The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-08
FOR A HIGHER TAX RATE.
Auditor Frederick Says 1t Is
Necessary for Next
Year.
NEW CONDITIONS TO BE MET.
The City Much Larger Now and
Full of the Spirit of
Progress.

The Finance Committee of the Board of
Supervisors called upon Assessor Seibe
late yesterday afternoon and told him to
go ahead and prepare to put 100 deputies
in the field to take the personal property
assessment over again according to the
provisions of the new revenue law.
The State Board of Equalization has
taken steps to supply the books necessary,
for which the city will have to pay when it
settles with the State in the matter OF
taxes. The books, however, although the
most immediate difficulty were the least
part of it. The men to do the work would
cost much more. The thing had to be
done, however, and the Finance Commit
tee after considering the matter decided to
take the bull by the horns and told the
Assessor to 20 ahead and engage the hun
dred men necessary.
"Work will be begun as soon as we get
the blanks, which will be in about two
weeks" said Deputy Assessor derZer yes
terday.
Another 100 men will be required to
take the assessment on real estate in Octo-
Der. The cost will be about 1000 a
month for two months, or $4,000. The
funds will have to be forthcoming some
how, suppose. The rate of taxation for
the personal property tax must be the
same as that OF last year, as under the
new law the rate is not fixed until Septem-
ber If the rate fixed at that time is
higher than that collected then the differ
ence will be collected next year. If it is
lower the Treasurer will be required to pay
it back upon demand. The whole thing is
umbersome and unwieldy, but will have
to be gone through with"
Speaking about this matter of the rate of
taxation so important at this time Auditor
Broderick said yesterday 1.-The rates hould
be not less than 81 30-it ought perhaps to
be 81 so for the City and County. My
party pledged me to stand for 81 and so |
shall, but the conditions have changed
since the platforms were made, and ii. 1t
was to be done over again l don't believe
any such limitations would be stated. a
great many obligations have arisen since
and besides the spirit of development and
progress is abroad.
I'm the first place the Legislature has
placed this expense of the new assessment
upon Us which will figure up about SAC, 900.
Then there are two months salaries which
will be carried over into next year which
will amount to 100000. Then there is the
10-cent levy for the completion of the City
Hall. The County Clerk will want some
$40, 900 more this year than last.
1.-THE town is expanding don't you see?"
continued the Auditor. "The police force
should be increased, and that requires
more money; the schools cost a great deal
more than they used to require, and new
school buildings are in demand. The
streets will want great deal more money
than they are costing this year. At present
citizens are subscribing to make up the
deficiency. 1t is not to be expected that
they will continue to do that, but the
people are educated now to q new condi-
ton of things in the matter of clean streets
and they will not tolerate the old way
That means $4,000 month or $780, 900 for
the year.
''ro meet these expenses tax rate of
81 80 at least should be levied"