Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-03-15
Tax Loments

According to County Mana
ger NJ. L. Reese. Montgomery
County property owners are
going to have another heavy
tax increase forced upon them.
Raised assessments and in
creased rates raise the tax bill
a minimum of $50. Then we
are promised another bonus in
a 5 per cent tax on utility bills.
Mr. Reese states that will
soften the tax burden Of the
homeowner. We have some
astounding news for Mr..
Reese: Homeowners actually
use gas. electricity and tele-
phones. This program involves
another $50 contribution an
nually.
We want good government
and know 1t costs money. We
also know that our present
administration. apart from a
very capable and efficient po-
lice force. is wasteful, extrav-
agant and inefficient. We had
hoped that the county mana
ger. being county resident.
would endeavor TO give us an
efficient and economical adj
ministration. but he also has
become completely contami-
mated with the disease OF
bureaucracy.
The school administration
not only continues TO waste
thousands of dollars annually
but actually boasts of this
doubtful achievement. We
could pay our teachers higher
salaries if this administration
would trade some of its bu-
reaucracy for a small measure
of sincerity and efficiency. Re-
Gently a school official stated
that schools cost more: that
building costs have increased
Is per cent during the past
year. That is the sort of COB
bledygook they feed to us.
Actually building costs have
increased less than Q per cent
during the past Is months.
This writer knows. he has been
in this business for over 30
years.
We read frequently OF eco
nomical reorganizations. but
these economical" reorgani-
cations always cost us 5000. 900
more each year.
We are told piously that it
is impossible to effect econ
omies. But ask any housewife
who is compelled to continue
to properly feed and clothe her
family on a modest static in
come in the face of rising liv-
ing costs. She can give you
lot OF experienced advice, Mr..
Reese and Mr.. Norris.
We small homeoWners need
to awaken our apathetic selves
and thoroughly organize into
an effective body that will
place in Office county residents
capable Of understanding the
common people.
The people who raise our
taxes are Of such affiuence
that increased expenses
neither affect their living nor
does 1t concern them. But 10
families who are striving TO
acquire homes, these unjusti-
fed upsurges become real
financial tragedies. A school
official recently stated that we
pay and pay and pay because
we live on the right side OF
the tracks. Perhaps we do live
in that manner. but from our
observation many of the school
officials obviously are out OF
their element.
The small homeowners COM
prise the vast majority OF in
dividual county votes. We are
a hitherto unused and un-
tapped source of power. Let
us use this power and force
the thoughtleSs bureaucrats
from Office forever. 1t is easily
done.
Homecoming Taxpayer.
~
Montgomery County resi-
dents are again confronted
with a threatened tax increase
to be used principally for a
teachers pay raise.
II this increase in salary for
our teachers was ever proven
necessary. Jnefe could be no
objection to a raise. But to
my knowledge II never has
been 50 proven. Montgomery
County insists il needs a
teacher raise as an incentive
10 lure the highest calibt
teachers from the District and
Prince GcorLts County, and.
vice versa. Prince Georges and
the District have the same
conviction,
This is so much lyewash.
If a person can ind work near
his residence in his own neigh
borhood he will do so--particu-
larry when the bulk of the
teachers N Montgomery
Coun y are married women