Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-01-29
Prince Georges
Delegates Study
Fire Tax Laws
Firemen Request
Change in Existing
Revenue Measures
BY a Star STAFF Correspondent

ANNAPOLIS, Jan. 29.-Prince
Georges County lawmakers to-
day were considering whether to
pass bills for more local fire tax
districts or adopt a uniform fire
tax for the entire county.
| About so representatives of the
Prince Georges County Volun-
teer Firemen's Association met
with the county delegates here
last night and presented requests
for three fire tax elections and
other changes in existing fire
taxes.
| Delegate Carlton r. Sickles
raised the question. without adj
vocating it. of a uniform county
fire tax, with a revenue being
distributed to the volunteer fire
departments by the county COM
missioners.
Vincent A. Simmel, legislative
representative of the county as
ISOLATION, said he feels the ma
jority of the volunteer depart
ments would favor a uniform
county fire tax, but would oppose
having it distributed on any basis
except equality.
81 Receive Revenue
Thirty-one of the SO volun-
teer fire departments in the
county now receive revenue from
some fire tax. according to
County Accounting officer Carl
Mace.
Mr.. Mace was not present at
the meeting last night but he
told The Star that the various
fire tax rates from to IL
cents per 500 of assessed valua-
ton net anywhere from the
$2,l00 received last year by the
Accokeek and Allentown Road
Fire Departments to the high of
$4,000 received by the Chillum-
Adelphi department.
In addition to the fire taxes,
the county fire association is
paid $4,000 for each of the SO
county fire companies from gen.
eral county funds.
Here were the requests flremen
presented to the delegates:
/. For a referendum on a 10
cent tax rate in the Nottingham
ELECTION district, the estimated
$1,000 in annual revenue to be
shared by the Upper Marlboro.
Brandywine-Aquasco and Bran
DIVINE Fire Departments.
2. For another referendum on
la previously defeated 10-eent
fire taxa. rate in the Melwood
election district. proceeds to 60
to the Upper Marlboro. Forest
willie and Clinton departments.
3. For a bill to legalize an
existing agreement by which the
newly organized Brandywine Fire
Department is sharing revenues
with the older Brandywine-
Aquasco department from the
fire tax approved in the Brandy
wine and Aquasco election dis
tricts two years ago.
4. For repassage of a 1855 bill
which sought a fire tax in the
second precinct of the 14th elec-
ton district for the Glenn Dale
department.
Petition Presented
In addition, Lloyd c. McClel-
Ian of the Pine Crest Citizens
Association presented a petition
asking that a section of the
Chillum election district adjacent
to Takoma Park become part
of the Chillum- Adelphi fire dis
trict.
Residents in the area bounded
by New Hampshire avenue, the
south side OF Ethan Allen ave-
nue. and the Takoma Park
boundary now pay a 12-cent fire
tax to the City of Takoma Park.
The rest of the Chillum election
district pays an Scent fire tax.
The Prince Georges delegation
last night introduced its first
local bill Of this current session,
which opened January 2. 1t is
a measure requested by the
County Liquor Board to set up
a six-month waiting period be-
tween the refusal Of a license
and reapplication.