The San Francisco call., 1899-07-04

pledge to tax the people of the city
81 on every 800. on an assessed
/ valuation of $3.50, 900 900 the tax
rate this year will not be greater
than 90 cents, and it may be less.
Assessor Dodge has finished his real
estate and personal property rolls
and the total assessment is 1886, ,051, ,172,
an increase of s34, ,267, ,07S over the assess
ment of last year. This increase, on a
dollar limit basis, reduces, as a matter
Of course. the rate of taxation. This
rate cannot be more than 80, cents on
this basis and for certain reasons it
may be less.
Assessor Dodge has received from At
tOrney General Ford an Oninion which
is not an opinion in reference to the le-
gality of taxing quasi public and cor
poration bonds The Attorney General
says that he does not know whether or
not such bonds may be taxed but he
recommends all Assessors to tax them
and have the mooted question decided
by the courts. Assessor Dodge intends
to adopt the suggestion and in doing so
Will add SOL 0O0. 900 to the personal prop
erty roll This will make the grand
total S407. TAG. 600, and will reduce the
assessment rate on dollar limit on an
assessed valuation of 100000 to So
cents, the lowest rate ever suggested
or proposed in the history of San Fran
cisco
If the Supervisors provide for de-
ffciency of 10000 and appropriate 1925
COO for ST Mary's Park, the rate on an
assessed valuation of $3.50, 900, 900 will be
$0973. The rate, under the same condi-
tions. on an assessed valuation of SHOT,
10000 will be $O923. The people of the
city are assured therefore in any con-
tingency of a very low rate of taxation.
particularly in comparison with that OF
last year, which was $1.318 on an as
sessed valuation of 1852, 600, 600.
Assessor Dodge has made his re
markable increase in the total assessed
valuation of local property without IN
juring the small taxpayer. On the con-
trary, he has greatly benefited the
thousands of small real estate holders
by reducing their rate of taxation over
90 cents on the $100 without raising
the assessed valuation of their prop
erty The corporations, banks and
large individual owners of personal
property will stand the enormous in
crease in this years levy. A comparison
of startling and important figures Will
illustrate this fact. The total assess
ment for this year on real estate is
S2S5. .465. III, against $3.50, ,OS8,9S4 for the
last fiscal year The increase in real
estate values is therefore only 1885,
733. which, divided among thousands OF
taxpayers, becomes q burden of COM
paratively small Importance. The total
personal property assessment for TINS
year is 500, 5S5, 455 including the $2l,-
1000 which the Assessor now intends
to add in bonds. The total personal
property assessment of last wear was
S6S. .695. 40, making the increase for this
year in personal property $31, S90,34
OF this enormous increase the cor
porations must bear SIS, 900, and in
dividual taxpayers and banks $16,260
600. The assessments of the corpora
tions have been increased from $20,390,
900 in 1888 to s38 500, 900 this year. The
assessment of the Market Street Rail
way Company has been increased over
IS, 900 600 The Spring Valley Water
Company must stand raise of more
than 81, 900, 600. The San Francisco Gas
and Electric Company assessment is
advanced 81. 900. 000 The Pacific Gas
Improvement Company Is increased
more than s1,300000.
The changes are startling, as will be
seen from the following comparative
table of leading taxpayers: