Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-27
IT'S FIFTEEN MILLS.
The Tax Rate for the Coming
Year Increased.
THE CITY IMPROVEMENTS
And Betterments the Cause of the
Advanced hillage.
THE CITY IMPROVEMENTS
COMMON COUNCIL WILL ACT TODAY

The Finance Committee has finished its
labors, and, unlike the mountain in labor,
produced something bigger than some people
expected in the shape Of an advance Of 8
mills in the taxation on last year. which was
10 mills. The total amount appropriated
was S4 O45, 475, as against $3,514,762 90 for
1889. This is accounted for in the reports
and estimates of the various departments for
the current wear. For instance, the appro-
priation for the Fire Bureau of S262, 800, in
cludes $3.50, 900 for the general expenses of
the bureau, and $4,000 for the purchase of
lots and the building of two new engine
houses in the Thirty-fTst and Thirty-second
wards. The sum was introduced as whole
at the meeting of the committee in Select
Council chamber yesterday, so that Chief
Brown might be able to supplement what
was needed for the construction out of his
general fund, as we'll as to protect the $12,-
GOO from being carried into the sinking
fund.
Again, in the 100000 appropriated for
public parks is included the So, 500 to be
paid as half the purchase money needed to
procure the extra ground required to COM
plete the Schenley Park. Besides this there
is 500. 900 included in the same appropria-
ton for the Highland Park improvements.
THEY WERE CONSERVATIVE.
Another thing that will be noticed is the
extreme conservativeness observed in
estimating the receipts Of the year, placing,
for example, the income for licenses at
sos. 900, much less than is expected to be re-
ceived.
The appropriation ordinance was intro
duced at the meeting by A. F. Heating,
Chairman Of the subcommittee, in report
in which he said:
The mfllage has been fixed at Is mills for city
tax, and the causes which bring about this
large Increass are as follows:
The last appropriation ordinance was COM
puted on a gross estimated valuation Of S201-
600 OOO less the usual 10 per cent for lost taxes
exonerationS and discounts allowed by law.
making it net $50, 600 900. There should have
been deducted for rural and agricultural pur-
poses the sum of not less than Sl9 100000 It
can be readily seen that the amount LEVIED and
the amount collected has caused a very large
deficiency for the year 1889, amounting to the
We have used as basis for taxation the sum
OF STA 600 600, which is as nearly net as can be
computed We have placed in this ordinance
the sum OF S2OUOO 1or puDnc parks; OF LnlS
sum nearly one-half is for the purchase of real
estate. We have also added the additional
snm of $4,000 for the continuance of water
main from Highland avenue reservoir. Also,
the sum of $4,000 for garbage furnaces, one to
be located on the Southside and the other in
the East End. The increase in the police force
by action of Councils increases that apDropria-
tion bv the sum of $3.50 Also, have increased
the fund for street repairing to the amount of
S23OOO
These items will nearly cover the increased
millage. and we feel confident that if the or
dinance is adopted by this committee and be-
comes a law by the action of Councils the next
committee will not be compelled to provide for
any deficiency in the revenues of the city.
A COMPARISON WITH LAST YEAR.
The statement is given befcW.Eitb the fig
ures on the same items for 1889: ~