MONTGOMERY COUNTY SENTINEL PLANT 165

Montgomery County's population not only reside in, but work in,
this County.

What is true for Montgomery County is also true for Maryland on
an even larger scale. The tremendous political implications of un-
precedented commercial expansion and population growth are just be-
ginning to be recognized, brought into proper perspective and sub-
ordinated through constructive control.

Political reapportionment has not only proved a substantial benefit
to Montgomery County but to the entire State. Fiscal reform, as
agonizing as it was imperative, will furnish the citizens, the counties
and the State with an equitable and adequate financial foundation to
provide both the quantity and the quality of expanding governmental
services rightfully demanded by Maryland's citizens.

Montgomery County can point with pride to the multitude and
excellence of services its local government has continued to render
throughout its period of massive growth. But one special segment of
its citizens—the property owners—have borne the major fiscal burden.
Through the provision of the local option income tax, last year the
pattern of a constantly escalating property tax was reversed. This year,
through fiscal reform—which incidentally includes State aid for kinder-
gartens and kindergarten construction for the first time—the County
is able to continue this pattern and reduce the property tax once again
while increasing teachers' salaries, expanding the police force and re-
organizing its Department of Health.

Yet there is much to be done. As the Sentinel was once challenged
to catch up with Montgomery County, now Montgomery is challenged
to continue its lead in enlightened local government while assuming a
larger partnership in the welfare of the State as a whole.

In the last few months at Annapolis, we have been made aware that
a number of Montgomery County citizens, agonizing about the tax re-
form bill, would cheerfully secede from the State if it could be prac-
tically and conveniently arranged. They appear to be unaware of the
long years when Baltimore City contributed generously to the benefit
of Montgomery County's State-supported institutions.

In their proximity to Washington, these particular citizens fail to
see the value of the Port of Baltimore or of the State government to
their area of residence. This, of course, is the shortsighted view. Both
are of primary importance to the residents of Montgomery County.