Evening star., 1953-03-25
Record Budget
|0fS16.2 Million
Set for County
Will Ruise Levy
In Prince Georges
To $2.10 or $2.l5
BY ]. l. Michoel


A tax rate IL to II cents
higher than the current $1.98
will finance Prince Georges $16.2
budget for the next fiscal year.
The record appropriation to-
tai, $1.2 million more than this
years. was fixed tentatively by
the county commissioners yes
terday after a six-hour hearing
in Upper Marlboro. The county
heads added $4,000 to the
library's $4,000 request and
$4,000. to the $10,250 asked by
the liquor board.
There will be no further sub.
stantial changes. the commits
sioners said, before the budget
is signed by March 81.
A $2.10 to $2.15 levy on each
500 of assessed valuation will
be the highest in the county's
history. Applied to the new
$375.5 million tax base-a $54.3
million gain and another record
f1gure-it will produce the major
part of the SLOT million budget
allocations from county funds.
The remainder will come from
State, Federal and other sources.
$693,O0O Surplus.
From the maze of figures, the
county came up with a $693 900
surplus. OF this, $500,000 has
been set aside as a reserve for
contingencies.
Department spokesmen whose
requests totaled $17.3 million
before the cuts were made,
pleaded for restoration of $l.l
million slaShes. But the county
heads remained firm and, on the
whole, were supported by $50
civic leaders.
Occasional jabs and parties
enlivened the day, but the final
budget hearing was devoid Of
bitterness, except on a proposal
for a new rehabilitation welfare
agency.
Miss Eula Susan Hendricks.
former head of the County Well
fare Board, outlined the plan,
which emissions gradual evacua-
tion Of the Is inmates of the
county almshouse and use of the
-puildlng as a rehabilitation
center
Almhouse Fund Criticized.
Several persons criticized the
$25,000 almhouse appropria.
tion and suggested that its in.
mates be placed in private homes
or institutions. The new wei.
fare agency would cost an initial
$4,000 but would not add to the
current budget because its funds
would be drawn from allotments
to the almShouse and the coun-
tvs social service agency.
The heaviest cuts in amounts
requested at the first budget
hearing February 20 were in pub
lie works. schools and police bud
gets. But the ak was used all
along the line, leaving several
departments with less money
than they have this year.
The public works allotment
was cut from $1.8 to $1.4 million.
Suggested school appropriations
of $5.4 million were reduced
$188,000 and the police depart
ment will get $556,200, instead Of
the requested $772,570.
School accounts trimmed were
chiefly those for capital outlay
and maintenance. Teachers pay
is not affected. The amount
Topped OF the police allotment
means the county will have 105
men this year instead Of the
projected $50. The force will
have a basic $1,000 pay scale,
$500 more than at present, raises
ranging from 500 to $500 will
go to all members except Chief
F. Allen Richards, who did not
ask a pay advance.
$490,476 Interest.
Principal payments on bonded
Indebtedness will cost the county
$1.3 million next year, and in
terest costs will total $490, ,476.
The commissioners raised their
own appropriation from $25, $50
to $50. $50. They need the extra
$1,000, they explained, because
they travel around q lot.
Amounts asked and granted
for a few of the county's agen-
cies were:
Requested. ApprOvd.
-