Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-05-17
Council Holds
Tax Line in
Voting Budget
Improvements Cut
In $7.8 Million
Alexandra Fund

Alexandria City Councilmen
last night adopted a 1866
budget carrying no tax increase
but were warned that reductions
in capital Improvement funds
may result in higher taxes in
future years.
A $7.8 million budget was
adopted by a 6-to-0 vote. The
tax rate will remain the same
as this year. $2.75 on real estate
and SO on personal property.
The new budget represents a
$470,00O reduction from the So
million proposal submitted last
month by City Manager Ira F.
Willard. Mr.. Wizards original
proposal carried provisions for
imposing either a 2 per cent
sales tax or raising the real
estate tax rate by 10 cents to
make up a deficit. @
Last nights pared down ver-
sion was presented by Mr.. Will
lard after he was instructed by
Council last week to cut the
budget so there would be no tax
increase or new taxes.
Capital Improvement Cut
The major portion of the re-
duction came from capital i'm
provement funds. These included
$751; 500 from street. curb and
sewer funds, $4,000 from a
street naming fund and for res
toration of the Ramsey House.
and $50, 300 to pay back money
already borrowed for a traffic
control building and a sewer
line.
Councilman have indicated
some of these capital improve
ment items will be placed in q
future bond issue now under
discussion.
Stephen Piskur, representing
the Strawberry Hills Citizens
Association, said citizens have
a right to know at this time"
what effect the bond issue and
other fixed expenses will have
on future budgets.
1.-THE constant lodging of the
issue of the sales tax in Alex
andria is acting to the detriment
of both the property owning
citizens and the merchants who
oppose it," Mr.. Piskur said. .
Method Selection Urged
Stuart Morrison, chairman Of
a council-appointed citizens
committee on the recent Whar-
ton government survey. said q
better understanding should be
reached on what capital Inn
provements should be financed
on a pay-as-you-go basis and
what should be put in bond is
sues.
1--WE have to pay $1.60 for
every dollar we borrow. It APP
pears we will have to pay the
| piper some years hence if we
keep on postponing things" Mr..
Morrison said.
| The League of Women Voters
said the budget is mot in step
with the growth of this commu-
nifty and the rapid demand for
expansion of services" Mrs.
James F. Fort, president of the
league, urged more funds for the
mental hygiene clinic and short
term detention and treatment
facilities for mental patients,
more funds for increasing Serv-
ices of the Juvenile and Domestic
Relations Court and for enlarged
planning department staff.
Mr.. Fort said members of the
league were willing to have in
creased taxes for the additional
services.
$4,000 For Study
Councilmen said $4,000 Is
provided next year for starting
work on a land use and economic
base study. This was disclosed
after representatives of several
groups called for funds to make
a comprehensive city study.
Planning Director Denis Cahill
said the funds would be used to
increase personnel in his office
to start the city survey
Mayor Marshall j. Beverley
told the approximately IS per-
sons present that the city was
not in a position to raise taxes.
Higher taxes would be hard
ship on city residents, he said.
The budget provides for a
five-day week for police and
| firemen. The police department
probably would go on the new
schedule about August l, Mr..
Willard said. The schedule for
firemen was tentatively set for
January /, provided the depart
ment can work out plan sat-
isfactory to the men.
A motion by retiring Council
man Daniel F. O'Flaherty that
funds be provided to double the
salary for councilmen and the
! Mayor died for lack of a second.
Councilmen now receive 81 200
a year and the Mayor 81, 800.