Evening journal., 1897-06-22
.ASTARTLING DECREASE
Levy Court Must Raise the
Tax Rate for 1897.
ASSESSMENT FALLS FAR SHORT

INGAPPROPRIATIONS THE PRES
ENT TAX RATE WILL NOT SUP
PLY NECESSARY REVENUE.
The county tax rate will have TO be
increased for the fiscal year beginning
July /, 1897. There IS no help for II,
even by looping on appropriations. for
there has been such falling off in the
sum total Of the assessment in the
rural hundreds that whatever increase
may be found in the city win not COM
pensate for the loss outside.
1t was not until the assessors books
had been footed up that an intelligent
idea Of the extent OF the decrease in the
rural districts could be gained. but the
work has been completed, and 1t dem
onstrates that the falling off amounts
to $3,163,3l6. with the city to hear
from, as the totals for the three dis
trlcis here have not yet been ascer-
tanned.
While the Levy Court commissioners
have not fixed the rate for 1897, it will
certainly not be less than So cents on
the 800. or an increase of five cents
over the present rate. Not only that,
but the appropriations to the several
hundreds for internal improvements
will be reduced to a minimum. and
wherever IL is found that a dollar can
be saved a rigid policy Of retrenchment
and economy will prevail.
For many years the valuations ON
real estate in the rural districts have
been away above what they should
have been. While farm lands were 20.
ing down steadily in price the assessed
valuations remained the same Com
Dlaint became so general, and so wei
founded that the Levy Court ordered thi
assessors not to follow the old assess
ment lists, but TO make an equitable as
sessment based on present marke
prices Of property. They did so. an,
their books are now In the hands Of tn
Levy Court which will some day thi
, week. fix the tax rate after ascertaininl
the lowest amount that 1t is possible I,
, get along with during the incoming fis
cal year.
Levy Court held a meeting to-day an,
: spent its time going over the books an.
: comforting about the years appropria
tions. They found the decreases in tn
rural hundreds to be as follows:
r Brandywine-1S96, 50 S49,325; 1Sg'
= S2,655,O60; decrease. S194 ,265.
Christiana-1S96, S3,102. 40; 1897. 81
e Sl7 90S; decrease, 1884. 500.
Pencader-1S96, 81. .429 .S29: 1897. 81
= 1872 225: decrease, 1897. .604
Red Lion-1S96, 81 .473,321; 1897. 81
{ 114563; decrease, 1855. .75S.
AppOquinimink - 1896, 81 1850. .Of0
1897 Sl,003 ,30S; decrease, S346 702.
r New Castle-1S96, S3,51S.371; 1897
q $3074,955; decrease, S443,416.
Mill Creek-1S96, S2.522,071; 1897
, $3.50, $50; decrease, $271.51
\ st. GeOrges-1S96, S3,071 ,4S6; 1897
], 81, ,462, 108; decrease s609,37S.
J, Blackbird-1896, 1896 ,64S: 1897, 1925
- OPS: decrease, $171 ,623.
White Clay Creek-1896. 81 ,662, ,451
, 1897, 81 ,416,92S; decrease, S245, ,523.
= Total for 1896, S21 .975 ,9S2; total 70
n 1897, S1S,Sl2, ,636; decrease for 1897, SO
S 163 ,346.
b To-day Chairman Scott spent hi
s time figuring out the allowances of tn
assessors for the outside hundreds, br
T. did not get his work completed II, an
= the work of footing up the Wilmingto
l. hundred books, will be completed thi
week.
o While Chairman Scott was here tC
u day he signed the bonds for the $3.50, ,0C
= county loan. They had previousl
p been signed by County Treasurer Re.
tew and Clerk of the Peace Foard.