Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-11-28
MARYLAND Tax Hike
Put at SIS Million
School and Road
Funds Backed BY
Legislative Unit

BALTIMORE. Nov. % (AP).
Additional taxes totaling
S35.5 million for public schools
and roads we're approved yes
terday by a Maryland legisla-
tive group.
Supplemental registration
fees for motor vehicles which
could amount to several more
million dollars were recon-
mended also if a county wants
to impose them.
A committee which adopted
a new formula Of State aid
for schools left it up to Gov.
Tawes to decide how to raise
the required S17.2 million.
It suggested he either lower
the individual income tax ex-
emption from $500 to $500 or
increase the present 3 per cent
tax.
Some Reservations
At least six committee mem-
bers, including the chairman,
Senator Harry r. Hughes,
Democrat of Caroline. voiced
reservations over the new pro-
gram itself because it was
nearly So million higher than
one which narrowly failed in
the 1868 legislature.
The committee will send its
report directly to Gov. Tawes
who had asked 1t to study in
creased school aid after its
defeat earlier this year. That
bill would have lowered the
income tax exemption, which
would fall short Of bringing
in the extra SIT million.
The full legislative council
voted to recommend at the
February session Of the Gen.
eral Assembly an increase in
the State TAX on gasoline from
6 to 2 cents a gallon and the
titling tax on vehicles from 2
to 3 per cent. The State would
keep all the additional revenue
instead of dividing it with the
counties and Baltimore City.
The city and % counties,
however. would be authorized
to charge an extra registration
fee. 1t would be IS on passen-
ger cars and $40 and SIS on
trucks.
The increased gasoline taxes
would bring in $11.2 million
more and the titling tax $7.2
million during the first year.
The extra money along with
existing revenues would be used
to finance road building cost
ing $344,777,000 for five years
starting in 1865. In addition
to current revenue, the State
Roads Commission would be
authorized to borrow $500 mill
lion.
School Formula Shift
The new school formula
shifts the basic State aid from
minimum teacher salaries to
the number of pupils. The
minimum State salary scale has
been $500 to $500 but by
local experimentation in every
county it actually is consider
ably higher. The new formula
would raise the State scale to
$4,000 to $500.
But the foundation Of the
program would be a state con-
tribution of $340 for each pupil.
This would amount to S241,-
sos 900 for the next school year.
This money would be distrib-
uted to the subdivisions on a
percentage basis according to
the property assessment and
taxable earned income in each.
The percentage ranges from
Baltimore's 27.6 share to 6S.2
in Caroline.
Allowance Questioned
In addition to the foundation
program, the state also con-
tributes to staff over a mini
number, a gain in pupils
and to construction.
Senator Hughes was among
questioning whether a
$50 allowance for each pupil
in excess Of last years ENROLL
ment was a new wrinkle" that
could be eliminated. This would
amount to about 81 million.
Senator Hughes also questioned
whether an increase of more
than half a million dollars for
construction was necessary.
Il feel we could reduce this
program without doing violence
to its principles" he said.