The morning call., 1894-03-17
/ HlK I NILLIOINC.
A Big Cut in Property
Values.
THE ASSESSORS ESTIMATE.
A Decrease Thought Due to the
Stringent Times.
SUPERVISOR JAMES OPINION.
He Calculates That All the Deficits in
the Various Funds Will
Be Met.
SUPERVISOR JAMES OPINION

Assessor John D. Siebe has furnished
the Finance Committee of the Board Of
Supervisors with the rather startling in
formation that he estimates after going
over the field that the asSessment-roll for
the fiscal year 1S94-95 will be decreased by
about $50. 600. He estimates a cut
from S24O. 100000 to $40. 100000. This
fact falls upon the Finance Committee
with peculiar force. for If the Supervisor
maintain their pledges on the dollar limit
they will have to largely cut down ex-
peDses in the next tax levy, as the amount
to be raised, with the S30,0o0.000 decrease
in properly values. will fall many thou
sands below what was expected. Besides,
general election will have to be provided
for. and this will cause further pruning
of tavorite funds.
When Mr.. Siebe was asked to explain
why such large decrease would take
place in property values this year, he ln-
formed Supervisor James Of the Finance
Committee that bad times had affected
property to a fearful extent. He stated
that last year he assessed piece of prop
erty on the wafer front tor $4,000. Sew
erai months ago the same property was
sold for $4,000. In making his assess
nent the Assessor sad he could not 90 be-
hlnu sHlo net shludtiOu.
As regards personal property, Mr. Siebe
said that he had discovered the merchants
OF the city were carrying about oDe-third
less goods and merchandise than last
year. for the reason that business was
DOR. The Assessor told the Finance
Committee that in making the next tax
levy they should calculate on $50. 100000
cut in valuations, and act accordingly.
The Finance Committee of the Board OF
Supervisors had IA conference yesterday
with Contractor Ebbets, who has the cUn-
tract 10 furnish the city with coal. Be-
cause the board did not adopt a resolution
at its last meeting guaran teeinR him pay
ment for all fuel furnished public builu-
lngs he again stopped tue supply. As a
result The elevators and heaters at the new
City Hall have not been IN working order
during the last few days.
Although the fuel fund is exhausted, the
| Finance Committee, after consulting with
the Auditor, made satisfactory arrange
ments with Contractor Ebbets by which
the latter agreed to keep up his supply OF
| coal. Ebbets will be paid out of the gem
| eral fund.
! The Pacific Gas Improvement Company
also notified the Supervisors yesterday that
| that company would no longer supply the
city with gas unless sufficient assurance
was given that the bills contracted would
| be paid during the next few months.
| Chairman James of the Finance Com
| mlttee has been doing considerable COM
putaiion lately, and yesterday reported
| that he calculated on saving the following
| amounts, which at the close of the fiscal
| year will be turned over to the general
| fund for the payment of delinquent bills
drawn on other eXha listed funds:
Expected savings - Charter election fund
| $4,000, judgments $4,000, crematory SI0,-
| QUO, map $4,000 disbursement $4,000. from
hospital building S13, 900, Holly Park 5000,
money IN general fluid $4,000, sewer COM
mission S34, 900. Total 175, 600.
Against these expected savings of Super
visor James he calculates on the follow
ing deficits in the various funds:
| De6clts-Lighting public buildings SIS 600
| Assessors deputies $4,000, Tax Collectors
! deputies $4,000, coal $1,000. prisoners and in.
| digepIs 5000, oIthand re pOrters' fees 500
600. Total $4,000.
| According to James calculations there
will thus be surplus of over 500, 600 with
which TO pay the debts OF the current year.
OF course all these figures are entirely in
dependent of the large indebtedness still
unpaid and inherited from the previous
| Board of Observation-Disclosures James
! figures relate only TO the funds raised for
| the present year, and the bills contracted
| during the same period.
According TO Expert Cyril Williams OF
| the committee the following is the condi-
ton of the principal funds ami the
amounts available to March 81, 1894. and
| from the figures it Is apparent tha~ many
Of them are already largely overdrawn: