Evening star., 1953-04-30
Chamber Urges
Cuts in Budget
For Arlington
Reduction Of Raise
For Teachers Seen
Saving 100000

The Arlington Chamber Of
Commerce last night recon-
mended5 county teachers be given
only half of the $500 salary in
crease proposed by the School
Board and urged the County
Board to slash $800,O00 from the
proposed $17.1 million 1953-54
budget.
The recommendations, made
in the face Of strong indorse-
ment Of the higher pay increase
during q public hearing in the
Jefferson Junior High School,
came from Carroll Wright, chair
man OF the Chambers budget
study committee.
Most of the so citizens who
attended the County Boards tax
rate hearing urged adoption of
both he school and general
county budgets as advertised.
Many of the speakers said the
advertised Accent increase in
real estate and personal prop
erty tax rates would not be too
great q drain on taxpayers
purses.
Board Has Until May Is.
The board has until May IS
to adopt the budget and set the
two tax rates which now are
$3.10 per 500 of valuation for
personal property and $2.81 for
real estate. The board has been
reviewing proposals for other
revenue sources recommended by
citizens in recent weeks as al
tentative Embarrassing plans to
minimize the real estate tax rate
increase. ... ii
Mr.. Wright said the chamber
feels nearly $700 600 can be pared
from the school budget by allow
ing only one-half Of the pro-
posed salary increase, reducing
the administrative costs and
providing for savings in salaries
due to teacher turnover. Normal
turnover, he said, will permit a
cut Of $4,000 in the school
budget because less experienced
teachers usually replace the
higher-paid, experienced teachers
who leave.
A reduction of $117,000 in the
general county budget through
tighter control over administra-
tive procedures in the various de-
partments and by elimination Of
position Of civil defense co-ordi-
nator and executive assistant to
the County Public Utilities Com
mission was recommended by
Mr.. Wright.
Robert w. Cox, former County
Board chairman, urged that the
business license tax be raised
from Is cents to Is cents on each
500 Of gross retail sales to pro-
duce $3.50 900 for improvements
in business areas. He also sug-
gested that the proposed auto
license fee Of IS be raised to
$3.50 to produce an additional
$12S,000' for street funds.
Mr.. Cox recommended, as
chairman Of the Citizens Coun-
Gil for Good Government, that
"the water and sewer systems
be made self-supporting." He
said the proposed budget would
require 1921 900 of general rev.
enues to subsidize water and
sewer operations.
Cox Explains Proposal.
Mr.. Cox said the net effect
of his proposals would be to re-
duce the real estate rate in
crease to 10 cents. This rate,
he said, would permit raising
of teachers salaries by the rec
commended $500-a-year figure.
Homer @. Bauserman, an Ar
lington auto dealer. and former
County Sheriff, objected strong
ly to any increase in either the
business or auto license taxes.
He said the services furnished
to businessmen by the county do
not justify the proposed increase
and he argued that auto owners
now pay more than their share
of the tax burden through per-
sonal property, gasoline and auto
tag taxes.
Board Chairman Robert A.
Peck echoed Mr.. Bauserman's
sentiments on the business Ii
cense tax, saying, businessmen
are already carrying their share
nf Tho lnoh0