Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1960-04-14
Levy Probably
Will Be Raised
From lc to SC
By Steed Evans
Staff Reporter

fiscal year of from one to
five cents doomed today as
the County Council raced to-
ward deadline for adopting
the 1960-61 budget by midnight
tomorrow.
At least one cent more than
last years $2.48 rate per S100
assessed valuation is necessary
to finance the proposed S84.S
million budget, tentatively
agreed upon.
Amount of the tax levy was
to be set tonight at 7:30 meet
ing of the council in Rockville.
In any event, the total budget
Is the largest yet for Montgom-
cry County. Last years was
$67.5 million.
Far and away the lions share
of the budget will go to schools:
$62.5 million. Non-school ex-
penditures are expected to total
about 1928 million. And budget
officer Newton F. Butts saw
no decrease in the growing
proportion schools will demand
Of the tax dollar. ut will rise"
he predicted.
Standout feature of the pend
ing budget was restoration of
more than So million In school
funds slashed from the budget
by ex-county manager Melvin
L. Reese, new city manager of
Miami.
Reese left March Is after de-
hvering a recommended $751;
million budget which did not
call for a tax increase. But only
Tuesday, COunciIwOman Stella
b. Werner commented, 'The
whole budget was very poorly
prepared by the county man
ager IL wasn't a very cor.
rect analysis Of school board
construction needs"
At the same time, the pend
ing tax levy will depend largely
on the give and take Of Mrs.
Werner and Councilman David
L. Cahoon.. Mrs. Werner said
Tuesday she would go along
with a tax increase of two
cents to finance a pay as you
go" school construction pro-
gram.
Cahom, however, held out
strongly for a fOur-cent increase
on the basis that Il Is sounder
to make larger down payment
for borrowed school cOnstruc-
ton money than to lnhibit the
cOunty's future borrowing capap
city with tax.money down pay.
ments Of lesser amounts.
A one.cent hike in the tax
rate Is almost q certainty, In
asmuch as the council to date
has approved increases of $685.
600 to the school operating
budget. The increase is based
on a Reconsideration cent in
crease for every $125,000 extra
money approved.
Major school construction in
crease was a $950,0OO item ear
for new site acquisition.
The school board had asked for
100000 but this was deleted by
Reese.
In voting in the $950,0O0 the
council set up a revolving fund
that can be supplemented as
school needs grow.
The council also restored sub
stantial funds for construction
Of one high school, two junior
highs and two elementary
schools. Reese's budget recon-
mended only limited planning
and site acquisition money for
the schools.
The schools are Fernwood
S550,000) and Hlllandale Heights
($300,000) elementaries; Holly
wood ($1.7 million) and West
Bethesda go million) junior
highs; and Wheaton.Kensing-
ton 1927 million) high school.
At the same time, the cour,
Gil restored $4,000 in the budg-
ct for planning a new junior
college in the Rockville area
and $4,000 to air-condition the
Montgomery Junior College H.
brary.
The council also voted unani-
mously to add $4,000 to a pro
posed 81 million item for school
and equipment re-
placement and repair.
A controversial item Of $751;
700 10 finance salaries OF 6S
teachers during summer vaca-
Ion months also was reinstated
N the budget. IL was hailed as
he first step toward establish
ng the school boards s0-called
l2-mOnth school year.
On the non-school side of the
edger, the council voted to in
Jude $4,000 In the county's
operating budget to take care
II increment salary raises for
merit and other employees.