Evening star., 1954-12-23
Fairfax Supervisors
Favor Calling Off
Hoyf Fiscal Study
BY Mary Lou Werner

Board of County Supervisors
hopes to call OF q long-overdue
financial survey by economic
analyst Homer Hoyt, who has
acquired large real estate hold
ings in the county since he was
placed under contract for the
Job more than two years ago.
The supervisors employed Dr..
Hoyt for the fiscal study at
the same time he was engaged
for the economic land base and
population survey.
The contract for both jobs
was signed on September 10.
1852. In it DR.. Hoyt agreed
to complete all the work in six
months.
Terms Of the contract pro-
vided that DR.. Hoyt be paid
$4,000 for the economic land
base and population study. and
$4,000 for the fiscal study.
Not Pressed by County.
The economic land base and
population study was completed
last spring, and the county paid
DR.. Hoyt the $4,000. County
Executive C. C. Massey said DR..
Hoyt was granted one extension
of about six months for the
first section of his studies. which
advanced the final completion
date to around September. 1858.
Beyond that he has been granted
no further extensions. Mr..
Massey said the county has not
pressed for completion Of the
fiscal study. however.
The county executive said DR..
Hoyt was in his office several
weeks ago and stated that he
was about to get started on the
fiscal study. Mr.. Massey said DR.,
Hoyt, at that time, estimated
the job would be finished next
spring.
When the status Of the Hoyt
fiscal study was called to the at
tention of the supervisors. four
of them promptly suggested that
the survey be Cancelled. They Of
fered several reasons. principally
that DR.. Hoyt had been too slow
and that any recommendations
he might make could not be as
effective now that he owns some
664 acres in the county for de-
velopment.
Reached by telephone in
Beaumont. Tex, where he is an
a business trip. DR.. Hoyt said
he did not feel his land holdings
"would prejudice my views about
thu county"
81 acquired the land after my
first report was completed" he
added. at was done as an In
vestment. 1t just shows my in
terest in the county"
Won't Argue Case.
DR.. Hoyt said.. however, he
would not argue with the super
visors If they decided to cancel
the contract for the financial
survey.
But I'd like b chance to talk
to them about it first" he said.
He said he hasn't done much
work" on the financial survey
yet. but he hopes to complete
IL by next spring. He said he
thought $4,000 "a very reason
able fee" for such a survey.
'The reason for the delay on
It." he added, "is that we wanted
to do very thorough job.
DR.. Hoyt said he would talk to
Mr.. Massey and the supervisors
on his return to Washington
January 3.
The following items were set
out in the contract to be COW
cred by the fiscal survey:
/. Analysis of tax structure,
including existing sources of
county revenue and tax legisla-
ton available to the county.
2. Analysis of and recommen-
dations on potential sources Of
revenue, including recommended
tions on potential legislation for
sound methods Of spreading and
increasing the tax base and for
financing permanent improve
ments and public services.
3. Analysis of present assess
ment policy. including sugges-
tions as TO revision tif necessary
of present taxing and assessment
methods.
4. Analysis of the financial
status of the county as to bonded
indebtedness.
5. Analysis Of the economic
feasibility of county acquisition
of existing water systems and of
future county expansion of such
systems if acquired.
The four supervisors who feel
the fiscal study contract with DR..
Hoyt should be cancelled are
Chairman @. Wallace Carper.
Mrs Anne wilkins. Arthur Shat
fer and Maurice Fox.
A fiscal study committee Of
the Northern Virginia Regional
Planning and Economic De-
velopment Commission on Mon-
day recommended a $4,000 tax
study in nearby Virginia. with
the cost being shared by the
five counties and cities in the
area.
Supervisors Stuart De Bell.
C. B. Runyon and Clarence Jett
said they had not given the
matter careful enough consid-
Grafton to reach any conclusion
yet.
N.1lI. Aa