Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-05-14
Record Budgets
In Arlington
Raise Tax Rate
Realty Levy Pushed
To $3.26; Personal
Rate Goes to SAT-

A tax rate increase for Airing
ton residents of Is cents on real
estate and 70 cents on personal
property has been set up for the
forthcoming fiscal year. with the
adoption Of record school and
county budgets.
The County Board last night
approved a school budget of
more than than $8.6 million and
a county budget exceeding $14.6
million. The board Endorsed a
figure of about $7.2 million for
the county's operating budget.
The board also approved a 6
cent increase in the water-sewer
service charge, lifting the rate
from 80 cents to 38 cents per
1000 gallons. This increase will
be effective with the billings
rendered next July /.
The increase raises taxes to
1926 per 500 of valuation on
real estate and SAT- on personal
property, The present real estate
levy is $500 and the personal
property rate is $3.75.
Kindergartens Deleted
The proposed budgets had
called for an average tax rate in
crease of "a cents. Part Of the
reduction was effected with the
boards expected slash of $235 900
from the school budget for a kin
dergarten program.
A further reduction in the pro-
posed tax rate was made pos
sible by receipt of $435,906 in
revenue not expected when
the school budget was prepared.
This revenue came from local
surplus, new Federal aid and
higher tax collections than had
been anticipated.
The board reduced proposed
budget costs by a total of $435.-
900. In addition to the kinder
garten item, board members
moved $4,000 in architectural
fees over to capital expenditures.
Chairman George M. Rowzee,
jr., stated that "unaccounted for
savings in teacher turnover, Gus
todial economies. and growing
top-heavy supervisors" &C
counted for the $150,000 balances.
Pay Increase Approved
AS was anticipated, a blanket
5 per cent pay increase for county
and school employees was ap-
proved.
The Endorsed school budget
amounts to $8,615,315. The
county budget totals $14,643.204.
Of this figure, total appropria-
tions for the general fund
amount to $7.231,252.
About 40 residents sat in on
last nights formal adoption of
the 1886 budgets at the Court
house. However, Mr.. Rowzee an
nounced, at the outset of the
session, there would be no gen.
eral discussion because residents
had already had the opportunity
to express their views at public
hearings.
Controversial Item
The most controversial item
in the proposed budgets was
the $235.000 figure for kinder
gartens. Attention was focused
on the proposal by a survey
conducted this week by the
county Council of Parent
Teacher Associations to de-
termine the number of children
who would be eligible for kinder
garten this year.
The survey. conducted with
the cooperation of School Supt.
T. Edward Rutter, was set off
when Board Member Robert A.
Peck said he thought only about
500 children would enroll. The
$235, 900 figure was set on the
basis of an estimated enroll
ment of 1,700. The survey, &C
cording to council officials, re-
vealed that at least 1888 would
enroll. =.
Referendum Suggested
In referring to the proposed
program, Mr.. Rowzee declared
THE kindergarten program is
nothing but a forced draft to
kindle the fires for a new build
ing program. and I believe that
such a proposal should be put
before the voters in referendum
form at a general election. 1t
is a program designed to serve
a few at the expense of many"
Mr.. Peck seconded Mr.. Row.
Zee's views and other board
members said that kindergartens
are desirable but that Arlington
cannot afford the program at
this time. Mrs. Leone Buchholz
also specified that referendum
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