Evening star., 1955-06-09

Retort. Poes A-3;
weeks ago when he came up
with a recommended budget that
would permit retention of the
county's present tax rate of $1.87
per 500 Of assessed valuation.
But the pleasantness was
shortlived.
The manager aroused the ire
of thousands of residents-par-
ticularly parents of school-age
children--with his recommended
tion Of q $l.1 million cut in re-
quested county funds for day.
to-day operation of the schools.
The criticisms have mounted
despite the fact the school board
next year would get $1.4 million
more than allocated this year
from all sources even under Mr..
Reese's proposals.
SlaShes New ClassrOOmS
Matching the high feelings
over the operating cuts is oppo-
sition to the managers recon-
mendation that the boards class
room construction requests be
slashed $3.1 million.
School board announcement
that teacher salary raises and
the popular kindergarten pro-
gram probably would have to be
abandoned added fuel to the
opposition fires.
It was this situation that
caused the County Council to
move the public hearing sched-
uled for 8 o'clock tomorrow night
from the 230-capacity county
auditorium to the huge Richard
Montgomery. High School gym
nasium nearby. The School
Board and the council will con-
fer tonight behind closed doors
Likewise, the rapidly develop
ing and well-organized opposi-
ton to the cuts has prompted a
special statement from Ward w
Caddington, chairman of the
Democratic State Central Com
mittee, assuring residents that
sufficient funds to maintain
the schools high standards
would be provided by the DEM
ocratic County Council.
Forty-three of rs Democratic
precinct chairmen also signed a
letter expressing grave concern"
over the recommended budget
cuts and urging the council tc
adopt a budget to insure basic
goals of the school system.
Reese Specifies Cuts
Mr.. Reese yesterday made
public his own recommendation
as to where the school board
could make the cuts he pro.
posed.
His proposals do not call fol
elimination of kindergartens. he
said. They also provide $4,000
for teacher raises-some $194,.
900 short of the amount re-
quested by the board.
Mr.. Reese insists that through
out his budget he has provided
sufficient funds to maintain
standards proposed last year by
the school board. Last years
standards were inadequate
Schools Superintendent Forbes
H. Norris says.
Mr.. Reese based his budget or
a S250.81 per pupil cost compared
with a. $268.52 cost proposed by
the School Board and cut 500 of
enrolment estimates. His owr
figure is slightly above that re-
quested last year by the board
Mr.. Reese's alarm over the rise
In pupil cost is not without sup
port.
Last June, the county's Finan-
cial Advisory Committee, headed
up by Charles L. Dearing, deputy
Undersecretary of Commerce
warned the cost-per-student "i'
increasing more rapidly than car
be accounted for merely by the
decline in value or purchasing
power of the dollar"
Warned on Advancing Rate
The committee at that tim
also warned that the county wa
facing a possible $2.17 schoo
tax rate in fiscal 1860 instead o
the then $3.50 tax rate.
A study of II comparabl
school systems, however, las
year showed that while Mont
gomery was fourth in medial
family income. it was 18th il
per-pupil costs.
The County Council of Par
ent-Teacher Associations is lead
ing the fight for full restoration
Of the school board budget. TIL
County Civic Federation ha
proposed similar action.
Council leaders, like Presiden
Jesse MacKnight. obviously fee
that Montgomery's apparen
wealth permits the expenditure
asked for schools.
Philander P. Claxton. jr.,
PTA council spokesman, con
tends residents are willing to pa
the additional taxes the board
budget would require. On $40,
900 assessed home, it would b
$14.
At the same time, Mr.. Claxto
warns that the cut threaten
serious losses to property value
in the county and to businesse
which depend on continue