Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-05-20
Hearing Is Set
For Monday on
Fairfax Budget
BY PAUL HOPE

A public hearing is scheduled
tomorrow night on an $1S.7 mil
lion Fairfax County budget
which calls for the biggest tax
raise in recent years.
The controversial Freehill ION.
ling amendment has drawn pub.
lie attention away from the rec.
ord budget the past few weeks.
So far. there have been only
three requests to speak on the
budget. which would raise the
county tax rate from $2.70 to
I$3.45.
But II the hearing isn't
crowded when the Board Room
doors open at 7 pm. it will DO
the first time in recent years.
Spokesman for the Board Of
County Supervisors say the pro-
posed 75-cent tax increase has
Ia good chance Of being approved.
They say that at least three,
and possibly five. members will
oppose further cuts in the bud
get.
Old Board Held Line
This is the first budget faced
by the County Board which took
Office with five new members
January /. The old board held
the line against large tax in
creases, approving only a Ave-
cent hike the last four years.
This time, however. the board
majority lies with the suburban
areas, which have persistently
demanded more services.
The $18.7 million budget rep
resents q $40 million (or IS per
cent? increase over 1886. The
school portion Of $ll.8 million
has increased from $9.2 million,
jump of 90 per cent. General
county expenditures. exclusive Of
sanitary district and sewer oper-
atoms. would jump from $3.2
million to SAT million, a A per
cent increase.
Nearly all Of the school in
crease is in Institutional costs
and debt service. Increased
teacher pay and an estimated
I180 new teachers would cost
about SIT million. Funds to pay
of school bonds will require
$425,0 900 more than last year.
Provides More Police
One of the increases in the
general budget is for new person.
mel, including % policemen.
A new retirement plan will
cost an extra $4,000: the Well
fare Department. an extra $685.
900; salary increases. $150.000.
and Park Authority. 100000.
Budgets for recreation, IL
braries and the Fire Department
are up considerably.
The George Washington park
way extension fund is a new
SIS, 900 item and the county's
share of the operation of the
Northern Virginia branch Of the
University Of Virginia would
cost $4,000.
The Federation Of Citizens
Associations and the League Of
Women Voters favor the budget
and even criticized the board
for taking out some items before
lit was advertised for public
hearing. The original budget
would have required a 95-cent
tax increase.
The Federation says a study
made by its Fiscal Committee
shows that Fairfax County'S
property tax is the lowest in the
Metropolitan Area, based on re-
lation of the tax rate and prop
erty assessment to actual market
value Of property.
The Federation has recon-
mended. however, that the
County Board study other sources
Of revenue besides the property
tax.
Endorses School Portion
The parent-teacher associa-
tons have Endorsed the school
portion Of the budget.
Among organizations favoring
reductions are the Virginia
Citizens Committee for Better
Schools and the Fairfax Citizens
Council.
The school group, headed by
Harley Williams. will recon-
mend reductions in the teacher
pay proposals and cuts in the
funds set up for the supervisory
staff and Supt. w. T. Woodson's
staff.
The School Board originally
proposed pay hike which
would have averaged $700 for
each teacher. A $500 maximum
increase now has been agreed
upon.
Manning Gasch president Of
the Citizens Council. said his
group plans to ask for continue
ton OF the present rate.
The tax rate for 1867 must
be set by May 81.