Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-10-04
Prince Georges Tax
On Building Urged
Cited as Source
For Stepped-Up
Improvements
BY WILLIAM TALBOT

Prince Georges County Dele
gate Hervey G. Machen proposed
yesterday that a tax be levied
on new construction in the coun-
ty to finance stepped-up capi-
tai improvement program.
Mr.. Machen said ne is con.
sidering introducing, at the next
session Of the General Assembly
opening in January, bill de-
signed to provide a large amount
of funds needed for future school
construction, additions to coun-
Ity buildings and road improve.
mentS.
The tax would be paid by own
ers of new homes or apartment
buildings completed after June /.
1t would be payable without in
lterest for six months from the
date the construction is placed
on assessment books.
Called Least Objectionable
Funds raised by the levy,
which Mr.. Machen described as
the least Objectionable revenue
measure he has discovered, would
be placed in a special capital
improvement fund"
The rate of tax would be de-
termined by an analysis of new
residential construction in prog
ress in the county.
AS an example, he said, it
could be determined that the tax
would be per cent of the as
sessed value of the property.
With residential property In
Prince Georges assessed at be.
tween so and so per cent Of its
market value. the purchaser Of
] a home selling for $4,000 to
$4,000 would pay a tax of about
$500.
The builder would not have TO
pay the tax unit the house was
ready for sale.
Mr.. Machen said he has been
informed that tending firms au-
tomatically would increase their
loans to include the tax. He said
1 he also understands that CT and
FILA commitments could be in.
creased to include the tax,
Increase Held Negligible
| He said the increase in a
home-owners monthly house
payments would be negligible
over the 20 to Is years the loan
is outstanding.
Mr.. Macfen said he had re.
ceived no indications during in
formal discussions on the pro-
posals that it would materially
affect the sale of homes.
Many people moving into
the county today" he said, ARE
anxious to have adequate
schools. good roads. and other
ipuoIlc improvements.
1 Long an advocate Of an ac-
CELEBRATED school construction
program, Mr.. Machen declared:
Before We finish at Annapolis
next year, We must find some
means for financing school con-
Istruction that is not dependent
on State or Federal contribu-
tons alone or on the present
property tax.
I'VE certainly won't be ac-
cepting our responsibility az
public officials If we just middle
along on this problem"
Cites Huge School Needs
Mr.. Machen cited estimates
showing that Prince Georges will
have to spend more than $40
million each year for the next
five years on school construction
alone.
| School needs, he said, "have
required us to spend from SIS to
10 per cent OF our revenue for
schools and school operating ex-
Ipenses. AS a result. the other
departments Of the county gov
Iernment have necessarily suf-
Ifered and, in my opinion. the
services are not adequate in
these other departments.
Mr.. Machen said his tax pro-
Iposal would place the burden
flor additional revenue on homes
and apartments. which now fail
Ito provide their share in taxes
Ito Offset the county'S financial
burden.