Evening star., 1953-04-15
McNayr Budget
Fails 10 Get
Quick Reaction
Hummond Believes
Study Can Bring
Further Cuts
By ChorIes |. Hoffman


Most Montgomery County
councilmen are reserving COM
ment on County Manager Irving
G. McNayr's proposed $25 million
budget and 20-cent reduction in
the present $2.10 tax rate.
Councilman Harold F. Ham,
mond, however, believes it can be
trimmed more with careful
study"
Mr.. Hammond said yesterday
that, with the cooperation of
interested taxpayers, the tax rate
can be cut even further.
The Silver Spring councilman
was one of three members who
last fall predicted a cut in the
tax rate. Just few weeks ago he
said he believed the tax rate
could be cut to at least $187.
Mr.. McNayr's budget was pre-
sented to the council yesterday.
1t called for a 20-cent reduction
in the general county tax rate
and scent slash in the pres
ent is cent suburban district
rate.
Appropriations Cushion.
The proposed budget gives the
council plenty of room for in
creasing some appropriations
without increasing the tax rate.
Mr.. McNayr provided some
$318,000 for the new recreation
department. It seems unlikely all
this will be needed since the
county will get an estimated
$270,000 from the Maryland-Na-
tional Capital Park and Planning
Commission when the program is
transferred to the county June /.
The county manager also rec
commended that ST million of
surplus be used for financing
school construction on a pay
aS-you-go basis.
Conceivably, part of this sur
plus could be used for increas-
ing operating expense appropri-
tionS or for further reduction of
the tax rate, although Mr.. Nc
Nayr advised against the latter.
Similar to Last Year.
The same situation existed last
year and the council used some
of the surplus to hold down the
tax rate.
Furthermore, if past perform
ances are to be repeated, the
estimate of the assessable base
now put at $685. million-prob-
ably will be revised upward by
June 80. when the new budget
is adopted.
Although the budget has not
been public long enough for
careful study by citizens groups,
strong opposition to some of
Mr.. McNayr's economies is ex-
pected to develop.
Certain to draw objection from
the powerful Parent Teacher
Associations is the managers
$500,000 slash in requests for
teacher salaries. The requests
included provisions for an in
creased teachers pay schedule.
Other actions of the manager
such as allowing for only five
new school buses instead of the
IT requested and his commission
of $12,600 for tuition on school,
ing of handicapped children also
is likely to draw fire.
School Budget Slashed.
Capital improvement projects
totaling $9.3 million also are due
for critical review by citizen
groups. Mr.. McNayr Topped $3.2
million off school board requests
alone.
Even some councilmen have
their eyes set on the public works
$3.3 million street and storm
drainage programs.
Councilman Hammond yester-
day wanted to know why TO
streets had been slated for con-
struction in the Silver Spring
business section.
The Silver Spring Board of
Trade in a resolution submitted
to the council asked for a public
airing Of the business sestion's
street program.
The board charged that, except
for the widening Of a short
stretch of Fenton street, the
county had not undertaken any
project in a $500,000 program
for the area outlined two years
ago.
Mason A. Butcher, public works
director, said the streets had
not been slated for work because
Of the county managers policy
not to list any front-foot benefit
project for which residents had
not petitioned.
The council prepared to call
public hearing on $4,000
front-foot assessment project for
the 900 block of Pershing drive.
The project had been dropped
from this years program because
the county would have to pay
$23 500 of the cost, Mr.. Butcher
said. It also was omitted from
next years proposed program.