Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-07-11
Fairfax Affairs

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In q recent letter, Eugene
s. Davidson, president Of the
Fairfax County Federation Of
Citizens Associations, stated
that the federation was con-
cerned over the final action
Of the Fairfax County Board
Of Supervisors on the budget
for the next fiscal year. He
stated, Although the desire
Of the board to keep any in
crease in property taxes to a
palatable level is understand
able and commendable, 1t is
difficult to comprehend how
this objective could be pur-
sued at the expense Of cur
failing services in such criti-
cal areas as schools, parks
and libraries" He urged the
Board Of Supervisors to pre-
pare an ordinance on a busi-
ness privilege license tax and
advertise same for public
hearings.
AS a federation member.
the Citizens Association of
Collipgwood- Potomac
has supported and will con-
tinue to support the many
worthwhile causes cham
pioned by the federation. In
this instance, however, we
cannot indorse the views ex-
pressed by Mr.. Davidson.
We cannot accept the
thesis that unless these agen-
cies are given every cent they
request, severe curtailments
Of critical services will ensue.
We know that conscientious
public servants in their en-
thusiastic pursuit Of progress
tend to overstate their fund
ing requirements. We believe
that the requests this year
were somewhat overstated,
and that the county admin
iStrators are not completely
frank with the public about
their intentions. How else
can one explain a budget
that requires an increase in
the property tax rate of more
than IS per cent over the pre-
vious year? How else can one
explain the recent proposal
by the school board that the
school superintendent and his
assistants be given generous,
but previously unmentioned,
raises from the inadequate"
funds finally approved by the
supervisors? Before we allow
ourselves to be Stampeded
into begging for a tax in
crease at the mere mention
Of the word education" we
would like a little more conf
dence that our money is being
carefully spent for essentials.
Even If we thought that
every cent requested this year
were absolutely necessary, we
are not convinced that the
revenue should be provided
by levying Of a business privi-
lege license tax. All this does
is discourage the migration
Of businesses into the county.
Most businessmen, II they
stay in business, find q way
to pass such taxes on to their
customers-the property tax
payers. Where then have we
gained?
c. M. McKeen, Jr.
President, Citizens Associa-
ton Of Collingwood-on- the
Potomac.
If it were not so tragic for
the Fairfax County school
children. we would have to
view the gyrations Of the
Board of Supervisors in its
relationship with the School
Board with ironic glee.
The news stories reveal an
Alice in Wonderland attitude
on the part Of the Board of
Supervisors in its dealings
with the School Board, the
school budget, and the school
system. After the School
Board. which the Board Of
Supervisors selected last fall
to replace the incompetent"
previous one, had decided
that a minimum budget Of
SAL million was necessary to
meet the needs Of the Fair
fax school children. the SUI
pervisors were astounded that
their cut In the school budget
Of almost 50 million would
require a cut In school serv-
ices.
Virginia law requires the
School Board to operate the
school system but the super
visors still persist In trying to
run the school system and In
treating the School Board as
merely a figurehead and a
scapegoat for the uusound
actions OF the supervisors.
The old School Board was
replaced last fall for refus-
ipu IN ancnda IN this viaw