Evening star., 1955-06-17
SEVEN COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL DECIDE
Real Estote Tax Boost Appears
Certoin in Montgomery County
BY CHARLES L. HOFFMAN

BY CHARLES l.. HUFFMAN
An increase in the Montgom-
eery County real estate tax rate
appears almost certain for the
fiscal year beginning July l.
How hard taxpayers will be hit
is still undecided. but the maxi
mum boost would be IA cents
in the remote event the County
Council approves all budget re-
quests.
This is the prospect despite
County Manager M. L. Reese'sI
Spartan approach to his first
budget, which calls for reten-I
ton of the present tax rate of
I$1.87 per $100 of assessed valu-
alton.
The economy hound all-Demo-
cratic county councilmen as a.
result face a political dilemma
that could determine their fate
at the polls even three long years
from now.
The council was swept into
office on a wave of resentment
against spiralling taxes and as
sessmentS and increased eXpen-
ditures under the former Repub-
Ilican-controlled council.
Economy Promised
The Democrats ran on a sort of
two-pronged campaign of econ
omy and better schools with
needed classrooms and adequate
teacher salaries.
The dual promises today are
coming back to haunt the coun-
Gil.
Mr.. Reese Topped more than
a million dollars off school board
operating requests for next year
to hold the tax rate.
His failure to itemize these
cuts brought warnings that kin
dergartens would be jeopar-
died and teacher salary raises
barred.
/ Around these standards, thou
sands of parents rallied and in
an unprecedented public hearing
last Friday demanded full res
toration of the $1,076.000 cut.
Even the most conservative
recommendation from the Allied
Civic Group of Silver Spring,
called for restoration of $780,
900 of this amount.
At the same time councilmen
in other public hearings have
heard pleas for restoration of
some $4,000 in Mr.. Reese's
cuts in budgets of other county
departments.
Services ItemiZed
These include funds for six
additional health nurses, five
new deputy sheriffs, is addi-
tional police, four fire alarm dis
lpatchers, a new bookmobile and
staff and expanded civil defense
program.
I If the council granted all the
requests, which is highly un-
l likely, the tax rate might have
to be increased slightly more
than l6 cents.
! A re-evaluation of the assess
able base however. probably will
add another 100000 to the rev.
Ienue estimates. That would cut
the maximum increase in the tax
rate to IA cents.
/ Several political observers feel
the council will yield sizable
amount to the school board.
For one thing, the council is
still not clear as to where econ
omies can be effected in the
school operations. A year of
study may yield the facts to war
rant a cut in some quarters.
+, At the same time, Mr.. Reese's
warning that his capital budget
proposals will cost an additional
$2.8 million annually in future
years is being felt.
With this in mind, Mr.. Reese
understandably declined to use
any surplus in his operating bud
get. Political bodies simply do
not like to have to pick up the
slack between revenues and ex-
penses through additional tax in
creases in years toward the end
of their terms. A little cushion
NOW could provide a better ride
in later years.
Possibility For Future
! With a tax increase-even If
/ slight-plus additional revenues
that may be obtained through
General Assembly action next
year, the council may be able to
avoid substantial tax raises in
future years.
/ Specifically county Democrats
hope to persuade the Legislature
this winter to- override the veto
tof a bill that would permit the
county to impose a cigarette tax
with a potential yield of more
than a half million dollars and
a measure that would increase
State school construction aid to
! the counties.
Political observers are not
hazarding guesses on whether
the council will restore $3.1 mil
/ lion Mr.. Reese slashed from
school construction requests, or