Evening star., 1954-04-15
Federation Asks
17-Cent Rise
In Tax Rate
Would Also Ruise
Arlington Business
Levy by 500

A so per cent increase in the
Arlington business license and q
17-cent tax increase will be
recommended by the County
Civic Federation for the coming
fiscal year.
At a special meeting last night
in Lyon Park Community House,
the federation voted to recon-
mend changes in the proposed
county budget of $40, 0,242.766
that would increase it by $50, ,060.
A public hearing on the pro-
posed general county budget will
be held at 8 pm. next Thursday
in Jefferson Junior High School.
The school budget hearing is set
for 8 pm. April 26. also in JEFF
ferson. The county boards
hearing on setting the tax rate
for the fiscal year beginning July
l is set for 8 pm. April 80 in
Jefferson.
Increase for Schools.
The school budget. as proposed
by the School Board. amounting
to $8,119,017, would require a
27-cent increase in real and per-
sonal property tax rates. The
budget of County Manager A. T.
Lundberg could be adopted with
out raising tax rates for general
county expenses.
The Federation's recommends
tions would have increased the
proposed tax rise to 20 cents.
However. the change in business
license taxes urged by the group
would bring in about $356,000.
enough to cut the proposed tax
increase by II cents.
These changes were approved
by the federation:
Includes $4,000 to Begin ac-
quiring land to enlarge sewage
treatment facilities to provide.
eventually. secondary treatment
of sewage.
More for Utility Commission.
Increase to $4,000 the pro-
posed total of $4,000 of the
budget of the Public Utilities
Commission.
Allow an increase of only six
policemen. instead of the II
proposed, and acquisition of one
patrol car instead of two.
Increase the budget allowance
for libraries by $4,000 to pro-
vide additional paid personnel to
replace volunteer workers, who
are decreasing in number.
Add $4,000 to the Highway
Division budget to take care OF
sidewalk needs.
Allot an additional $4,000 to
Recreation and Parks to permit
further development of sites ac-
quired for parks and play
grounds.
Reduce the amount budgeted
for the Commissioner of Rev.
enue by $4,000 because of crea-
ton of the Real Estate Assess
ment Department as separate
department.
Electoral Board Cut.
Reduce the proposed Electoral
Board budget by about $4,000
because a special election pro-
vided for in the budget may not
be held.
No change was voted in the
school budget. The Federation
indorsed, however, recon-
mendation that any additional
funds received by the School
Board be used to bring minimum
teacher salaries to- $3.500. The
School Board. since its budget
was prepared, has been notified
that about $4,000 additional
will be received from the State.
DR.. Edward j. Braun, assistant
school superintendent. said the
county board must approve use
of surplus funds by the School
Board.
County Manager Lundberg
opposed recommendations Of
the Federation's Revenue and
Expenditures Committee calling
for personnel changes that
would have cut S7,400 from the
proposed budget. Mr.. Lund-
berg'S stand was backed by the
Federation.
In charge of the discussion
was H. R. Mohat of the Reve-
nOes and Expenditures Commit
tee. His committee recon-
mended most of the adopted
changes and the tax increases
indorsed by the Federation.