Evening star., 1954-04-20
Fairfax Budget Debated for Seven Hours
By Mary Lou Werner

Lie Q1fcTSe views Oh IIIlduCeS
were expressed yesterday by
about SO county citizens who
spoke at the annual budget hear
ing. After listening to seven
hours of testimony, the super
visors postponed final action on
the budget for several days to
study what had been said.
Although many spoke. it was
one of the most orderly budget
hearings county officials could
recall in recent years. The pro-
posed budget Of $11, 1,170,958 drew
about as many compliments as
criticisms. The proposed $2.85
rate is a 15-cent increase above
the current rate.
Want More Teachers.
The strongest plea was made
by parent-teacher and civic
groups in behalf of adding
enough money to the budget to
hire 35 additional teachers. The
$4,000 necessary for the extra
teachers could be added from
$244, 900 in Federal and State
funds that have become avail
able to the county since the
budget was prepared. Others
argued that the $244. 200 should
be applied to hold down taxes.
This would make an 11-cent re-
duction in the proposed rate
possible.
Representatives of the county
Library Board urged the super
visors to increase the library ap-
preparation from SIS, 900 to $107,-
900. Last year the appropriation
was $4,000.
Citizens Comments.
Here are the comments of
some who spoke:
Mrs. Jane Wellemeyer, presi-
dent of the county PTA Fed
eration-Every effort should be
made to provide enough teachers.
We have the opportunity to in
crease our appropriation for
teachers. The additional income
from Federal and State funds
makes this possible.
A. r. Baker, Franconia resi-
dent-Use this $244,000 for more
teachers and you will create a
self lf-perpetuating expense. This
money should be used to hold
down taxes.
HI. Arthur Hall, representing
the Groveton Citizens Associa-
tion-My organization voted to
indorse the school budget as
originally proposed, and use the
$244,000 to hold down taxes.
There is no excuse to spend the
money just because it is avail
able.
Mrs. Stephen HI. Moore, Grove
ton PTA-We're not satisfied
with lowering teaching stand
ards. Use that $244,000 to hire
more teachers. That is what it
was intended for.
Rudy Kavanaugh, Groveton
Citizens Association-Would we
have enough claSSrooms to ac-
commodate these extra teachers?
Taxes are getting entirely too
high.
A. H. Young, Franklin-Sher-
man PTA-We support the orig
inal school budget, but recon-
mend that the extra money be
used to hire more teachers.
Mrs. Robert Reed, Woodlawn
PTA-Hire more teachers. If
necessary. increase taxes to do it.
Bernard r. MulIady, president
of the Fairfax Federation of
Civic Associations-Hire 35 ad-
ditional teachers with $128,120
of that additional money, and
fix the tax rate at $3.50. The
people knew they would get a
10-cent increase in taxes this
year when they voted the last
school bond issue.
Maurice r. Hepner, Yelling
ton Heights Citizens Association
Those extra funds should and
must be used to hire more
teachers.
Rich Ranney, Mount Vernon
Citizens Association-More stu
dents per teacher means less
teacher time per pupil.
Miss Molly Ray Carroll of the
Freeholders Protective Associa-
tion-We need to hold down ex-
penses, like our own distin-
gulshed Senator Byrd is trying
to do. question this 5000 across
the board salary increase for
teachers. Not that their salaries
are high enough-but it is a
question of timing, One of our
greatest responsibilities to our
children is not to leave them a
county overburdened with debt.
Robert b. Walker, director Of
surveys and information for the
school board-We are conserva-
tive when we plan for an en-
rollment of $4,000 next year.
Joseph H. Freehill, president
Falls Church High School PTA-
We are disturbed with the back
ward step in the pupil teacher
ratio, and urge that additional
teachers be employed.
Mrs. Anne McGovern, Western
PTA-We voted unanimously for
more teachers.
Manning Gasch, Freeholders
Protective Association-The PTA
people laugh and act as if any
Montgomery