Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1961-03-14
Manager Holds
Line On County
General Levy
Existing Rate
Recommended
In 6l-62 Budget

Retention of the exist
ing tax rate Of "a cents on
the 500 valuation for gem
eral County operations has
been recommended by Couul-
ty Manager Mason A. Butcher
in his proposed 1862 budget
despite an increase of more
than three million dollars in an
ticipated expenditures.
This, however, cannot be ac-
cepted as an indication that
there will be no increase in the
overall county tax rate, since
school officials have approved
a separate budget calling for a
boost of five million dollars In
operating expenditures. Effect
of the increase on the school
tax rate will hinge on a mum.
Der of undetermined revenue
factors, to be decided with the
Qualification of pending State
and Federal Legislation, county
officials said.
Submitted to the County
Council for study last Thursday
night, Butchers budget calls
for appropriation of $30,317,772
for county government pur.
poses in the coming year, COM
pared to an outlay of SIC, 962,7
required for the current yeaA
Charged Against Schools
While the figure is exclusive
Of the cost OF operating schools
1t does include q SIS .4O6, 13z debk
service item for repayment of
bonds noated for school con-
struction. Although the county
administers the debt service &C.
count, Butcher noted. taxes as
sessed for the purpose are
charged against the school tax
rate and will appear as part of
the school levy in a final deter
mination of the overall county
rate.
AS a result Of an increase in
the school debt service appro.
priation this year, Butcher rec
commended a five-cent increase
in the ad valorem tax assessed
to repay the school funds
from q cents to 80 cents on the
500 valuation.
The remainder of the increase
in the general county budget
can be offset without a tax In
crease by a number Of factors,
Butcher said. A major item was
an increase Of SOL million In the
county's assessable base, boost
ing 1t to an all time high of
more than $1.3 billion.
The County, he added, also
anticipates increased revenues
from a number of other contri-
buttons and sources other than
funds raised through local tax
alton.
Expenditures Itemized
Expenditures comprising the
new proposed budget of $30.3
million, Butcher said, are as fol
lows: County operating funds,
SIT, 948,677; county debt serv.
ice, $2,055,452; school debt serv-
ice, $5,406,13 and capital con-
struction, %,907,511.
Butcher described as "the
most far-reaching change" de-
Elected in his new budget a pro-
posal to reorganize the depart.
ment of public safety, under
which the police division would
be removed from the depart
ment and set up as a separate
agency. Col. James S. McAu-
life, police superintendent,
would head the new police divi-
sion.
Included In the reorganized
department OF public safety, to
be headed by its own director,
would be the office Of civil de-
Tense, the division of fire pro-
lection, the county Jail and a
new communications division.
Plan Long Considered
Although Thursdays budget
release marked the first public
announcement of plans to place
the Jail under the department
of public safety, Butcher said
1t had been considered for
many months" before a De-
cember jail break which
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