Evening star., 1954-05-16
1O-Cent Monfgomer\
Tax Increase Asked
By Acting Manager
By chorIes |. Hoffmon

A 10-cent increase in the
present $1.87 per 500 assessed
valuation general Montgomery
County tax rate was recon-
mended yesterday by Acting
County Manager Jeptha J. Car.
rell.
The. basic $1.97 tax rate was
proposed to support q rec
commended operating expense
budget of SIT million-some $1.1
million higher than this years
budget.
The acting managers pro-
posals also would increase the
suburban district tax from 8
cents to 10 cents per 500 and
the recreation tax in the urban
area from 1.8 cents to A cents
per 500.
The budget recommendations
will be presented formally to the
council Tuesday. Copies will be
available to the public the fol-
lowing day.
Construction Of Schools.
In a major departure from
past practices. Mr.. Carrell rec
commended that 6 cents of the
tax rate. or $416,00O in current
revenues, be earmarked for
school construction.
This would be the first step in
a partial pay-as-you-go program.
Schools heretofore have been
built from bond issue receipts
and surplus funds.
In emphasizing the Importance
of going on partial pay-as-you-
go plan. Mr.. Carrell warned. I'VE
are In danger Of entering, within
five to ten years. upon a period
of reverse pay-as-you-go f.
nancing."
Use Of Surplus Funds.
The acting manager also rec
commended that $745. .668 surplus
be channeled into the capital
Improvement program. The re-
naming $675,000 surplus should
be carried over to Offset any un-
anticipated losses in revenue, he
added.
Mr.. Carrell's total budget of
$25, ,358,438 includes $8,359,955
for capital projects.
The SIT million operating
budget is about $1.1 million, or a
Z per cent, increase over this
years budget.
Department Requests Cut.
Mr.. Carroll and Newton Butts.
on loan to the managers Office
from his post as chief of the
division of accounts, welded a
heavysax at times in considering
departmental requests.
Some $790,0O0 was Topped off
requests submitted by depart
ment heads and the board of
education. The latter will see
$502,810 slashed of its requests.
Mr.. Carrell also sought to hold
the line in providing county serv-
ices at the present level and
bids for Is new employees in the
health department, 9 in inSpec-
tiOnS and licenses, 10 in public
safety and four in the personnel
Office, were denied.
The council must vote So to
increase any item in the man.
ayers budget. A simple majority
can reduce budget expenditures.
Teacher Pay Increase.
Mr.. Carroll recommended $8.7
million for school instructional
services which would provide for
maximum increases up to $500
for each teacher requested and
for 100 new classroom teachers
and IL special area teachers. The
school board had sought 214
classroom and area teachers.
His budget also recommends
$137. 900 for readjustment of gen.
eral county employees salaries.
This will provide for pay in
creaSes for policemen equal to
that granted teachers and for
other adjustments provided the
personnel board recommends
salary schedule changes. No
across -the-board increase was
recommended.
Another new proposal submit
ted by Mr.. Carroll is the tabbing
Of $4,000 for initiating a prac-
tice Of purchasing new cars for
ali those now in service. BY
faster trade-ins, he said, it has
been conservatively estimated
the county can save $4,000
year in car maintenance and de-
probation.
Mr.. Carroll recommended
$3.50 for planning and dissent
nation of information on civil
defense. He barred however, any
expenditure for civil defense per-
Sonnel and large amounts of
money for equipment and sup
plies of q dubious usefulness"
Psychiatrics Branch.
The manager went along with
the. health departments request
for creation of a psychiatric
branch to cost about $16,820.
He, nevertheless, cut $4,000 of
its requested $413,00 Although
providing for a few additional
school nurses, he clipped $43, 900
alone of requests for nursing
services.
The department of public
safety was hit hard by Mr.. Car
Rud0o+e (nnonnrod