The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-26
1t May Run Up to ST. so for
City and County Pur-
poses.
THE RATE IN OTHER CITIES.
Comparisons Show That San Fran
cisco Has Very Little to
Complain OF.

cause the taxpayer, especially 1ncruSted
silurians to wear shade of anxiety on his
face.
The apparent disposition of the Board of
Supervisors to provide for some expansion
and dressing up of the City az we'll as for
the current expenses has had this effect.
When the Street Committee at it's last
meeting decided to recommend three items
to the tax levy amounting to $4,000,
Folsom street paving, street sweeping and
park improvement, this disposition became
apparent.
"These items are far in excess of similar
items of last year, the street-sweeping be-
ing nearly double, and the Folsom-s street
item of $4,000 standing against sewering
levy OF $19,000," said Auditor Broderick
yesterday. THE schools will want a
quarter of a million more this year than
last the clerks of courts will call for $40 900
instead of $4,000 month, or 900 more
for the year. There is a general dispo-
sition to urge big item. for the tax levy
Just now, but when these begin to be
rounded up and the big total is presented
am inclined to believe there will be such
change in the tune that many of the
items will have to be cut. However, with
the deficiencies in sight that will have to
be provided for and the expansion that is
quite as clearly apparent the tax rate will
be considerably above the 81 of this year.
| think 81 80 on the valuation of $342, 000,-
600 of last year will do the work"
John S. RUSSELL clerk of the Board of
"In many things" said Mr. Russell, ''this
City is behind hand. In the first place we
should pay our debts. believe a city
should be as faithful to its Obligations as
any business man should be. 1t has no
right to hide behind technicality of law.
In the next place this City has grown to be
a big boy and the short trousers of the dol
lar limit make it look very ridiculous in
the comparing of progressive American
cities. We want clean streets and better
streets; we want plenty of light and should
have it all the year round; We want an en-
larged and improved police force, in short
we want our institutions to come up
abreast of our present class as a city and
| by the same token we should paw for it
| like a man. 1t has been the fashion to
complain OF the heavy taxation we suffer
here. The fact is the tax rate in San Fran
| cisco is lower than in almost any city in the
| country
Mr.. Russell took bit of yellow paper
from his pocket, remarking, III have been
| looking into this question of tax rates."
he said. "Let US see what the people of
| New York have to pay. Last year they
had an Indebtedness of $104, 404, $50. The
assessed valuation of taxable property,
real and personal, was 81, 933, SIS, 800, upon
! which the tax rate was 81 80 per 500.
I'm Brooklyn, improved real estate is as
ses.ed on basis of 70 per cent of its cash
value, and so per cent on unimproved
real estate, and the tax rate on this is 81 S5
on each 500 of valuation. The amount
raised by taxation in 1898 was $40, los, $751;
The population is about 100000. The re-
ceipts from water rates are sufficient to
| provide Tor maintenance, payment of in
terest, and provide for reduction of the
bonds at maturity, and leave surplus of
100000 over all requirements.
"In Chicago April l, 1894, taxable prop
erty was assessed at one-third of its cash
value, and the city tax rate-exclusIve of
county or State-was S4.6OS on each 500 Of
valuation. The amount raised was Sill
810,964. The population was estimated in
1898 at 1, 100000. The city owns its own
water supply, also an electric light system.
The excess of receipts over expenditures in
the water works to 1892 was $40, 795, Isl.
I'm st. Louis the rate of taxation based
On a three-fifth schedule of the cash valua-
ton of taxable property was $1.3s on each
$100 valuation. The income of lS93-94 was
estimated at $4,317,021. The city owns its
water works, the income from which was
$1,275, 900, and the expenses but $432, 800.
The population is about 492, 900.
"In Baltimore the tax rate in 1893 was
$155 on each 500 valuation. The city
owns its water supply, the receipts from
which during 1892 were SITS, 726, the ex-
penses $1S7705. The population is esti-
mated at ATE, 900.
SIN Pittsburg the tax rate is based on
about so per cent of the cash value of tax
able property, and for the year 1893 was
81 80 on each 500 valuation. The popula-
ton is estimated at 10000. The city owns
| its water works.
|
was 81 on each 500 valuation. The popu-
lation is estimated at about 252, 500.
''In st. Paul the tax rate is 81 on each
500 valuation. The population is about
100000. The city owns its water works,
which are self-sustaining.
''In Buffalo the tax rate is fracti On
above 81 on the 500 valuation. The popu-
lation is about $685. 900. The city owns its
water supply.
sIn Detroit for 1893 the tax rate was
81 81 on each 500 valuation. The popula-
ton is about 100000 The city owns it's
| water works
"In Philadelphia the tax rate for 1892,
on basis of rs per cent of the cash value,
was 81 IS on each $100 valuation. The pop
ulation is about l, 125, 600.
I'm Cincinnati the tax rate for 1893 was
$2.724 on each 500 valuation. The popu-
lation is about $4,000. The city owns it's
own water supply, the receipts from which,
|
expenses 1881 ,877. The water works are
self-sustaining, and will be source of
revenue sufficient to provide new plant
when required. note these items as to
the water supply, as they are not only in
teresting in themselves to the people of
San Francisco, but they have bearing on
the question of taxes, inasmuch as where
they are source of revenue they of
| course tend to reduce the rate.
ain San Francisco the tax rate for 1e93-94
| for City, County and State was $1.6O6 on
each 500 valuation. based on about the
cash value. The net bonded debt
amounted to $375,97O; floating debt, about
| 1925, 000 The assessed valuation was $342 :
644,179, of which $276, 457 ,42O was for real
and sec, ,759 personal property The
population in 1890 was 298, 997, and is now
probably about 1876 900. The consumption
is seventy gallons of water per capita per
diem.
ain Boston the tax rate for 1893 was 81 %
on each 500 valuation. The limit of taxa
ton, exclusive of the State tax and of all
sums required to be raised to provide for
payment of interest and principal of the
city debt, also of all debts for water supply,
is 80 cents.
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