can be as
sessed on annual revenue and
personal property.
Mr.. HaSSan made no estimate
Of revenue that might accrue
to the county but if airport
operations and all other private
firms on Government property
can be taxed. the receipts at
present rates would run into
several hundred thousand doll
lars.
Some shops. but not all. in
the Pentagon shopping center
already are paying taxes to the
county, Mr.. HaSsan said.
The Commonwealth's Attorney
said he and MIR. Fischer are
reasonably certain that business
tax revenue can be derived from
restaurants, barber shops and
cleaning establishments which
are privately operated at the
Federal installations. He said
there may be taxable business
operating at Gravelly Point.
Navy Annex and Arlington Hall,
as well as the Pentagon and
National Airport.
Military PIX stores, owned and
operated by the Government,
would not be included. he said,
but perhaps cafeterias operated
by Government Services, Inc,
could be taxed, he added.
MIR. HasSan's discussion of the
question began when he spoke
on a jurisdictional question in
volving Shirley Homes, Federal
housing project near South Glebe
road.
The Commonwealth's At
torney said complaints had been
received that county police were
not enforcing traffic laws within
the project. Mr.. Hassan said the
question Of whether the county
or the Federal Government has
jurisdiction over streets in the
development would have to be
settled. in q test case in the
courts.
The county has enforced
criminal laws at Shirley Homes
since the days Of Common
wealth's Attorney William Cloth,
who insisted there was going to
be mo oasis for crime in Arling-
ton." Mr.. Hassan told the board.
l