Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1963-06-20
By Lila Thomson
Sentinel Reporter

citizen organizations believe
the city not only has undereSti-
mated its anticipated revenues
for the coming fiscal year but
that the current 78-cent NUM-
cipal tax rate can be reduced
by five cents rather than the
three-cent cut proposed by City
Manager Walter Scheiber.
In budget hearings concluded
Monday night at City Hall, both
Citizens for Good Government
and the Federation of Indepen-
dent Voters gently prodded city
fathers on Understanding ex-
pected income, among other
things.
Spokesman for both groups
said more accurate estimating
of income could result in lower
ing the local tax rate below the
75-cent rate proposed in Rock
ville'S budget.
Dickran Y. HOvsepian, spOkes-
man for FIV and a former two
term mayor of Rockville, said
his groups study of the budget
convinced them that a five-cent
reduction was in order.
Hovsepian said his organiza-
ton believes state income tax
funds to be returned to the city
were underestimated. At the
same time, he said, about two
thirds of the city has received
county property reassessment
increases of from 20 to 80 per
cent. If this is taken into ac-
count, he added, at least five
cent tax decrease is warranted.
Hovsepian said only about ST.
600 need be found" in the budg-
ct to bring about the additional
tWo-cent cut.
Hovsepian also queried the
Mayor and Council on the
exact costs of its recreation
program. While FIV supports
the program, Hovsepian said, it
believes the city should have
the true picture of per capita
costs. He pointed out that the
$182,265, less about $4,000 col
lected in fees, presented in the
budget is not the true figure.
He said some of the costs are
included in the operations
figures of other city depart
ments, including the Water De-
partment.
John Klansek, chairman of
the Cog Budget Review Com
mittee, said his groups budget
study of gasoline and motor
vehicle tax, interest and divi-
dends; and revenue from de-
velopers, particularly capital
reimbursement to the city
Shows We might expect enough
in revenues to finance the next
fiscal years budget at least an
additional $4,000. This coupled
with the managers recommend
ed surplus of $4,000 plus,
would put the city in the posi-
ton of having perhaps $4,000
in monies which could be used
both toward additional services
and the further decrease in the
tax rate"
The group also questioned
the adequacy of police protec-
ton in the city and said Rock
vile should have a force of ap-
proximately 80 police, one for
every 1000 persons. While
recognizing that Rockville also
is served by county police,
Ranek said his review commit
tee Is concerned "that we are
not getting the police protection
recommended for cities of this
SIZE"
GCG recommended the addi-
ton of one more member
to the Rockville police force and
said its recommendation carries
with it "the suggestion that the
Mayor and Council direct the
police department to emphasize
patrols in the evening hours
and that at least two patrolmen
be on duty from 4 pm. until
at least midnight every day of
the week"
Among other things, egg
took to task the general pro-
position of overtime for city
staff employees. 1t dealt specifi-
cally with $4,000 in overtime
pay set up in the budget for
Public Works employees, and
suggested the establishment of
q watchdog committee on