Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1953-07-02

anniversary on June %.
jamin B. Baylor, Jr., school boarC
members, criticized the Council fol
failing to provide adequate funds
for school needs.
The statement said the schoo
board was fearful that the County
will return all too soon" tt
double sessions, overcrowdeG
classrooms and the use of sub,
standard facilities" as the result
of the slashed school appropria.
tions.
Slime asserted that even with the
additional $4,000 the board will
be $4,000 short of the funds
necessary to hire all 100 new
teachers next fall. He also noted
that although the Council granted
five new school buses, it did moi
provide for salaries for five addi-
tional drivers; that this years ap-
preparation for water, light and
heat is below what the board had
spent by May 81 of the past fiscal
year, and that general pay in
crease averaging three percent
was disallowed.
"The Board of Education states
emphatically that it stands on its
budget as submitted and does not
willingly accept something less,''
the statement declared.
The Council, however, acceded
to a board request that school
funds be consolidated into three
major categories instead of six
to permit the board to transfer
funds more easily.
In other last minute changes
the Council restored $4,000 for the
salary of DR.. Harold H. Mitchell.
school health consultant, whose
post was deleted last week. No
explanation was given by the
Council last week for the deletion
nor this week for the restoration.
Also restored was the $3.50, 900
recommended by McNayr to COM
plete and equip the new county
office building in Rockville.
Although the Council unanim-
ously adopted the budget, Council
man Lathrop Smith sharply cri-
ticized the budget as totally in
adequate" but said he voted for it
as "the best could get"
Smith declared "The Council has
grossly misjudged the feelings of
the people," in adopting a tight
budget. He asserted "the quality
of the county government will
suffer-" and added that the Coun-
ell created virtually impossible
situation" for the school board
and for the friends of the Council
Manager form of government in
the election year of 1854.
eve are losing all we have
gained in school standards and
county government" Smith de-
clared.
Perhaps this was DONE" he said,
Sin the hope that people with chill
dren will move away-I don't be-
lieve that's what the people want"
Smith said he feels that the
county is Caught in a wave of
reaction"
Although the budget and tax
rate became effective yesterday,
tax bills will be held up until after
August Is, the effective date for
laws enacted at the May session.
Veto of several of these laws
might have sharp effect upon the
tax rate.
The budget includes about $685.
900 surplus. Of the approximately
$2,000,000 surplus after last fiscal
year, $750,000 went for school OBJ
Grating costs, $35O,0OO for county
operating costs, $3.50, 900 for the
county office building and the re-
mainder for county construction
projects. McNayr had recommend
ed that 81 million be used for
school construction and some of
the remainder as STANDBY fund"
Some of the increases over Nc
Nayr's budget were possible be-
cause of revised estimate of the
assessable base. McNayr estimated
the base at $636,OOO,O0O and the
new estimate is some $40 million
higher.
The Sentinel learned that Coun-
cilmen Smith and Mrs. Stella 3.
Werner consistently opposed the
"hold the line" budget during the
several closed door Council budget
meetings.
The Council also upheld reduc-
tons in health, welfare, libraries
and the sheriff's office and elimina-