Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-03-24
THE oousrY,s rIscAr STANDING.
Tile Outstanding Sums Due tho County,
The Prospects of Tax Rate for This Year.

Tile Outstanding sums Due tho County,
The Prospects of Tax Rate for This Year.
In regard to the fiscal standing of the
county, Chairman Jolls Of Levy Courts
finance committee thinks, so far as the
outstanding amounts due on the books
by the collectors previous 10 Mr..
Dickey's present term, are concerned
that they are all good. He thinks the
Levy Court will collect it all. 1t is
worth 100 cents on the dollar.
Independent of the outstanding
amount, about $4,000, in the hands of
the delinquent tax collectors for 1891
there is total of over S27 900 yet due
the county for previous years.
This, which, as stated, Mr.. Jolls
thinks all good is in detail as follows:
]. II. smalley, White Clay Creek -.
hundred ..S ,zo2.6O
John J. Dougherty, Northern dis
trict, Wilmington. 1G,431.5l
Collector Biggs, st, Georges. 10000
Collector Mullin, White Clay.... 10000
Collector ]. T. Richardson, Mill
Creek OSSSl ................,.. 2,l08.00
Collector Gibbs, .Appoquinimink. 3,500.o0
s27,3l2.11
Il is of course not known what share
of the delinquent levy of '91 the total of
which was S7l 900 and of which the
delinquent collectors have already paid
in $15,700, will be realized.
In regard to the coming county rate it
will probably be made in May. The
levy and rate has to be declared by
June. The actual full valuation of New
Castle county is S75, 100000.
Last years county levy was made on
valuation of $5O,000,000, one-third
less than its full value. The rate at 40
cents produced county levy Of $225,-
| 600.
The estimated ratio of urban (Wil-
mington) as against rural property is as
2S is to 22.
AS no county money can be used by
the Levy Court during the year other
than that included in the estimate on
the levy Except by special arrangement
and then the limit is Sl0,000) Levy
Court cannot do anything next year in
the direction OF building bridge, for
instance the suggested one across the
Brandywine at the north side of tho
city; nor can it go into the undertaking
of building new county iail-unless
the amounts to defray these expenses
are included in the May estimate.
| Here the important question comes up
| for the Levy Court and for the citizens
of New Castle county to consider. If
the bridge is to cost 100000, and the
| Jail two or three times that amount these
| sums must be included in the annual
estimate to be reported not later than
| June.
Should these be included it would
bring the rate to about $1.16 on the
| 500. 1t was learned to-day, inde-
pendent of this, that all the different
hundreds will require increased appro-
| priations this year.
| 1t is understood that the members of
the Levy Court, in the presence of these
important financial questions and also
those of the bruited bridge and Jail
erection questions, ana of the nearness
of the time for finally deciding the mat
ter, that the citizens of this county and
the county be not backward in openly
expressing their views.
The Levy Court will act according to
the wishes Of the citizens of New Castle
county in all these matters.
The members are anxious to be def
nitely informed in regard to the bridge
matter, the Jail question, &C., in order
that they may be prepared to fix the
rate according sto all the proper and
legitimate needs of the county for the
year '92.
There was certainly no more
thoroughly astonished citizen in Will
mington Thursday than chairman
of Levy Courts finance committee
wnen shown the Nesrs' editorial this
morning, which so kindly patted him on
the back for increasing the county tax
levy and rate nearly four times for 1892.
The editorial in question begins "Levy
Courtman Jolls is n practical man. He
figures out that certain public improve
ments which are desired by many will
require county tax rate nearly -four
times as high as the present rate OF As
cents, &c"
"Why, surely did not say that" Mr.
Jolls replied in dazed sort of way
scanning the article in question. "What
said was 81 16 not SLIGO and that was
only estimating the possibility of in.
cluding 100000 for the Washington
bridge and SECS, 900 for the new county
jail These with county levy of say
$250,000 would furnish an estimate Of
$575,000. But it was all only the merest
surmise. made no actual assertion that
this amount would be levied. However
were it SO levied it would make rate
of in or about $1.16 on the $100 and
that was what / said, not $1.60.
"What is claimed for me is wrong.
apparently, on the face of it, for levy
four times the present one would make
tax Of four times As cents, or $3.50 or
the 800. And this would make ridic
ulously high county tax levy of 100000
The estimate surmised by me allowed
only $250,000 for actual levy, 100000
for bridge and S225, 900 for the new Jail
What, then, would be done with the ad
ditional s325,0002 You must see that
that is what remains out of that exces
sive levy OF $900,0O0"
The whole editorial was the source oi
incessant laughter and continued amuse
ment among the members Of the Levy
Court and the court officials this morn
ing. Ii has unintentionally made Re
publican county financiering the laugh
ing stock of every one around the cour
house.
"Why," added q levy courtman
"that rate of assessment would beggal
half the farmers in the county. 70,
talk of your Wilmington improvement
Association and of new Wilmington
neither of them would have mucl
chance with county tax levy of Sl.S(
and city tax rate in addition of Sl.40
all manufactures and all business woult
be driven out Of tho city hot foot. Wha
citizen could stand n tax of $500 on tn,
S100 That's what those figures in The
N6ioS mean. certainly know Johr
Jolls better than to suppose he saidany
thing Of the sort If he did would b,
-.