The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-09-26
In the Old City Limits it Will Be
5 Mills and in the New 7.
INTENDED TO RAISE ssIs. s4e.54.
Estimated Running Expenses of
city Are but About $4,000 More
for Coming Than for Present
Year-PruBinG Knife Applied to
Budgets Prepared by Heads Of De-
partments--Comm Report.

The city tax levy for 1901 win be less
than for the present year. From semi
official sources 1t was yesterday learned
that the report OF the finance committee
Of the city council, which has had this
important matter under consideration,
had been prepared ready for fling at the
special council meeting called for ton1or-
row night and would show when made
public a levy OF eight mills in the old
city limits and seven In the new, as COM
pared with levy year ago of nine and
seven and one-half mills.
This announcement will come as good
news TO thousands of tax payers who
have been led by Seattle newspapers OPP
posed TO the present city administration
70 believe that a large increase in the
city's running expenses for the coming
year was TO be authorized and provided
for IN the tax levy. The truth is that
notwithstanding the city's rapid growth
and the increasing demands Of all depart
,nents in consequence, property owners
viii be asked TO pay but about $4,000 more
than for the present year.
That the smaller levy to be announced
tomorrow nigh. will raise more money
than the levy last fall Ia explained by
the fact that the assessed valuation OF
the city this year r. $1,000 greater than
last year. as II shown by a statement pre-
scented 10 the council Monday night by
County Auditor Evenson. This statement
shows the present assessed valuation OF
the city to be s4o,i4s.2s5, as compared
with sS2.oo.0oo in round figures last
year
The finance committee has determined
10 allow for the running expenses OF the
city In 1901 1904. 2344s having by judicious
pruning reduced to that amount the total
OF the estimates presented by the heads
OF the different city departments aggre-
eating originally the enormous sum OF
81 s39 6aG, which was fully $4,000 In ex-
cess OF the amount allowed for running
expenses by the council a year ago.
IL was this big increase in the estimat-
ed running expenses of the city that had
alarmed taxpayers. The estimates last
year were pared down to 1894. 500 making
the difference between the budgets OF
1890 and 1901 $69,43iB. OF this difference,
however. $4,000 II chargeable to the Ce-
dar river water system warrant interest
fund, and not 10 actual running expenses,
and this amount Is 800 in excess of the
amount allowed last year for the same
purpose.
Hence the actual difference between the
estimated expense OF the city for the
two years Ii exactly 81, ", which sum
the people OF the city will pay through
the Increase OF the assessed valuation 81
the city. With the tax levy lower than
ever before.
The amount TO be raised by taxation
~ tho city this year is iss46.5i. the
largest allowance being made for the Are
department. which II IL estimated will
cost during the coming year $4,000. For
Cedar river water warrant interest s6a-
500 Is allowed. and for bond interest $iT6,-
90 The balance of the 1904. 23i4s esti-