Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-01-09
Record Request
Of 1894 Million
Facing Fight
BY CHARLES L. HOFFMAN

plIJeI DuuSeC CldSn.
The recommendation. made
yesterday by Supt. Forbes H.
Norris, if approved by the school
board at any figure approaching
that amount. appears to be in
for rough pounding when it
reaches County Manager M. L.
Reese.
Mr.. Reese last month in a spe-
cial memorandum to all depart
ment heads gave the signal for
tight and virtually "hold-the-
line budget"
The county manager warned
that the county could anticipate
no big Increases in the aSSeSsable
base as record-breaking con-
Istruction and reasseSsment poll
icieS produced in former years.
The manager emphasized that
he did not believe the county
could budget funds for anything
more than minimum standards
for satisfying minimum needs
during a period of -increas-
ing demands and of program ex-
pansion.
That is the situation as the
school board tonight begins con-
sideration of the Norris recon-
mendatiOns.
Budget Breakdown
Dr.. Norris recommended a
S2l.l million operating budget
and. $l23 million budget for
capital improvements.
Even as the ink was drying on
the superintendent recommen-
dations yesterday county officials
were viewing with alarm" the
cost to the taxpayer of the pro-
posed budget.
Estimates on the increase in
the take rate ranged from a low
OF 81 cents to a high of 80 cents.
The present school tax rate is
s1.29 per 500 of assessed valu-
alton.
The total general county tax
rate is S2.03 but other special as
sessments raise this to between
$3.50 and S2.70 for most of the
suburban area.
The Norris budget represents a
PA per cent increase in operat-
ing expenses over that appropri-
ated this year and a 35.8 per cent
increase in capital spending.
1t also estimates that the
county will have to spend S30.7
million during the next five years
TO provide classroom facilities
for 1850 pupils by 1862.
Soma SIS million has been
spent in the county in the last
seven years on new school con-
struction. with SAB million Of
this coming out of county funds.
The board will look first to-
night to the capital budget.
The capital budget includes 10
elementary school projects. seven
junior and senior high school
projects, library for the Junior
college and a new administration
building.
Higher Than Expected
In presenting his budget to
the board yesterday, Dr.. Norris
conceded it was higher than I
expected"
"On the whole" he said, he
considered it reasonable.
DR.. Norris said that Il would
not say everything in here is
absolutely necessary. But think
it represents the needs of this
country and what the residents
would want.
DR.. Norris said that if he in
sisted on keeping the pupil cost
at the present rate the budget
would have jumped Sis million
above this years $l6.6 million.
This is attributed to the normal
growth of the school population.
But his recommendations pro-
vide for an additional SO mil
lion in excess of the minimum
increase he contended was I'M
avoidable.
According to the Norris esti-
mates the average per pupil cost
would be S33463.
/ A school official yesterday said
the present average per pupil
cost is about $3.50.
The budget would add some
500 employees to the school sys-
tenn.
222 New Teachers Asked
Lions share would go to the
instruction field with 300 new
classroom teachers including
eight secondary vice principals
and five elementary principals
recommended.
The recommendations also call
for strengthening in special areas
where two new penmanship
teachers would be hired, six art
teachers. II music teachers. five
physical education teachers and
five librarians.
Also expanded would be the
program for special education
for the retarded and handi-
capped child. twenty-five new
teachers and eight remedial
reading teachers are recon-
mended.
The budget also calls for
sharp increases in the clerical
staff in the schools and admin
istrative offices and in custodial
and maintenance employees
A public hearing is scheduled
for 8 pm. Monday IN the Rich
ard Montgomery High School in
Rockville on the proposed bud
get.
The school board will meet
again next Wednesday night and
will shoot for adoption Of the
budget by January 81, the dead
line for submitting it to the
lcounty manager.