The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-08-15
NO RAISE IN TAXES
COUNTY RATE FOR 1902 WILL
BE $685. PER THOUSAND.
SAME RATE AS LAST YEAR
COMMISSIONERS CERTAIN THEY'LL
BE ABLE TO HOLD 1T DOWN.

However, No Decrease in the Rate Is
in PrOspect-QuestiOns of Budget
and Tax Rate Considered by Board
in Secret SessiOn-Chairman Lath-
rOp States the Conclusions Reach
ed-NO Abandonment of Works OF
Public Improvement Thought to
BE Neccssary-Last Years Rate on
This Years Digest, with state
Quota, VIII Give County About
1925, 900 in Revenue.
There will be no increase in the
rate of taxation for Chatham county
for the current year. While the Coun-
ty Commissioners do not think it at
all likely they will be able to reduce
the rate their confidence that they
will be in a position to keep it at the
same figure as last year, 1856 per 81, 600,
approaches certainty.
The questions of the budget and tax
rate were discussed in secret session at
the meeting of the commissioners yes
terday afternoon, and while no deci-
sive action was taken it was generally
agreed that the necessity for raising
the rate would not be found to exist.
This was after careful consideration
of all the circumstances connected
with the proposed expenditure of mon
ey by the county.
After the meeting Chairman F. S.
Lathrop said to a Morning News re-
porter that the existing apprehension
as to the increase in the tax rate
would in all proba bility be removed
when the rate is fixed.
Chairman Lathrop's Views.
I'VE have gone into the matter as
well as we could" said Mr.. Lathrop.
land l believe we will be able to
raise sufficient revenue to run the
county without any increase in the
rate of taxation over that for last
year. However, l don't think de-
crease in taxation at all probable, and
the rate will probably remain where it
was last year.
Nor will this involve any abandon
ment of the public improvements on
which the county has determined. The
principal and most expensive work of
this character is the surfacing of La
Roche avenue and other roads in that
section with gravel, the purpose being
to afford a continuous paved loop be-
tween Isle of Hope and the city. The
money to effect this improvement, for
the most part, will not be needed for
three or four months, and by that
time 1t will be on hand. For the
other expenses of the county we think
tax rate Of $7.56 per 81 900 will pro-
vide as well.
In addition to the amount raised
by local taxation the county is entitled
ceive a large sum from the state,
as its proportion of the taxes on rail-
roads. We are deferring positive ac-
ton as to the rate until we can find
out what this sum will be-"
Got $25, 900 Last Year.
Last year the county received from
the state about 5000 and as consid-
cradle additions to the property re-
turned directly to the controller gem
eral for taxation have been made since
then, it is likely, if the state tax rate
remains the same, that Chatham coun-
tvs share will be increased. Controller
General Wright has already said he
saw no good reason to hope the state
rate will be lowered; as 1t has reached
the constitutional maximum, it cannot
be increased.
hCAC 10 CNCIy iCdSOAl 10 DellGN0,
then, that from the state the county
will get at least $4,000. Upon the val
uation of property in the county as it
appears in the digest a tax rate of
$7.56 will mean a revenue of about
$236,000, and taking from this about
Sc, 900 for taxes that will not be made
will leave $230,000. which, with $25, 900
fromthe state, will give the county
$255, 900 In revenue. This means an in
crease of more than $4,000 over the
budget of estimated expenditures made
in March, without considering the in
come from delinquent tax fl fas,
amounting usually to several thusand
dollars a year.
1t is upon considerations like this
that the opinion Chairman Lathrop and
his colleagues on the board have reach
ed is based.
Authorized to Borrow $4,000.
The commissioners passed an order
authorizing the chairman to borrow
$4,000, in such sums and at such times
as 1t may become needed, to supply
casual deficiencies in the revenue Not
anything like this amount of money
is needed at present and a loan of $751;
900 only will be secured. The other
will be obtained as 1t is needed.
The loans will be secured from the
local banks on such terms as may be
agreed upon between the parties. The
credit of the county is always good,
and there is never any difficulty in Sc
curing on easy terms all the money
that is needed,