Smyrna times., 1903-05-13
COUNCIL HEARS APPEALS
FROM ASSESSMENT LIST
GRANT BUT FEW REQUESTS AND WILL BASE
TAX RATE ON TOTAL OF SI,OS4,7z5.
Much Discussion on Fixing Of Tax Rate For
Ensuing Year but Council Adjourned Until
Friday Evening to Settle Same.

Ensuing Year but Council Adjourned Until
Friday Evening to Settle Same.
At the meeting of the Smyrna Town
Council last Friday evening all were
present when the appeals were taken
up for consideration. There were
fewer appeals made from the assess
ment of Joseph E. Carter this year
than is usually the case and only
small percentage of these were chang
ed by the Council. These we're: Coun-
Gilman Wright property on East
street, assessed at $1,000 was changed
to $1,000; the Misses Denney property
on Union street assessed at $1,000 was
changed to $1,000; w. W. Tschudy
heirs, property in tenure of Squire
| Tilghman on Commerce street assessed
$500 changed to $1,000; Mrs. En- ma
r. Hall property on Delaware street
assessed at $4,000 changed to $500,
and James Taylor estate, property on
Delaware street, assessed at $500,
changed to $500; property assessed to
Tschudy heirs changed to Charles
Bitter; property belonging to Tschudy
heirs found not assessed. was fixed at
$500. When these deductions were
made, the Assessment List tOtaled up
to 81, ,0S4, ,725.
Those whose appeals were turned
down were: James Roberts, Abel j.
Porter estate, Miss Luella Buckmaster,
Mrs. Hanna James, George D. Collins,
the Misses Hurlock, Mrs. S. f. Peeky
Mrs. Mary E. Voshell, w. w. Tschudy
estate, j. E. DeFord. One lot was
changed from Tschudy estate to r. P.
Mason; piece of property belonging to
Rachel Jefferson was changed to
Thomas Page, and lot assessed tc
George W. Tilghman was taken off.
The Fixing of the Tax Rate on Property.
With the final completion of the
Assessment List, next came the fixing
of the tax rate for the ensuing veal
and after a lengthy discussion it was
decided to adjourn the meeting until
Friday evening in order to look into
details more closely. Councilman
Stockly was in favor of increasing the
tax rate to 35c. on the 800 and to in
crease the rental on electric lights
about 25 per cent. He gave consider.
f able data bearing on the question. The
running expenses of the town figured
on the basis of last years statement
, including salaries, interest on bonds
! coal and all expenses was $12, 1881. 90
{ and the revenues derived from lights
! water, sewer, &C., were figured a
r about $S, 100000, leaving the balance tC
> be raised by taxes. With the tax rat,
the same as last year there would be
shortage at the end of the year, con
. sidering tn e improvements that ar,
contemplated at the Electric Ligh
Plant, but with the rate five cent
more on the hundred dollars, and al
: increase of about 25 per cent in the
light rates, the Council will be able t,
see their way through. Other mem
/ bers did not take to the plan of in
9 creasing the light rates and thought i
/ better to increase the tax rates to 4
.. cents on the 800. but it was pointe,
f out that Smyrna had cheaper light
q than any town on the Peninsula an,
: the consumers who get the benefit o
s this light ought to be willing to pa
g more than cosl-oil prices. In fac
. there were some in the Council VIII,
j favored putting the whole system Of
e meters and charge accordingly. !
# would mean an outlay of $500 or $1OO
y to supply the town with suficien
j. number of meters, but in time til
;. Town would make up this expense i
l. saving of coal. This matter, however
will be gone into more fully at th
s meeting Friday evening.
2 The following bills were allowed
a Sylvanus Rose, trimming trees, &c. 0S
o Adams Express Company, $1.8C
|. Samuel Armstrong, for poles, So. OF
J. Total, $14.03.
UINI0D OpDFp AMPkICAN MECHANICS