The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-10-04
SPECIAL TAX LAWS AND CITY REVENUE.


Since the enactment of the 90 cent tax
limit the city has been hard up for rev.
enue. That law has been in force twelve
years. Since it was passed the valuation
and assessment Of city properly have
been greatly reduced int its revenue in
proportion. Atpresentthe total revenue
from property tax is only about 100000
a year against S7775,0 900 before the 80 cent
limit law was passed. With this greatly
reduced revenue and the city constantly
increasing in extent and population, ithas
been very difficult for it to live within
its income. The problem for years has
been how to meet current expenses and
make necessary improvements and re-
pairs with the greatly reduced revenue.
That this has been lone and very valu-
able improvements made is greatly to
the credit of those who have had the
management of city affairs.
In recent years the meager revenue
and the impossibility of increasing the
tax rate, which On the whole has proved
a wise and beneficial provision, has sug-
gested efforts to increase the revenue
from other sources than property taxa
ton. One of these much dis
cussed is special licenses. In many
other cities this is made a source
of considerable revenue, special license
taxes being imposed or various Occupa-
etc. From licenses alone Boston gets
1925 900 a year; New York city, 81. OOO,-
600; Brooklyn, $780, 600; Buffalo, $685.
900; Chicago, $4,000, 600; San Francisco,
S465, 900; Detroit, $4,000; Milwaukee,
S250,0O Kansas City, $152, 900; Omaha,
S247,0OO; ST. Paul, 100000, and many
other cities in proportion. Some of these
returns include saloon tax, while others
do not. They all include special Ii
censes. vehicle tax, etc. Mayor Denny,
in a message to the Council in January,
1888, after discussing the tax rate, said:
1t is hoped that the General Assembly,
which meets one year from this time, will
pass some special tax laws that will mate
rally aid the city during the coming year.
The question OF passing a bill imposlnga
higher tax on saloons Will, of course, be one
of general interest and effect throughout the
State. and it will pass or be defeated with
out reference to what you or 1 may say.
But there is a statute much needed which. l
believe. you can materially aid in securing.
l refer to a law authorizing youto impose a
special license or tax on vehicles, to be used
in repairing our streets. The law as it now
stands neither imposes such a tax nor
authorizes you to do so. except OIL the few
that carry passengers and freight for hire.
A strong effort was made by the Mayor and
other officials of this city four years ago to
secure the passage OF such a law, but 1t
mat Dr1fh M a-n ~.. ,..ha. II
believe those who wear out the streets
should ct least keep them in repair after
the AUDITING prOperty-Owners have once
built them. With a vehicle tax sufficient
| to keep our streets in repair, and as much
more to so into the general treasury de-
rived from some other special source, the
city could probably get along without an
Increased property tax for years to come.
just before the meeting of the last
General Assembly the Mayor invited the
Marion county delegation Gall Demo-
crats) to meet the legislative committee
of the Council and Board of Aldermen
to discuss this and other questions re-
lating to city affairs. They did so. The
principal matter discussed was an in
crease of revenue by means of "a spe-
cial license law. The necessity Of a
vehicle tax was especially urged.
City Attorney Taylor said it would yield
about $780, 600 a year. Other features of
such a bill were discussed, and it was
thought favorable impression had been
made on the MEMBERSHIPS of the Legis-
lature. But if any impression was made
it was very f1eeting. 1t ended then and
there. The Marion county delegation
spent their time in political wrangling,
and the s~pecial-tax bill was never ever
introduced. They could not be induced
to give the subject any consideration.
They were too busy attending Demo-
cratic caucuses and working up political
schemes. AT present they are all en-
gagged in abusing the city government,
and shouting for Democratic reform.