Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-08-11
BY MARY LOU WERNER

Northern Virginia has a 500, 900
encyclopedia at its fingertips. but
can't seem to interest people in
using it.
The valuable text is the fiscal
survey conducted by committee
of the Northern Virginia Regional
Planning and Economic Develop
ment Commission.
1t was completed last December
after two years of work. and pub
lished in a series of five pamphlets
two months ago.
Experts say such a project nor
mally would cost 100000 or more,
but Northern Virginia's bill has
been only SIS, 000--including $10,-
900 for employment of research
consultant and $4,000 for printing.
The rest of the work has been
gratis by the Is committee men,
bers from Alexandria, Arlington,
Fairfax and Falls Church.
But even the prospects Of such
bargain reading has failed to put
the report on the best seller list.
officials in the four Jurisdictions
show little interest, or inclination.
to undertake many of the recon-
mendations.
Perhaps Laszlo c. Ecker-Racz.
chairman, put his finger on one
reason for this when he wrote in
tho introduction.
Some local officials are still in
clined to look to Richmond for
their cues and there appears to
hang over sections of these COM
munities an almost paralyzing
dread of displeasing the State.
Fiscal Inequity Cited
State and local fiscal relation
ships rank high among the prob
lens covered by the report.
1t is no secret that Richmond
has been shortchanging Northern
Virginia for years. Nary political
campaign has passed without one
candidate-or even all of them
bleating for a fairer share of
State revenues in Northern Vir-
GINA. There have been few sue
ceSSful advances in this direction
recently.
With the fiscal survey, the area
now can cite chapter and verse
how much more ought to be COM
ing North-and less going South.
For instance: The four North
ern Virginia jurisdictions, repre-
senting about one-eighth of the
State population, account for
roughly one-sixth of the States
tax collectionS-yet receive only
one sixteenth in return.
Three rural counties cited in the
report have a combined popula-
ton barely a fourth as large as
Northern Virginia's. Their share
of taxes paid to the State was
less than twentieth of the share
paid by Northern Virginia. Yet
their slice of cash aid from Rich
mond was we'll over half as
large as that received by Northern
Virginia.
Certainly, it could be expected
that relatively high income area
like Northern Virginia would con-
tribute more to State operations
than less prosperous sections. but
the balance appears unduly tilted.
Rural counties, accustomed to
having their way at the State
Capitol. aren't going to give up
such an advantageous arrange
ment easily. But the fiscal sur
vey does give Northern Virginia
legislators something to beat their
down-State colleagues over the
head with-and it is not impoS-
Sible to hope for results.
In 1856. the State changed it's
method of distributing certain
school funds, which brought
Northern Virginia additional in
come.
1t was such a clear-cut case of
equity that rural legislators didn't
have the nerve to fight the
change.
Little Home Rule
The report also discusses the
strong grip maintained by the
State over local government func-
tions-a system developed dec
AIDES ago with a view to State
control of rural commune
ties" This, according to Mr..
Ecker-Racz, gives communities
little scope to face their problems
in their own way"
But there are some problems
that the localities can take the
initiative to meet, and the fiscal
committee hasn't SHE'D from Of
fering advice. even at the risk of
tramping on a few important-toes.
There have been occasions
where two or more Northern Vir-