102 ADDRESSES AND STATE PAPERS

exactly what this means to him, the ability to keep his property tax
rate down to some reasonable limit.

A real property tax bill is something that's pretty familiar to all
of us. I guess we all wish it would come marked void with no totals
on it, but unfortunately the figures in the lower right hand corner
are rather imposing at times. And it is because of the way this bill is
escalating that it becomes necessary for our tax program to do some-
thing about it, and that's why the $95 million I just mentioned to
you becomes very important to the local subdivisions to help hold
this bill down.

Now, let's look at the effect of the property tax and what's happen-
ing to it. In Baltimore County, a county that I have more than a
casual knowledge about, you'll find that last year the costs went up
$13, 000, 241. 00. That means that the budget of Baltimore County grew
by $13, 000, 241. 00 last year. Under the Agnew-Hughes plan with the
Lee amendment, Baltimore County will receive $14, 000, 698. 00. In
short, if the county budget were to expand this year the same amount
that it expanded last year, there would be enough money provided
by this plan to avoid any increase in this property tax bill whatso-
ever.

In Baltimore City last year, costs went up $65 million. Under the
plan, Baltimore City will receive $46, 754, 000. 00, which is a significant
amount of its requirement. Anne Arundel County costs went up last
year $8, 699, 000. 00. Under the plan, Anne Arundel County will receive
$6, 998, 000. 00, and Montgomery 14 million. As a matter of fact, the
Montgomery County manager, Mr. Butcher, indicated that he saw
in store for that county a 56 cent tax increase this year without any
tax revision. With tax revision he will receive the equivalent of 58
cents. And for Prince George's and Dorchester, of course, similar
figures indicate what this plan can do to help these subdivisions
meet their requirements of education, police protection and the like.

I'd like to mention to you a very important point. Of the $95 mil-
lion that's going to go back into the treasuries of the local subdivi-
sions, $65 million of that is not only earmarked but mandated for
educational purposes. It's mandated for such things as the kinder-
garten program and better school construction. Also, $16 million of
that $95 million is mandated for police protection. Certainly, all of us
agree that we must take some very formidable steps immediately to
eliminate crime in the streets.

These are the reasons, ladies and gentlemen, why this is not a tax
increase but a tax reform. If we can take the pressure off these sub-