Evening star., 1953-06-16
Street Improvement,
$1.7O Tax Urged at
Montgomery Hearing

Montgomery Hearing
Public hearings on Montgom-
cry County's proposed $25 mil
lion budget ended at / am. today
with a last-minute plea for an
additional 81 million in Silver
Spring construction and the use
of surplus funds to effect a sharp
tax rate cut to $1.70 per 500.
Last nights hearing-the third
in six days-covered all budget
items except those for schools.
safety, health and welfare.
The Silver Spring Board of
Trade urged the council to spend
nearly 81 million not included
in the $9.3 million capital budget
for street construction in its
area.
The council also heard the
Bethesda and Wheaton Cham
bers of Commerce plead for ex-
tensive street programs to stim-
ulate commercial development.
Road Widening Urged.
In a step certain to touch a
bitter scrap in the Bethesda area,
the chamber urged that narrow
Arlington road from Georgetown
road to Bethesda avenue be Wild
ened to provide a 50-foot street.
Carroll Seger. Of the chamber,
said he realized the opposition
to the plan was strong, but
added the street was a necessary
link to the industrial section.
The recommendation that the
county's reported $1.3 million
surplus be used for operating ex-
penses and cutting the tax rate
came from Paul S. Fry and
Stephen Hotsko of Forest Grove.
The recommendations were in
direct conflict with former
County Manager Irving G. Nc
Nayr's budget proposal to use
81 million of surplus for school
construction. The McNayr bud
get also called for a $1.9O tax
rate-20 cent lower than the
present $2.10 rate.
The sharp Fry -Hotsko tax cut
was proposed in view Of the sky
rocketing assessments in the
suburban area, a report to the
council stated.
Parking Lots Asked.
The Silver Spring Board of
Trades request for additional
street projects was coupled with
its bid for 81 million for park
ing lot improvement.
Board President David Scull
said commercial property was the
only classification that paid its
own way in the county. He said
40 per cent Of the commercial
property taxes go for services
not used by business.
Most of the street projects re-
quested would be built on q
front-foot benefit basis with
abutting property owners paying
for the cost, G. Gregg Everngam
told the council.
Public library supporters
turned out in full force last night
to seek restoration of $4,000
slashed from the library depart
ment's requested $277.952 bud
get.
100000 Books Needed.
Boyd Ladd, chairman Of the
county library board supporting
full restoration, said that the de-
partment has only $4,000 books,
and needs 100000. He added
that more than a million books
have been circulated in the last
year and that bookshelves often
become bare.
A sharp controversy developed
over the three bookmobiles oper-
ated by the department. Mr..
McNayr turned down a request
for an additional one.
Mrs. Mary B. Mohler of the
Bethesda Library Board said the
bookmobiles were more economi-
cal than the branches.
Morris Allen Of the County
Taxpayers, Inc, said his organi-
zation seriously questioned the
USE of bookmobiles in the sub
urban area. He also cited the
county code to challenge their
legality in all but rural areas.
Mr.. Allen drew support from
Mrs. Robert Madden Of Chevy
Chase. The county civic fedora
ton also opposed purchase of an
additional bookmobile.