Evening star., 1953-09-11
Confirmation
OF Assessment
Inequities Seen
Wide Voriutions in
State Forecast in
OfficioI Survey

Property owners fighting Mont
gomery County's recent reas-
sessment were told last night
that a closely guarded official
survey will show a "rotten pic
ture" of discrimination and in
equity in assessments throughout
the State.
Attorney James p. Parker told
more than 100 members of the
Homeowners' Tax League, Inc,
that State Tax Commission rec
ordS reveal Statewide variations
from an average of 81 per cent
Of actual sale prices in some
districts to an average Of 70
per cent in others.
He said the commissions own
records refute the contention by
Albert Ward, commission secre-
tary, that uniform instructions
to assessors have reduced varia-
tions to 10 per cent.
The league is chafing at the
secrecy with which the official
survey is being guarded. Denied
access to data collected for the
commission by a three-man team
since February, Mr.. Parker COM
piled his own figures from rec
ordS Of the commission in
Baltimore.
Contested in Suit.
Members of the league have
filed suit to have last years
reassessments in suburban Mont
gomery invalidated. The COM
missions move to dismiss the
case will be argued next Wednes-
day.
MIR. Parker said cit appears
some forces are determined to
delay and divert (our) action
until it dies on the vine" If the |
case is not dismissed next |
Wednesday, he said, he will act |
Immediately to subpoena the re-
suits Of the survey before they |
can be weighted and averaged on |
a selective basis"
He said the head of the sur
vey, Wilton T. Allen, county |
assessor. has told him that the |
survey is complete as far as |
Montgomery County is con- |
Cerned.
The league also heard from |
S. H. Ingberg, a Bethesda en-
gineer, and H. S. Yol1e of Chevy
Chase.
Mr.. Ingberg said notification
of the reasseSsment would not
disrupt this years tax collections
in the county. He predicted
that, next year. property owners
who had been taxed on the in
validated assessment would re-
ceive a refund or credit and
others would be billed for an
additional sum, since lowering
the tax base by returning to the
old assessment would necessitate
raising the rate.
1885 Report Cited.
Mr.. Yohe read a report made |
by the Montgomery Civic Fed |
GRAFTON in 1885. Even then"
he said, "this problem was in the
air and citizens were calling for |
a county government that could |
live within its income"
Mr.. Parker said he will call |
witnesses at the trial to show
that assessors have not followed |
Tax Commission instructions. |
Although the commission has
declared that sale prices of COM
parable property must be con-
sidered in arriving at fair value,
assessors have said I'VE use only
reproduction costs-sales don't !
count"
County officials in both Mont
gomery and Prince Georges last
week expressed surprise at a re-
port by the Tax Commissions
secretary, Mr.. Ward. Mr.. Ward
had said that about 80 per cent
of property assessments in Mary
land were being made at about
SO per cent of full cash value.
Assessing officers in the counties
have said they are aiming at a
figure closer to so per cent.
The league last night also
elected Wallace r. Hitchcock of
Silver Spring, chairman: Robert
S. Boynton of Westmoreland
Hills, vice chairman; Miss Eliza
beth Allen of Silver Spring, sec
retary, and William Blumenauer
of Chevy Chase. treasurer.