Evening star., 1953-12-06
]Bdaabsyst,
Keep Eye on
CountyFindnces
Informed Public
Is Aim of GROWING
Montgomery Group
By ChorIes [. Hoffman

W SHuTtSS b. T1OITmon
Emerging as one Of the most
effective voices In county fiscal
matters is Montgomery County
Taxpayers, Inc, an organization
primarily Of wealthy landown-
ers and businessmen.
Founded some 18 months ago.
the group is headed by James r.
Miller. Rockville attorney. But
its effectiveness has been due
largely to the efforts of Morris
Allen, the groups full-time exc
cutive director.
The taxpayers group now
numbers more than 200 members
and most of them are on the
active list.
That means they pay a mini
mum membership fee of $40
with the actual rate based on
the amount of their assessed
real estate holdings.
New Fee Considered.
The rate is five cents per 500
assessment with a top member.
ship fee Of $3.50. Associate mem
berships, however, are available
for the individual home owner.
A new membership fee system is
being considered.
Mr.. Miller says the aim Of
the group is to gather and
analyze facts pertaining to
county finances and disseminate
them to the public and to public
officials.
The organization is not with
out its criticS-including some
members of the County Council
of Parent Teacher Associations.
They feel the group was largely
responsible for big slashes in this
years school budget.
Mr. Allen, however, points out
his group recommended higher
starting pay for teachers and
showed how it could be attained.
The school board later raised the
starting pay along general lines
of Mr.. Aliens recommendations.
According to a promotional
brochure Just released by the or
ganization, the county was long
without taxpayers organiza-
ton to "constructively oppose
and criticize rising tax burdens:
challenge spending pressures;
critically analyze new and ex-
panding activities, bigger staffS,
higher costs, and provide facts
and figures on Needs VS.. Wants."
the brochure says.
Continuing Pressure.
The brochure predicts that
pressures for increased spending
and taxing will continue strong
and active in the next two years.
Demands. during this period,
if left unchallenged, may in
crease expenditures $6 million
and the tax rate 30 per cent, the
group adds.
The taxpayers group now has
Offices in Rockville just aNstone's
throw from the new county
building and the board of ;edu-
cation office.
I'm government" Mr.. Allen
says, there is not the challenge
to show good results that there
is in business where profit and
loss statements are issued"
A former State Department
budget officer, Mr.. Allen holds q
masters degree in business ad-
ministration from the Univer-
sity of Chicago.
Last spring the group spanked
the joint fact-finding study made
by a number of county organi-
cations of the governments OPP
Grafton. And for the first time
in several years there were sup
porters of decreased spending
when the June budget hearings
were held. The tax rate was cut.
Mr.. Allen confers frequently
with country officials making
suggestions or economics and
administrative Improvements.
I'VE are not interested in
hurting anyone" Mr.. Allen said.
The groups leaders will meet
with the county's legislative
delegation at 8 pm. tomorrow
at the Bank of Silver Spring.
The group numbers among it's
officers and directors s. Walter
Bogley, William D. Blair, j. c.
Christopher, Basil Mobley, I. In
gram Medley, William B.
Wheeler, j. r. Pendleton. Sam
Fig, E. Brooke Lee, w. B. Mehr-
ing, Charles F. Miller, Burrell
H. Marsh, jr., William H. Pres
colt, Roger w. Eisinger. jr., w.
Lawson King, Upton Gladhill,
Oliver H. Perry and Warren E.
Tydings.