The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1905-08-31
GEORGIA TAX RATE FIXED
Eioures Are Increased Ten Cents on
the $1,000 from Rate Of Last Year.
A Deficit Unavoidable.

A Deficit Unavoidable.
The state tax rate to be paid by
Georgians who own property this year
will be $4.sO On the $1,000, an increase
OF ten cents on every thousand dollars
worth Of property over the rate Of last
year.
The increase was due to the addi-
tional appropriations made by the leg
islature this year, which were for the
various public institutions and the
school fund.
Governor Terrell and Comptroller
Wright had meeting Thursday morn
ing, and when the figures showing
total value OF the taxable property
in the state were presented them they
agreed that in order to meet the ap-
preparations a slight increase in the
rate would be necessary. The rate CT
$3.50 was therefore agreed upon.
Even at the increased rate there will
be a deficit in the school fund of $780,
900 or $4,000 which will have to be
borrowed by the governor, unless the
suits for back taxes which are pend.
ing against the Georgia railroad and
the Central of Georgia railroad re set.
tied. In this event it will not be neces.
sry to make a. loan.
The total value Of all property in
Georgia this year amounts to $685.
7SS,S29, which taxed at the rate OF
s4.9O, will bring in total revenue
in round numbers of s4,00O.OOO. This,
with the numerous special taxes, will
increase the amount some.
While this rate is 10 cents more
than that of last year, it will still
be 10 cents under the constitutional
limit of mills, or S. on $1,000.
In the general tax bill of 1904 un.
der which the levy for 1865 is made,
the legislature fixed the limit at 4.SS
mills, Of which it was provided that
3.0S mills should be for general pur-
poses, IL mills for school purposes
and 2 mills for the sinking fund.
The tax hill in, question presents a
rather peculiar situation. Although 1t
fixed the levy for school purposes at
$1.7o on $1,000, even with the great
increase s45,OOo.Oo0 in property val
ues, that levy will fail to raise the
81, 100000 appropriated for Schools
by something over 100000. The differ
ence wifi, of course, have to be made
up from the general fund or by a
temporary loan.
Even if the tax rate for 1905 were
fixed at the full limit allowed by the
legislature Of $49S, the amount raised
on a basis Of s57O,O0O,0e0 Of taxable
property, would still fall short of me
amount needed for the expenses OF
the state government.
This is due to the fact that the leg:s'
latures of 1904 and 1905 appropriated
for the current year some S3SS,o0e
more than for 1904. OF this there is
5000, 900 additional on the school fund,
$4,000 made available at once for
new waterworks plant at the state
sanitarium, $4,000 tor the state r.
formatory, and various other amounts
for deficits in the salary list, pension
fund and other matters.
Investigation has demonstrated that
the extra amount appropriated cannot
be entirely secured from taxation even
with the limit Of $4.9S allowed, and
even though there has been this year
an Increase Of s45.0oO,ooo in the tax
able property Of the state.
In any event, the governor will have
to negotiate temporary loan to meet
the expenses OF 1905, Of something
like 100000. =.
It is anticipated, however, that this
sum will be made up, largely, from in
creased specific and occupation taxes