The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-27
GAIN in TAX DUPLICATE
THAT OF INDIANAPOLIS WILL BE
OVER $7,OOO,OOO THIS YEAR.
But Increased Revenues Still Leaves
the Democratic Administration in
Very Tight Place.

Controller Johnson has not yet received
figures from the county assessor showing
the exact increase in the tax duplicate
and will not receive the official figures until
after Sept l, when the certificate of the
State Board of Tax Commissioners will be
certified down. Mr.. Johnson has been in
formed that the increase of taxable prop
erty on the duplicates will be from 81, 000 900
to $4,000, 600. These figures are only APP
proXimate, however. At a 60-cent levy the
increase of the cty's revenue would be
$4,000 on each $1000,000 on the duplicates.
Mr.. johnson, therefore, estimates in the
rough that the increase of revenue from
taxes will be $4,000 to $50 600. Part of this
increase is due to annexation of suburban
territory and the remainder is due to the
city's natural expansion. Mr.. Johnson said
yesterday that at the same time there is a
very large increase in expenses, and he
doubts as to whether the additional reve-
nues from the suburban territory would
equal increased expenditures on the same
account. Taking the city as 2 whole, how
ever, he thinks that the official figures will
show that the increase in revenue keeps
pace with increase Of expenditures follow
ing the natural expansion of the city.
There was some semi-official talk about
the City Hall yesterday of a special tax
levy of or cents on 500 of taxable prop
erty for park improvements. Mayor Tag
CART, after having the suit against the
park board instituted, wrote that depart
ment a letter in which he declared himself
opposed to the present method of making
assessments for park improvements. The
Democratic city platform favorS the i'm
provement of parks by the city at large by
the issuance of longtime bonds. Even were
the administration to exhaust the $24l,OUO OF
debt-creating power now left 1T under the
constitutional limit that sum would not go
far toward improving the White river bot
toms. 1t has been estimated that leyees
alone will cost 100000 The 100000 debt
leeway that an addition of 100000 to the
duplicates would give, would soon be ex-
hauSted.
Although the park law is being contested,
the administration is under the necessity of
preparing for park improvements in the
event the law is sustained and must devise
some scheme for raising money, and lots
of it, too, to carry on the improvements of
the waste lands the board has already de-
cided to purchase. OF course, II the law
is held unconstitutional by the Supreme
Court, that will virtually put stop to
everything that the board has undertaken,
but the administration realizes that some
provisions must be made in anticipation of
the law being upheld. AS there is not
much leeway SO far as issuing long-tlme
be done. Some of the minor officials think
that ar additional tax levy of a few cents
would furnish enough money 10 carry on
the work moderately next year. When the
levy is exhausted another could be made.
This would come within the demand that
the city at large pay for. the improve
ments, but it has one defect 1t does not
place a burden on posterity, as the plat
form also demands.
Controller Johnson said that he had heard
nothing of a special levy for park improve.
ments. He expressed himself In taVor or
an appropriation from the general fund for
this purpose. With the increased tax du-
nlicate he thought this would be feasible.
Mir johnson will probably recommend that
the Council appropriate a lump sum for
park improvements to be used in case the
law is Upheld. At any rate, he does not
take very kindly to the idea of a special
levy to raise money for improving the
marks