Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-03-10
Fairfax Budget
Would Increase
Rate 10 S2.95
Board Sets Hearing
For April 18 on
$14MiIIion Figure

A total budget of $14 million
requiring 25-cent tax rate in
crease, is proposed for Fairfax
County in fiscal 1866.
The Board of County Super
visors voted yesterday to ad-
vertise the budget for public
hearing at 10 am. April 10 in
the Fairfax. Circuit Courtroom.
Earlier, it was indicated a 27-
cent tax increase would be re-
quired to finance the proposed
1866 budget, but County Exec
utive C. C. Massey in his final
presentation of the budget pro-
posal yesterday reported that
the county will wind up this year
with a larger surplus than he
originally anticipated. The pres
ent tax rate is $2.70.
The vote to advertise the budg-
ct was unanimous, but several
supervisors indicated they would
not be willing to go along with
a 25-cent tax increase when it
comes time to adopt the budget
after the public hearing.
Fox to Oppose it.
I'm certainly not in favor of
such a large tax increase" said
Supervisor Maurice Fox, land
I'm certainly not going to vote
for it,"
If we keep increasing taxes
the people will stop voting for
bond issues" said G. Wallace
Carper, chairman of the Board
- Supervisors. I'D hate to see
the caJ come Wi zaiTiax can't
pass a school bond issue"
The total budget is $2.8 mil
lion above the 1954-5 budget. A
school budget of 1913 million
accounts for SIT million of the
total increase. General govern
ment expenses account for 1913
million of the total-an increase
of $742,000 above 1954-5. Pro-
posed expenditures in special
sanitary districts for refuse COL
lection, street lights and other
services confined to certain areas
of the county. plus operation of
the lntegrated sewer system to-
tai $1.1 million.
These costs, however, do not
affect the proposed 1926 tax
rate throughout the county.
They are financed either by spe-
cial levies in the special service
districts or by service charges.
When the budget first was
presented to the supervisors
yesterday by Mr.. Massey, it to-
tailed $13,9 million and proposed
10 22-cent increase in the tax
levy. Another 8 cents had to be
added to the levy. however, be-
cause $4,000 was added for an
other 10 new policemen on mo-
ton of Mrs. wilkins, and $4,000
was added for drainage work
in Gum Springs on motion of
Supervisor Arthur Shaffer. The
additional policemen makes a
total of 80 new officers to be
employed next year.
I'm concerned about the tax
rate, too" said Mrs. Wilkins, "but
the people of this county are con-
cerned about the police depart
ment and the service they are
getting"
Surplus Shapes Up.
Twenty new policemen were
included in the original budget
proposal. This would only give
the force an added Strength of
10 men, however, since the other
10 would just about offset a five
day week going into effect July /.
Presentation of the budget
disclosed that Fairfax expects a
total Sill million surplus this
year. This is one reason a higher
tax increase is not necessary to
finance a budget that, issso much
larger. The anticipated surplus
includes $754,000 in the general
fund and $409, 701 in the county
school operating fund. County
officials said the surplus accumu-
lated because tax collections were
better than usual.
The 1954-55 budget was figured
on a total tax assessment base
of 1888 million and the new bud
get is figured on a tax assess
ment of $265 million.
Besides the new police and
drainage money added yester-
day, the Supervisors made on
further changes in the proposed
1856 expenditures tentatively
outlined last week. The 1913
million school budget was left
intact.