The San Francisco call., 1896-06-26
NEXT TAX LEVY
STATE AND CITY.
Will Not Exceed ST 67
and It May Go
Lower.
THE CITY VALUATION.
An Increase of Twelve Millions
of Dollars or More
Assured.
FIGURES ON THE STATE ROLL
City Collections on Personal Property
Now Exceed a Half
Million.
FIGURES ON THE STATE ROLL

Assessor Siebe is diligently at work on
the assessment roll and will file it within
the time prescribed by law. He said yes
terday that he would not ask for an ex-
tension.
The Assessor was not willing to make an
approximate estimate of the total valua-
ton, but readily admitted that it would
be IN excess of last years valuations. 1t
is figured by men who claim to be familiar
with values that the total amount will ap-
proximate $340 600, 900, or an increase OF
$12, 900, 900 over the last roll.
The collection OF personal property taxes,
unsecured by real estate, is progressing in
lively style. The amount taken up to noon
yesterday was $545,967 Y, sum 100000
in excess of last years collections. AS no
tax-levy has been fixed for this year the
collection is made on last years rate OF
81 25. This accounts in measure for the
large increase. Ultimately the City must
refund to the taxpayers the difference be-
tween 81 Is and the forthcoming rate. The
law so provides. Thirty thousand tax
payers will each be entitled to rebate,
but in many instances the amount will be
so small that application may not be
made.
In making this readjustment vast deal
OF work will be imposed upon the Super
visors, Auditor and Treasurer. Every ap-
plication must be made to the Board of
Supervisors, and when allowed the money
cannot be drawn from the treasury with
out an order from the Auditor.
No one can yet tell exactly what the
next tax levy will be, because the valra-
ton of all taxable property is still an un-
known quantity, and the amounts to be
allowed by the Supervisors for the various
departments of the municipal govern
ment have not been determined.
Auditor Broderick made a calculation
that the value OF taxable property would
be $3.50, 600 600. The estimate is likely to
be under the actual return. but the figures
may be changed before the Supervisors,
sitting as a Board of Equalization, get
through with the roll.
The Auditor did not allow many extras
on his estimates, but figured nearly every
thing down to business basis. Still he
thinks the board should diminish rather
than increase his allowances. In taking
the total of his estimates and calculatin &
that the assessment roll will reach $3.50,
100000, he figures that the local rate
should not exceed 81 IL, and might go as
low as 81 OF.
Governor Budd in a general way has
more than once indicated that the State
levy WOulQ not exceed 40 cents. since he
made this calculation reports have
reached members of the State Board OF
Equalization that there would be quite a
shrinkage in the valuation.
Allowing that the State rate will be so
cents and the local rate 81 II, the levy
would be 81 67, or So cents lower than the
last levy. 1t is possible that the rate may
go as low as 81 go, in view of the increas-
ing public sentiment toward retren ch-
meLt in State and municipal affairs.
There should be in the State treasury a
surplus of 81 ,0O00 600, because the Governor
insisted that the revenue bill passed by
the Legislature should cover all the ap-
preparations made by the session. Many
of the appropriations were unconstitu-
tional and extrayagant, and so they were
vetoed. The result was the taking of
81 600, 0oU more than was necessary out OF
circulation and putting it in the State
treasury. The next Legislature is likely
to appropriate it with great gladness.
The next local levy will not embrace
anything for the new City Hall construc-
tion, but large sum must be raised for
election expenses, so one will about Offset
the other,