New-York tribune., 1899-07-26
INCREASE IN THE TAX RATE
CONTROLLER PLACES IT AT 2.4SO4 fOh
MANHATTAN AND THE BRONX.
A limp FROM 2O1-HEAvY BURDEN ON THE
AxPAYERs-sQUABBLE IN THE MU-
NICIPAL ASSEMBLY POSSIBLE
OVER THE APPORTIoN-
MENT OF THE 100000
DEFICIENCY

DEFICIENCY.
There was n Joint session of the Finance COM
mttees OF the Council and Board OF Aldermen -
the City Hall at noon yesterday to prePaie
port on the tax rate to be submitted 10 'iie "'
nicipal Assembly to-day. and the hgures Ie'e'''1
from Controller Coer as basis FOR the lepo'
indicated that the rate for Manhattan anu Inv
Bronx would be lower than had been anticlpa'eu'
Many OF the officials were inclined to behe'e re-
Gently that the tax rate for this year III 'he wv
boroughs comprising the former city OF Ne"
York would be over 50 90 on the 500 OF assessor
valuation, and some estimated the rate as hish
as 81 6S The figures submitted by the Conuol-
Ter yesterday indicate that the rates for the
various boroughs of the greater city will be as
follows:
Manhattan and Tho Bronx 80.
Brooklyn 9ftI5
Richmond
Controller Coler said yesterday: "The rate Is
fully twenty points less than was anticipated
The fact that It has been cut down from pos
sible 26S in the boroughs Of Manhattan and Ine
Bronx Is due entirely TO the surplus we nave
been able to turn into the general fund we
have not spent all Of the money at the disposai
OF the city authorities during the current year.
and as a consequence we have the surplus 10
which I refer The general fund Will exceed
$9,OOO.OOO"
While the tax rate for this year may be lower
than the officials feared at one time 1t would De-
It will be much higher than the rate for last
year which in the boroughs of Manhattan ana
The Bronx was 2.01 With the large increase OF
valuations OF property there VIII be heaVy
burden on the taxpayers. The difference IN the
rate between the different boroughs Is due 10 the
apportionment of the ST.OOO,0W deficiency IN
Cured in the first year Of consolidation Ihs
deficiency, for which revenue bonds were issued
last year, was due to expenses Incurred chlehy
in Brooklyn and Queens The bulk Of these de-
ficiencies was put upon Manhattan and the
Bronx. because Of the greater Increase In valu-
ations in these two boroughs, as compared with
the other three. Mr.. Coler held that for this
reason the deficiencies should not be taxed on
the boroughs which the money was spent.
Next year the tax rate will be uniform through
out the city. There may be a squabble in the
Municipal Assembly about the apportionment of
the deficiency. but the Controller believes that
his recommendation for the apportionment will
be adopted as follows:
Manhattan and The IS eso 2eo 20
Brooklyn To- ~ 20 rs
Queens 9eO02 40
Tchmond 1850 10
Regarding the apportionment the Controller
has said: There may be complaint from
Queens which has heavy share TO bear. lnt
Queens was responsible for about third Of the
entire deficiency. l believe the apportionment
will be approved by the Municipal Assembly as
! have made It."
At the joint session Of the committees yester-
day Alderman Goodman offered resolution to
ask the Municipal Assembly to defer final action
on the tax rolls until September. so that public
hearings might be held in the mean time, and
the committees get opinions from which legisa-
ton could he drafted to remedy some Of the de-
fects Of taxation. The committees would not ac-
oept his resolution. and it will be presented
again.
1t is not expected that the Municipal Assem-
bly, will get into any serious discussion of the
apportonment Of the deficiency at the joint ses-
sion to-day The report of the Joint Finance
Committee will be presented, and the Municipal
Assembly probably will adjourn for a week, as
under the terms Of the charter the report must
be printed in The City Record for five days
before final action is taken on the report