Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-07-15

that we can beat our adversaries at
their own parliamentary game
Mrs. NJ. G. Carbone.
Montgomery School Budget
The Star Of July Z carried an
unsigned letter from "Tax Weary
HomeoWner" commenting on the re-
lationship of Montgomery County
schools and taxes. The writer alleged
that the school program was ultra
luxurious" and that the budgets were
the result of pressure by the parent
teacher associations. He urged that
the school budget should be cut almost
in half.
The record should be set straight
that virtually every organized group in
the county urged the approval of
school budget larger than that recon-
mended by the acting County Manager.
In addition. to the parent-teacher
associations, the Allied Civic Group of
Silver Spring. the Montgomery County
Civic Federation, the Montgomery
County Taxpayers, Inc, and the League
Of Women Voters supported, in varying
degrees of completeness, the boards
Civic Group was based on compre-
hensive study of the school program
covering almost full year by its edu-
cation committee, which met with
various county and school officials
The County Council merits the deep
appreciation of all the citizens Of the
county for its careful and objective
review of the, budget for the coming
year. The fact that the council was
willing to increase appropriations for
education, for civil defense, and for
the police is indicative Of its responsive
ness to the widespread agreement ex-
pressed by various county organiza-
tons at the public hearings. The fact
that it was not possible to go along
with all of the requests for increases
is certainly no indication they were
not given adequate consideration. In
stead, it indicates the process Of bal
ancing the need and demand for all
governmental services against the will
ingneSS and ability of the taxpayers
to pay for such services.
This does not deny that the county
faces real problem in raising the
revenues necessary to finance school
population which has risen from 10000
in 1916 to $4,000 when the schools open
next September. as well as to provide
for other essential governmental serv-
ices. Last January the Allied Civic
Group urged the Montgomery County
delegation to the Maryland General
Assembly to seek authority for the
council to raise money from sources
other than taxes on real property.
To- 1n.sr-
month session of the State Legislature
1t is not too early to begin arousing
public support for measures to broaden
the county's taxing authority.
The objective of relieving the tax
burden on home owners and other
forms of real property is a laudable
one, but I believe the vast majority of
Montgomery County citizens would
object most strenuously to the method
suggested of cutting the schools at
least 40 per cent below the budget for
the current year."
Clarke L. Fauver.
4
According to "Tax Weary Home
owner" we have an ultraluxurious
school system in Montgomery County!
Well, We'll agree that it is good one
or we would have said goodbye long
ago. However, we are far from attain
ing the type of monetary support which
a prosperous county can afford.
There is growing appreciation that
soaking the homeowner is not an equi-
table solution to the taxing problem
Other means of taxation must be dis
covered. Nevertheless, the present GUS
tom of concentrating on the home
owner has not become too burdensome.
We do not favor spending public money
foolishly regardless Of total wealth.
Let's look at this picture. Our 1853 real
estate tax was $20845 on house and
lot which cost $4,000 in 1913 and
which, contrary to "Tax Weary's" eSti-
nation of depreciation because of high
taxes in Montgomery County, could
now be sold for figure In excess Of the
original cost.
On monthly basis, our taxes would
amount to less than $18 per month
Only part of this is allocated for the
education of children in democracy.
Let us assume that man smokes a
pack of cigarettes and drinks two cans
Of beer each day. This would cost ap-
proximately $1,000 per month"; figure
very close to our total tax picture, only
part of which go to the schools. We
cannot call the taxes burdenSome when
it is considered how much is thrown
away on unproductive activities.
Do not be too sure about prospective
homeowners turning away from Mont
gomery County because of the high
taxes. Good schools usually result in a
demand for property in any locality
and you simply cannot get something
for nothing. G. william Sim0ndS.