Evening star., 1954-03-24
Prince Georges
Budget Under
Final Scrutiny
Few at Hearing
Complain About
Bureau Reductions
By J. l. Michoel

=
County bureau appropriations
are being given last-minute study
before the county's new $12.7
million budget is signed next
Tuesday.
Department heads and $50
civic leaders aired comparatively
few complaints yesterday at a
final public hearing, interspersed
with concentrations for the all
Republican Board of Commis-
SionerS.
Almost all bureau chiefs and
several heretofore critical civic
spokesmen expressed gratifica-
ton that the 1954-55 budget
provides for substantially all
demanded services.
The commissioners unani-
mously and unreservedly agreed
that they have turned in a neat
performance by simultaneously
approving record expenditures
and a 15-cent tax cut in an
election year.
Total of $18,917,691.
AS presented yesterday, the
budget for the fiscal year be-
ginning July l will require $12,-
779,913 from county funds and
$6,137,777 from the State and
other outside sources, or a total
of $18,917.691.
County real estate, assessed
at $439,872,977 and taxed at a
basic rate of $1.98 on each $1OO
of assessed valuation, will provide
$8,970,204. A total of $2,207,-
368 from miscellaneous income
such as licenses, fines and serv-
ice charges, and a $2,013,699
surplus from which $411,358
was deducted for working capi-
tai are expected to balance in
come and disbursements.
The commissioners announced
yesterday that $171,319 trimmed
from the $6,537,412 school budget
was Topped off by the county
because that amount is expected
from Federal allotments. Ac-
tually, they explained, every
cent asked by the School Board
has been granted.
Announcement In Error.
Errors were made in budget
figures released Saturday, the
commissioners said, in the case
OF the county health and rec
reation departments. AS cor
rected. the board granted $685.
1894 of the health departments
$155,079 request. The $79,930
asked for recreation was pared
to $4,000.
Several speakers urged more
funds for the Health Depart
ment, saying the amount ap-
proved will provide for only five
of the additional 10 nurses
needed to double the present
staff.
But DR.. Thomas S. Englar.
county health officer, said: This
will give us a start on school
public health service. I know the
commissioners can't do all the
things we want to do overnight.
and perhaps this is as much as
we can expect this year.
"Our space in the County
Service Building at Hyattsyille
is so cramped that I don't know
what we would do if more per-
sonnel was added"
Transfer Undecided.
The commissioners gave no
indication that they will approve
the transfer of nurses aides from
the School Board to the Health
Department, as asked by the
county civic federation. The
School Board plans to station
aides at larger high schools to
care for children who become
III or are hurt in accidents. They
would also perform other duties.
A report from one high school
lists "a accidents and 343 ILL
nesses. all minor, during a 10
week period in the current school
year.
Demands for approval of the
entire amount asked for recrea-
ton came from spokesmen from
Vansville B elts vile, Hillcrest
Heights, Seat Pleasant, Suitland
and other civic associations.
Trimming of the civilian de-
tense request from $7,075 to $500
brought adverse comment from
HillcreSt Heights, but otherwise
there was little ado about the
matter.
Fire Prevention Cut Protested,
The stiffest argument of the
day was for restoration of all or
part of $36,627 sliced from the
new Fire Prevention Bureaus
$44,677 request. The commits
sioners said they felt the board
should start with an Office
manned by fire marshal and
a secretary, who could lay the
groundwork for bigger staff.
Joseph F. x. Mayhem, chair
man of the county Volunteer
Fire Departments Fire Preven-
ton Committee, protested the
reduction. So did the associa-
tion's treasurer, Vincent Simmel.
and its secretary, Floyd B.
Heimer.
What would a fire. marshal do
all by himself, a civic leader
queried?
For IL months" Mr.. Mayhem
replied, "he would wear a hat
and find out what his problems
are"