The morning call., 1893-01-31
OAkLAND'S TAXES.
How Did the Council Base
the Tax Levy?
POLITICS AND FINANCES
The Ratepayers Uphold the Auditor,
Who Is at Swords Points With
the Council.

The coming civic election In Oakland Is
beginning TO assume some tangible shape,
and from present appearances the financial
question will be the point at issue.
The present City Council has got itself In
disgrace and so corrupted city government
that Non-Partisan movement sprung UP
TO endaayor to straighton matters out
Funds for different works and improve
ments have been overdrawn. and the origl-
nal charter of the city has been openly vlo-
lated by the Council; and in financial mat
ters there has been continual struggle be-
tween the Council and the Auditor and
Tax Collector, which Offices are combined
under the supervision of X. A. Snow.
1t seems to be the consensus of opinion
OF the citizens Of Oakland that the Auditor 5
office as conducted by Mr.. Snow has been
conservative in great measure, and at the
same time well up to the needs of the grow
ing city, Mr.. Snow is considered the right
man in the right place, and as fnancier he
has done great deal for the municipality.
The Non Partisans as well as the POpu.
lists have urged upon him TO again ACCEPT
the nomination for the Office which he has
filled for four years, and 10 this he has con
sented
Mr.. Snow is very modest man, and does
not like 10 talk of his public achievements
or of the important service he has rendered
his city, but his friends are loud In his
praise for the manner in which he has
fought the financial policy OF the present
Council.
War is liable to break out at any time
again between the Auditor and the Council
over a matter which has not yet been pre-
sented to the public. 1t is simply another
violation Of the city charter on the part Of
the Council. The charter already sets forth
the plan by which the basis OF the tax levy
is established The different departments
are required to make their estimates Of
expenditure of the coming year. This
the departments did a few weeks ago, but
the aggregate was $50, 600 above the charter
limits and reduction OF that amount was
made by the Auditor. These estimates, as
approved by the uditor, were agreed 10 in
the main by the Finance Committee OF the
Council, but when the estimates were placed
before the City Council they we're so
distorted as to be unacceptable and
had no evidence of being based on the
original estimates. An ordinance was passed
fixing tax levy In manner as yet not I'M
derst00d by the ratepayers.
1t was considered that $4,000 would be
ample for the general fund, but this the
council raised TO S6S,000 without any ap-
perent reason.
The Council entirely ignored the fact that
the tax levy TO meet the requirements of
lHt NHtlOuS luHuS WOuiu DC ucCItdStQ ny
the income from licenses, etc, by about
Sfl5,000. This income, when 1t is received
will go to swell the general fund. which
will put it at about $4,000 above what Is
really necessary.
just before the tax levy was fixed the
Council saw fit to appropriate 100000 for
boulevard. This appropriation was eX-
planned by the Mayor and carried as not
meaning anything, as the tax levy would be
sufficient 10 meet all requirements. The
levy was then made with $4,000 in excess
OF the Councils estimates. This $4,000,
along with $4,000 more. was afterward
transferred TO the boulevard fund.
just what the Council wants with this
suTreptitous excess of the estimates Is what
Is puZzling the mind OF the Auditor and
many OF the ratepayers.
The general fund has been swelled up
away above what is required, and the b0ule-
ward appropriation is S62, 900 greater than it
was understood TO be, and what does 1t all
mean the taxpayers ask
II the expenses chargeable to the different
city funds keep up il will take about half
of the taxes now being collected to even up
the various funds now overdrawn. The
city's creditors have been Obliged to dis
count warrants drawn on these funds, and
just when stop will be called it will be
hard 10 tell.
MIR. Shows objections 70 the policy OF the
Council are pretty we'll understood by the
citizens of Oakland, and his efforts to pre-
vent extravaganza have been well backed
up by the two parties who have placed him
al the head of their tickets. the Non Partisans
and the PopuliSts.