Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1954-03-25
Economy

Continued from Page u
for the town are definitely out
if l am elected to office" 1t is
safe to assume, Mr.. Bridges con-
tinued, that the large expendi-
lures Rockville must make i'm
mediately for sewer and water
are going to make it difficult, if
not impossible, to maintain the
towns present 90-cent tax rate.
"It seems to me, in view of
these things" he added, "that
careful thought must be given
by the next mayor and council
to ways of economiZing, where
yer possible, in the city's opera
tions, and no means of increas-
ing revenues must be overlooked.
Naturally, the basic costs of
operations such vital functions of
the town as street repairs and
extensions must be unhampered,"
Mr.. Bridges said.
Recreation Plans
"At the same time," he con-
tinued, II do not regard as lux
uries support given by the town
to its public library and for the
present eight-weeks recreation
program. AS a matter of fact, 1
look forward to a gradual i'm
provement of the recreation pro-
gram and its extension into addi-
tional areas of the town.
Mr.. Bridges also said he favors
immediate action by the next
mayor and council for the pur-
pose of eliminating the downtown
traffic menace and is of the opin-
ion that installation of additional
lights on Montgomery Avenue
will greatly improve what has
grown to be a dangerous situa-
ton.
81 believe" Mr.. Bridges said,
that other projects which clear
ly are not within the power of
the city to afford at the present
tax rate must be avoided regard
less of pressure unless sufficient
public interest is evidenced to
warrant a referendum which
would definitely establish
whether or not a majority of the
citizens are willing to pay addi-
tional taxes to support them"
Increased Revenues
Mrs. Talon, first woman ever
to run for public office in Rock
vile, told the Sentinel the Hit
Slate recognizes that Rockville's
bonded indebtedness, as well as
it's growing operational costs,
have to be faced realistically by
the next mayor and council"
She said, "Our slate has given
considerable thought to ways and
means of increasing revenues
which would not throw greater
financial burdens on the tax
payers"
She said, "It is our opinion,
that new sources of revenue must
be searched for and found
promptly by a town administra-
ton which includes realistic bust
ness people of proven competency
and efficiency"
The Hit Slate, Mrs. Talon
said, REALIZES that a disportion-
ate ratio exists in Rockville be-
tween residential, commercial
and industrial property" She
said, "the fact that the towns
o m m ercial and industrial
growth has not kept pace with
residential growth is largely re-
sponsible for the heavy tax load
which will have to be borne by
residential property unless some
means is discovered to bring new
commercial and industrial enter
prises into the town limits"
eff we are elected to office"
Mrs. Talon stated, "our greatest
effort will be put forth to en-
courage and foster new bust
nesses and suitable industrial
plants in Rockville. 1t is an ele-
mentary fact" she said, "that
such enterprises pay their way
plus, taxwise, and will provide
the additional tax dollars needed
for improvements in Rockville"