Evening star., 1955-03-24
New Bills Seek
School Aid and
More Revenue
One Would Roise
Incentive Funds
By SIS Million
By ChorIes L. Hoffman
Stor Staff Correspondent


gomery and Prince Georges deli
egations here are going right
up to the deadline in introduce
ing legislation to get more finan-
cial aid for school and other
county programs.
The Prince Georges delegation
today was preparing a bill to
increase the State incentive
funds for school construction by
about SIS million.
The present S10-per-child
basis on which the incentive
fund formula is figured would
be doubled. At the same time
an additional SIS a child would
be allowed for enrolment in
creaSeS to help counties expert
encing rapid growth.
Under the bill. Montgomery
would get $944,768, and Prince
Georges $875,206.
Montgomery Delegation Chair
man Blair Lee III last night
tossed another fund raising bill
into the hopper. It would bring
some 100000 additional reve-
nue. a year into the county cof-
ferS.
Opposition Expected.
The bill is expected to draw
bitter opposition from county
attorneys, title companies and
real estate men. 1t would pro-
vide for fiat SIS fee to be paid
the county on all deeds and
conveyances recorded in Mont
gomery Circuit Court. About
10000 such papers are filed an
nually.
Delegates said the recordation
tax would pay the principal and
interest on 81 million school
construction bond issue.
The Legislature already has
enacted a measuring granting
the Montgomery County Council
authority to impose an unlim-
tied tax on cigarettes. Delegates
say a 2-cent-a-pack tax would
bring in from $350,000 to 5000, 900
year.
Both delegation ran on plat
forms last November of more
State aid for schools. The Mont
gomery delegation campaigned
on the theory that Democratic
delegation--which it is-would
have more luck In getting addi-
tional aid out of Democratic
cally controlled Legislature than
did the former Republican dele
CATION.
With the deadline tomorrow
for filing bills, both delegations
have taken the first step in full
filling campaign promises.
The acid test. howeves, of get
ting the bills through this Legis-
lature still must be met.
Some of the delegations pro-
posals obviously have been in
troduced at late hours and are
still languishing in committee.
The most grandioSe-that CALL
ing for 5000 million five-year
school construction program, in
troduced by Senator Edward S.
Northrop, Democrat, of Mont
gomery-went into the hopper
only early this week.
The bill was discussed in the
Finance Committee yesterday
but made no headway toward
the Senate floor.
In House Committee
Mr.. Lee. on Tuesday, also in
troduced three bills that would
increase school equalization
funds by about $3,5 million and
would be financed by special
beer and gross receipts taxes.
These bills are in the House
Ways and Means Committee.
They have been criticized by
Delegate Gilbert GUIDE, Repub-
lican. of Montgomery, as draw
ing away possible support of
bill to increase the minimum
teacher salary $400 annually.
Under the teacher salary bill,
Montgomery stands to gain
about ST million a year. Under
Mr.. Lees latest proposals, the
county would get about $536.000
additional school aid from the
State.
The two delegations are go
ing to run into trouble in push
ing through any Of the measures,
most observers say. because Of
the State budget deficit.