The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-09-21
FIXED LEVY AT 80 CENTS
COUNTY COUNCIL AGREES ON THE
TAX RATE FOR NEXT YEAR.
No Large Bridges Will BE Built Next
Year-The Prosecuting Attor-
ney's Salary.

The County Council late yesterday even
ing practically agreed on the tax levy for
next year, and an ordinance setting out the
amount was drawn up. Members of the
council said the ordinance would probably
be introduced and passed to-day. The coun-
Gil has fixed the levy for general county
purposes at 80 cents on each 800 of taxable
property. The levy for gravel-road purposes
Is fixed at 4 1-3 cents. Last year the tax
levy, exclusive of gravel-road tax, was 80
cents. The poll tax remains at 80 cents.
Member of the council say that after
careful figuring they. found the expenses
for next year could not possibly be met
with less than a thirty-three-cent levy. 1t
is estimated that the county's general ex-
penses for 1900 will be in the neighborhood
Of $4,000. A thirty-three-cent levy on
$l41. 200, 900 of taxable property. which 1t was
said some lays ago the duplicates would
show. would raise a revenue of sass, 800.
This would leave about $35 600 to be raised.
The council Inmates that a considerable
sum will be realized from the product of
the poor farm and from premiums on bonds.
However, the council is not yet through
cutting estimates, and some more trimming
may be done to-day. County Auditor Smith
was with the council yesterday evening and
stated it was not improbable that the tax
duplicates would show taxable property In
the county of the value Of S144, OOO, 900. He
said he was hopeful of the duplicate show
ing up better than had been expected. In
addition to other revenues that may be ex-
pected, aside from taxes on property, is
the poll tax, which last year amounted to
1878
Yesterday the council made a "cut" which
II Oac mt onnrnuod nv Eroo.@--
Pugh. Heretofore the prosecutor has re-
ceived a salary of $500 a year, the remain
ing part of his compensation being made up
of fees. This $500 has been paid annually
| for many years, and it has been the GUS
tom of the prosecutor to pay his deputy
with it. The council concluded that a re-
auction should be made in the expenses Of
the prosecutors office and cut of this $500
salary. Prosecutor Pugh explained to the
board that for years IL had been the Gus
tom of the county to pay this salary. John
8. Duncan also made a strong appeal I'm
Gil eliminated from the County Commits
sioners' estimate the $500 a year which has
been paid to a bailiff for the commissioners
there is no law providing for a commits
sioners' 'bailiff. and that one is not re-
CURED.
The council has about reached the con-
| clusion that the county will not be able to
build any large bridges next year. The
fact that there are to be some unusually
heavy expenditures for other necessary
things has convinced the council that 1t
will be unwise to try TO build any large
bridges. The council has estimated that the
| election expenses for 1900 will amount IN
$23, $50, and IL is the purpose to provide for
paying the county's Indebtedness Of 5000, OO
of 4 per cent. bonds. In addition to this the
$4,000 of interest on the 81 per cent. bonds.
which falls due in July, will have to be
paid.
II the county tax levy is left at 80 cents
Marion county taxpayers will have to pay
$3.50 next year on each 800 worth of taxable
property. This taxation will be divided as
follows: County tax, 80 cents; city tax. sc
cents: school tax, 30 cents: State tax, . %
cents: township tax. 3 cents: gravel road
tax, Alb cents.