Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1906-03-10
WAUWATOSA CRAZY
ON TAXATION.

II n
AS the time for another municipal
election in the city of Wauwatosa draws
near. quite a number of comparisons are
being INDUCED in, and among others the
question of taxation seems TO afford
serious stumbling block for some OF the
alleged Wauwatosa reformers. A few
figures from the official city records may
ASSIST in these attempted explanations.
That this question is making trouble tor
the head center of the combination at
present controlling and directing the
Wauwatosa government was manifested
a few days ago when the head center
remarked to a street car companion that
the "Wauwatosa people were crazy on
the question of taxation"
Perhaps he had not then examined the
figures.
During the last two years Of ex-May-
or E. d. Hoyt's administration there
was raised by taxation in the city OF
Wauwatosa for all city and school pur-
poses the following sums: In 1902,
school purposes, $7167; general purposes.
S12,670 in 1903 school purposes,
S7743. rs; general purposes, $11,SS4,
making an aggregate amount raised dur
ing the said years for city and school
purposes of $39,473,1S.
During the two years of Mayor God
frey's administration there has been
raised by taxation for the same purposes
the following sums: In 1904, school
purposes, $84S6.74 general purposes,
$19,102.21; in 1905, school purposes,
$10,266.56; general purposes, S17952.61,
making an aggregate amount raised dur
ing the two years Of 1904 and 1905 I'M
der Mayor Godfrey administration for
city and school purposes of 500, S0S.1S,
from which it will be observed that the
people of Wauwatosa have been obliged
TO pay in city taxation alone during May
OF Godfrey's administration for city pur
poses the modest e. sum OF $40
3344O more than they were called to|
pay for all city and school taxes during
the last two years Of Mayor Hoyt's adj
ministration. and being an increase of
over forty-one (41) per cent. in the
amount Of taxation necessary to keep
up the reform administration.
1t has been asserted during the past
week that the reason why taxes have
been increased in Wauwatosa during the
rust TWO years is due to the state and
county tax. but in the face Of an in
crease of S1633440, as above shown, !
for city taxes alone during such period, |
the explainers don't seem to he able to
satisfactorily explain. even to them
selves, with the state and county tax
theory. and so they or their principal
spokesman concludes that "Wauwatosl
people are crazy on the subject Of taxa
ton"
But is the increase in taxation in the |
city of Wauwatosa during the past two |
ears due to state and county taxes |
II so, then the figures will. Of course. |
have to prove it, During the last two
years of Mayor Hoyt's administration
there was raised in Wauwatosa city, for
state and county taxes, the following
items:
In 19oe-State tax, school loan.
county tax and county school
tax, being all taxes other than
city and city school taxes...... $14. $50 Is
In l903-Same purposes ......... Is, 375 81
Total of above during Mayor
Hoyts term ............... SOS, 2jS ~
During the two years of Mayor God
frey's administration there was raised in
Wauwatosa for the same purposes In
1901 fer state, county, county school
and special county charge Il total of Sill -
1864; in 1908, same purposes $13.05J-
.01, making total Of above during May
or Godfrey'S term of S25, 0S19J
From these figures it will be observed
that instead of explaining the increase OF
taxation during Mayor Godfrey's term
on the alleged increase of state and coun-
ty tax theory during such term, there
was an actual decrease during the God
frey administration in the state and
county tax item concerning which Wan
watosa officials had no control Of
$3176.53 and the whole increase Of $1G,-
334. 40 during the Godfrey adniniStra ton
therefore stands charged to the extra
ordinary increase of over II per cent in
city expenses.
Is there any wonder that the Wan.
watcsa taxpayers are a little nervous on
the question of taxation?