The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-09-29
POINTS THE WAY TO
HOLD DOWN Tx LEVY.
Commercial club Submits Carefnlly Compiled Report
to- the 7a;r Leyy Board-7emdemcy to Make Disbro-
boyti0nnte Increase IN 7n:res Is Noted and
Places to Cnt Are Indicated. u.

Something more than mere protest
against high tax rate was ssubmltte,1
to the: board of tax levy this morning
by Wallace G. Nye for the Commercial
club In a long and carefully COM
piled document it was not only pointed
out that the levy was increasing at a
isproportionate rate, but the way to
retrench was specifically indicated. The
report in full follows:
Tax Rate Advancing.
The assessed valuation on which the
taxes levied for 1905 will be based is ap-
proximately $4,000, 900.
To raise the amount necessary for 1905
for the funds where the rate is fixed by
law and to supply the sums asked for by
the county and city departments will re-
quire rate of 31.60 mills, or $4,000, 900.
The total tax levied one year ago for
1904 was $3,660,000, against $3,070,000 for
1908, an increase of $590,000 or almost
20 per cent. Notwithstanding saving
Of $4,000 is possible in the city and
county election funds the amount asked
for next year is a further increase of
10000, or about 10 per cent. Such an
increase, over 80 per cent in two years,
is out of all proportion to the increase
in valuations or in other lines of city de-
velopment The high taxes Of this year
caused general complaint, and we believe
strong effort should be made not only
| to prevent any increase for next year,
but to reduce the total levy considerably
below the amount raised this year.
We believe that improving the water
system is the most important work now
before us, and that every other improve
ment which can possibly be postponed
S fn 1,otSJ hot oor,fy j,,o
provement is completed.
| There are, we realize, the following
funds in which no change is possible, the
| rates being fixed by statute or condi-
tons:
Mills
| State revenue fund :::...;>.; ........... sc
interest fund Observation-Disclosures. 300
City hall Certificate fund - -
There are also the following funds to
be provided for in which little If any
reduction can be made from the esti-
mates, which will require rates as fol-
| lows: =
| Mills
| Gity park fund 1.5C
This leaves for consideration the follow
ing funds for which changes may be
made: ..,. =, " .4..- -
| County revenue. .
Current expense
| Permanent improvements.
| Board Of education
| Charities and corrections.
| Ward street funds.
These funds we have analysed anG
submit with reference to each the fol
lowing recomme ndations:
County Revenue Fund.
The commissioners request for thi
fund next year $461,665, of which $685.
S55 will be received from other sources
leaving 1855, $50 to be raised by taxation
This amount is $19;191 less than for 1904
| the reduction arising mainly from cut
ting out the items of SO. 900 for elections
and $4,000 for vault furniture.
Most of the county expenses are fxet
by statute and about the only item
which can be changed are those for road
and bridges, lake improvements and car
Of courthouse
IT,: We desire to see work continue 0,
county roads and at the lake, and do no
recommend any material reduction II
the amounts asked therefor namel,
$4,000 for roads and SIC, 000 for lake i'm
provements. We do believe however
that the cost Of maintaining the court
house is excessive and that materia
saving can be effected in that item if
less sum is allowed by the board of tai
levy. .,x .x..,~-. .......-.r
The amount asked requires a levy O
$50 mills. We believe a reduction O
$4,000 can be made in the three items
last named, and the rate by that mean
reduced to $50.
Current Expense Fund. ..
For this fund, from which the expenses
of ALI city departments, except the waite
department, are met, the estimates cal
for $1,3o7,66 Of which it is estimated
s505,000 will be derived from licenses
etc. This leaves sSo2,663 to be ralse'
from taxation, requiring levy of 6.2
mills.
Every department, except those Of tn
city clerk, city assessor and municipa
court, asks for an increase We can Sc
i7no~ reason for such increases, except in
few cases. 4 -~sr ... :. -+-
The fire department in 1900 cost 1928, 90
and $685. 200 is asked for next year. Thi
increase in expense is, it seems to us
too great, and should be curtailed by tn
allowance Of no more than the department
had this year. We are not in favor of a.
allowance for additional policemen
The health department asks NOR
money for garbage removal. We approx
the collection of garbage at public ex
pense but submit that on account of tn
I long haul to the crematory the work
costing Iully one third more than
should. We suggest the system be nc
extended until the crematory is locate
more centrally or some less expensiv
means Of transporting the :. garbage
secured. <.+.s,
The building inspector asks s16.74,
which is $500 more than was expende
IN 1903, an Increase of over so per cen
NO increase should be allowed
The item of $33, 100 for maintaining III
city hall is open to the same criticism a
the similar item for the county, Sixty
live thousand dollars is much more tina
,: it should cost to maintain this buildin,
, and the appropriation should not be ir
!. creased. -.. =
> For this year s2oo,o27 was allowed ff
street lighting and We understand th9
such amount has been exceeded by s24
: 600, making the cost s224,O0o. To cor
t1nue the same schedule in force this VET
S and pay the deficit, will require SEAS 90
D No more should be allowed.
. The saving resulting from the forep,
ing suggestions amounts to S11e,229 x
\ believe that by eliminating the ano,,
e asked for pounds and refusing the n,
9 mands for small Increases in the vor;o,
: FUNDS enough more can be saved So n,
fund can be cared for by a rate NOT .,
ceeding 5 mills. w .
Permanent improvements r,nd