Evening star., 1953-04-14
.McNayr Urges
County Tax Cut.
.0f2O.25Cents
Final Budget Letter
Says Reussessment
Permits Rate of $1.9C
By chorIes [. Hoffmon

| I0"CcIlG TeuuCGlOu III CIle LAX raCeS
in the suburban districts and a
20-cent cut in the rural areas
from County Manager Irving G.
McNayr.
The basic county wide rate of
$2.10 would be trimmed to $1.90,
The suburban district tax would
be lowered from IS to 10 cents.
Mr.. McNayr's final budget
message, calling for expenditures
of nearly $25 million, was given
to the County Council in Rock
vile. He leaves his post Thurs
day.
The new assessments, which
brought widespread protests,
jumped $40 million this year,
bringing the tax base figure to
$636 million.
The proposed budget calls for
$15,593,953 for operating ex-
penseS-some II per cent more
than appropriated for the pres
ent year.
81 Million for Schools.
The manager also proposed a
$9,285, ,160 capital improvement
program, including 81 million
for school construction and $3,-
345,460 for roads. bridges and
storm drainage.
Mr.. McNayr said he felt the
reduced tax rate could be main
tanned over the next few years,
provided the council is success
full in holding down demands for
increased services and salary
hikes.
Generally speaking, the pro-
posed II per cent reduction in
the tax rate would not mean
lower tax bills for older resi-
dents in the suburban area.
$1,000 Properties Assessed.
Some $4,000 of the county's
estimated $4,000 pieces of prop
erty were reassessed this year
with an average increase of Is
per cent in their tax book values,
according to Assessment Super
visor Wilton T. Allen.
Owners of homes built in the
last two years, businesses and
rural residents, however. can ex-
pect relief on tax bills.
The county again is expected
to have an accumulated surplus
in excess Of 81 million. Mr.. Nc
Nayr estimated that by July /
there will be $1,365, 5,096 in the
general county surplus and an
other $67O,626 in the suburban
district funds tabled for street
and storm drainage work in the
down-county area.
He recommended 81 million of
the surplus be used for school
construction in another move to
put the county on a pay-as-you
go basis. The remainder of the
general fund surplus should be
maintained as a standby fund,
he said.
Against Further Cuts.
"The council should not be
tempted to use such monies to
effect further reductions in the
tax rate" Mr.. McNayr warned.
Mr.. McNayr, in his letter of
tranSmittal, made it clear his
economy budget was prepared
"in conformance with the de-
Sires expressed by the county
council and the apparent de-
mand of a majority of citizens
for holding budget requests at
a bare minimum.
He said he had held appro-
priations to a point at which ''it
would not be safe to lower
further"
Although department heads
had been directed to limit funds
requests, Mr.. McNayr still slashed
$1.4 million off their proposals.
Especially hard hit was the
$50 million asked by the School
Board for operating expenses
Although Mr.. McNayr recon-
mended granting the schools
$7.9 million-Some $1.4 million
more than they are getting this
year-he still Topped 81 million
of their requests.
Chops Salary Request.
Some $66O,OOO alone was
chopped off the school board re-
quests for salaries, with about
100000 sought for teachers pay.
He again refused to go along with
school board bids for an in
creased teacher salary scale.
Mr.. McNayr, however, agreed
with the board they could not re-
place retiring superintendent Ed
win w. Broome at his $11,5OO
salary. He recommended this
be raised to $4,000. This is
$4,000 above the maximum al
lowed for the county managers
salary.
Another agency hard hit by
Mr.. McNayr'S final budget rec
concentrations was the Health
Department, which asked for
$408.000 and would get $316,652
some $4,000 less than received
this year.
Other Offices recommended to
receive less next year than they
are getting now include the Sher-
ifs Office, whose $50, ,825 request
was cut to $35.O3O, some $4,000
less than is now used; the de-
partment Of public safety, county
attorney. inspection and licenses,
county managers Office and the
University Of Maryland Exten-
sion Service.
The budget includes 1913, 900
for operation Of the recreation
program the county will take
over June / from the Maryland
National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission.
Mr.. McNayr again recon-