Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-05-03
MAY RAISE THE TAX RATE.
Prospects for Raising Revenue for the City
During the Next Fiscal Year.

Prospects for Raising Revenue for the CITY
During the Next Fiscal Year.
In order to meet the current expenses
OF the city for the fiscal year beginning
July lst next. and pay off the deficit Of
$40, 600 which will remain at the end CT
the current fiscal year, it may be neces-
sary for City Council to make the tax
rate higher than at present, which is
81. 40 on the 81, COO, although members
OF the finance committee intimate that
they do not anticipate necessity for
resorting to this expedient in providing
for next years expenses. Several city
officials were discussing the matter
yesterday week and the general
opinion was that an increase of 20
cents on the 81, COO might be necessary,
making the ratio 81. go.
During the'convel sation ii was stated
that Council evidently relies upon COL
Letting the taxes assessed, under new
order OF the committee, upon the beds
of railroads and railways and equip
ment OF other corporations in the public
highways, but it was argued that it ia
little premature to set this item
down as an asset, as the right to COLLECT
this tax may be contested by some of
the companies against which it is as
sessed and in that event no calculations
can be made until the courts pass upon
the question. The money collected under
the Adams Tax law is still retained by
the collectors and it may be held for
sometime. This is also az uncertain
quantity. Another item in the same
category is the ground rent charged
against the City Market Co., whose
building liz on city property, and the
payment of which is peing contested.
The chief thing, however, which may
determine the matter of the tax rate
for next year is the Water Departments
contribution, which is very much
smaller than was expected, the amount
promised being only $4,000. The de-
partment has already turned over
sl5, 600 for the year, which has been
utilized by Council in meeting past
obligations, which brings the depart
ment's total surplus up to $40, 600, v lille
the surplus received from the depart
ment last year amounted to 500, 234. 81,
and that for the preceding year to $3.50, :
S33 81. This is a very noticeable differ
ence and will have q great deal 10 do
with Councils calculations for the next
| fiscal year. The money must come
from somewhere and the only sure
source. SO far as is known at present, is
from taxes collected under an increased
| rate.
Another important point must also be
taken into consideration. In making
up the budget for next year il has been
discovered that the current expenses
will exceed those of the present year by
about $4,000 OF this sum about
$1,000 will go to the Board Of Educa-
tion, which, under the law, is to have
its appropriation increased per cent
each year, and large part of the re-
maindei will go to the appropriation fer
the crematory.
OF course, the value Of real estate has
increased some; that is, additional
buildings have been erected, and valu-
able ones too, while some old properties
have been very materially improved,
but the revenue from this source will
not make up the deficiency, and unless
all of the things which are now IN.
settled, including the controversy with
the Street and Sewer Department over
certain moneys, result favorably to
Council, it seems very probable an in
creased tax rate will be necessary.
The p, W. & b. Railroad Co, has
filed protest against paying tax on its
roadbed, bridges, &C., on the ground
that the assessment is illegal, and the
company asks that it be stricken from
the list. The additional assessment on
the comlany's property in this city
amounts TO S597, 800, and the estimated
| tax is So, 1862, 4S.