Evening star., 1953-01-18
Fairfax Pushes
Campaign for
School Bonds
Only II Days Left
Before BoIIoting on
SIT Million Issue

Fairfax County's school bond
issue campaign shifts into high
gear this week with only II days
remaining before the referen-
dunn.
February 3 is the date county
voters will go to the polls to pass
on a proposed new $11 million
school construction bond issue.
They also will vote on a proposed
$50. 900 bond issue to help finance
the county's first health center.
School officials this week are
distributing copies of the full
program to be carried out with
the $11 million issue. The School
Bond Issue Cooperating Com
mittee has speakers available to
explain the program. Practically
every parent-teacher association
is preparing to do its part to get
out the vote.
Supporters Of the bond issue
are aware that this is the second
time in three years county voters
have been called on to pass a
large school bond issue. A SOS
million issue was approved in
1850
Will Increase Rates.
It is also obvious the new issue
will cost the taxpayers some
money Charts prepared by the
School Board Office show that
taxpayers can expect a IA cent
increase in the tax rate in 1853,
a IA cent increase in 1854 and
a 16.5 cent increase in 1855. The
rate necessary to retire the $11
million issue would decline
thereafter.
To the owner of a $12,500
house, this would mean a $3.70
increase in the 1853 tax bill, q
81 increase in 1854 over the pres
ent tax bill and $8.25 increase
IN 1855
But those in favor Of the bond
issue see no other way for the
county to keep up with the grow
ing school population.
The $10.5 million issue is about
spent or committed in the cur
rent building program. About IS
million in Federal and State
grants also is committed. Com
pletion of all projects in the cur
rent program will give the county
448 elementary classrooms and
the equivalent of 213 high school
classrooms.
3O,500 Students Expected.
If all these current projects
were completed today the county
still would lack standard space
for about 900 of its 10000. seu-
dents.
The $11 million program Is
supposed to take care of this
overcrowding, and accommodate
increased enrolment through the
fall of 1855. The county expects
a total enrolment of 30,500 by
that time. One issue school Off.
cials want clear: most Of tho
predicted increased enrolment
is to come from students already
living in the county who will
reach school age in the next
three years. There is also some
allowance for new students NOV
ing into the county.
With the $11 million, its Is
proposed to build 2 new schools
and additions to 81 existing
schools. Reduced to classroonis
terms, this means 231 new ele-
mentary rooms and the equiva-
lent of Sc new high school rooms.
BY 1855, this would give the
county 679 elementary rooms and
279 high school rooms-which
school officials cure is tight for
an enrolment of 30,50O.
Little Opposition so Far.
So far, there has been little
argument against the county's
need for more schools. Some
members of the school board
thought it would be better to vote
on three, smaller, annual bond
issues because $11 million might
scare some voters. They finally
agreed to propose the full $11
million in one bond issue. but
adopted a resolution agreeing not
to issue more than 81 million in
any one year.
The bond issue supporters are
quite sure some opposition will
come forth before time to vote.
The sos bond issue had q
rough time-before and after 1t
was passed in the referendum.
Litigation by those opposed to
it held up sale of the bonds for
a year and delayed the school
building program.
For the referendum, polls will
be open from 6 am. to 6 pm.
All persons eligible to vote in
the November 4 general election
may vote, plus all those who paid
their poll taves by December 8.
Vote registration deadline for
the referendums is January %.