Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-06-23
Montgomery Keeps
Tax Rate Of $2.O3
County Council
Adopts Budget
Of SAL Million
BY CHARLES L. HOFFMAN

The Montgomery County
Council last night voted to re-
tain the present property tax i.
rate of $2,03 for 500 of as
lsessed valuation despite a sur
prise last-minute move to grant
ian additional $4,000 for
teacher pay raises.
The tax rate will support a
SAT million budget for operating
and capital expenses for next
fiscal year. beginning July s.
That is some $1.3 million above
the budget recommendations
made by County Manager M. L.
Reese.
The council increased the OBJ
Grating budget by $281,373 with
the lions share going for teach
ers' salaries. The school Board
also won restoration of $3.50, 900
of the $S.1 million Mr.. Reese
had recommended be cut from
the boards request for $1l.3
million.
Average Suburban Rate
For the average homeowner
in the suburban area, the total
tax rate including special area
taxes will be about $2.57. On
a home assessed at $4,000, the
tax bill will be $257.
The budget-signing session
opened last night with a motion
to reconsider the school board
budget. 1t passed, 4 to 8. With
j. Grahame Walker, Jerry T.
Williams, Charles H. Jamison
and Mrs. Stella B. Werner vot-
ing for the motion.
Mr.. Walker then proposed that
the council provide additional
funds to give the school board
sufficient money to adopt its
proposed new salary schedule
that would have had a starting
pay for degree holders of $4,000
and a maximum increase this
year of $3.50 per teacher.
Proposal Voted Down
The Walker proposal would
have involved reducing from IL
to 6 cents that portion Of the
tax rate to be used in the capi-
tai construction program to in
crease the county's pay-as-you-
go system of school construc-
ton. 1t would not have required
an increase in the tax rate but
would have raised the county's
indebtedness.
/ The Walker proposal failed to
muster the five votes required
for increasing any item in the
county managers recommended
budget.
The council followed Mr..
ReeSe's recommendations in
nearly all major areas. Besides
increasing the fund for school
lconstruction. however, it also
provided for 6 per cent across
the-board salary increase for
teachers rather than the 4 per
cent recommended by the man.
ager. That cost $206,000.
The budget session has been
marked by political overtones
unmatched in recent years. Dur
ing recent budget hearings, 80 Of
the 81 Democratic precinct
chairmen urged full restoration
of the school boards request.
Last night a telegram asking
similar action and signed by %
chairmen was submitted to the
council.
PTA Unit Disappointed
The County Council of Parent
Teacher Associations issued a
statement following the budgets
adoption expressing bitter dis
appointment at the councils &C
ton and said it made public
hearings a sham"
Failure to pay teachers ade-
lquately and to provide enough
teachers, failure even to provide
enough funds for library books
and arbitrary cuts in construc-
ton costs can only hurt school
standards and the education of
our children" the statement is
sued by Paul C. Howard, PIC
council president, said.
The budget provides for a SCI
million school construction pro-
gram; 1913 million for roads and
storm drainage projects, and $40
million for other projects that
include an airport, new county
service buildings for Bethesda
and Silver Spring and a new
municipal center at Wheaton.
The budget will permit the
school board to hire 272 addi-
tional teachers and the county
to increase its police force by
40 men while reducing the DO
lice work week from 48 to A
hours.
New Cigarette Tax
The budget will be financed
to the tune Of $3.50 900 by a new
2-cents-a-pack tax on cigarettes
that goes into effect when the
fiscal year begins July l.
The major tax rates levied by
the appropriation resolution in
clude $1.72 for operation of the
schools. debt service on school
bonds and pay-as-you-go finance
ing; 1913 cents for State pur-
poses; 8 cents for the sanitary
district; 3.5 cents for parks; 7
cents for planning and subdivi-
sion control; 4 cents for recrea-
ltion; 10 cents for street lighting
and cleaning in the suburban
district and an average 10 cents
Tor f1re protection.
This is the earliest the council
has ever completed its budget de-
alterations. The council worked
all day last Saturday and every
night this week TO permit the
early adoption because some
members we're slated to be out
Of town next week. The dead