Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1910-06-18
IN FAVOR OF BOND ISSUE
Former City Official Writes On
Burning Question" Before
The Tax Payers.
TAX RATE SHOULD BE CUT
Rate Should Not Be Higher Than Scots
On The SI00 Balance For COntin-
genoies Still Ample.
Annapolis. Nd. June is. IL

]
After giving the question of the
proposed issue of bonds the best
/ thought can. have decided to vote
for it, believe the improvements
to which the proceeds of the bonds
will be devoted are necessary and
that they will greatly benefit our al
ready splendidly improved city.
believe further that the fact that we
have the services of a highly qualified
engineer without additional expense,
makes the improvements particularly
economical at this time. Finally.
it appears to me that the financial
condition of the city at this time is
properly set out in the statement of
the finance commission, and it is made
clear that the Indebtedness can be
carried without difficulty.
There is related question, however,
that wish to discuss at the begin
ming, because / believe il to be of the
utmost Importance. 1t is the matter
of reduction of the tax rate. The
statement issued by the finance COM
mission shows an estimated balance of
$S,492.1S. Roughly speaking. two
and a-half cents on the tax rate rails
es 81, 900 on the estimated basis of
something over $4,000 600. The
questions therefore present them
selves: why levy for a balance of
over $4,000, when a balance of 81, 600
is ample?" and Why not be satisfied
with the estimated balance of $4,000
and cut the rate to 80 cents?'
If the members of the Council have
confidence in the figures of their
finance commission, no reason can be
given for so large a balance. | be-
lieve that the figures are accurate.
| cannot see why SO large a balance
should be wanted. The Council will
have enough to do in carrying out the
improvements under the bond issue
during the coming year, and should
not wish to undertake others. lit
will be necessary shortly to mend some
of the macadam pavements and re-
coat nearly the whole of them with the
bituminous compound, but this, | am
informed by most competent author
ity, will cost about $500. Some fire
hose is badly needed, but this can be
purchased for about 5000 Thus,
over 50, 500 will still be left for con-
tingencies, an ample sum.
Under these circumstances, | hope
the Council will fix the rate at so
cents, should the bond issue be ap-
proved. In talking this matter over
with persons acquainted with the con-
ditions, | have found general agree
ment that the rate should be reduced,
but some appear to think that reduc-
tion of five cents is sufficient this
year. do not think so. There is alb
solutely no reason why the balance for
contingencies should be over $4,000.
A larger sum would be constant
temptation to those having charge of
it to spend it for things which are
not absolutely necessary. Under these
conditions, again assuming that the
finance commission has confidence in
the figures it has given the public,
greater rate than so cents on the dol
lar would be wrong.
This community needs lower taxes.
The high total rate is, am con-
WINGED, the thing which stands more
than anything else in the way of its
progress. It's advantages are not
equalled anywhere in the state. It's
beauty and heaithfulness of situa-
tion, historic and present interest and
other things which makes it an ideal
home town. Probably we do not pay
more for what we get than other
places certainly not as far as mu-
nicipal advantages go-but still, no
opportunity should be lost to decrease
this drain upon our taxpayers. With
n cut in tn county rate of cents, and
an increase of the school tax of 3, we
have an actual decrease of five cents
here. Ten cents lower on the city
rate means a total of Is cents, and
would mean a real relief to the tax
payers.
The present City Council has a
splendid opportunity. The proposed
improvements practically complete
the general scheme of former issues.
Let them accomplish this. and at the
same tine reduce the rate to so
cents, and / believe its record will
be unequalled. IT will set a figure
beyond which the rate will probably
nut Tlses anu lueTe can De RTa0ual
reduction as the bonds of the differ
ent issues mature. Additional squares
of pavement can easily be laid from
the levy, and can see no reason why
there should be more bond issues, at
least until our vitrified brick pave
ments wear out.
/ believe all the money raised under
the proposed bond issue will be well
expended. The paving of the re-
mainder of West street has been nec-
essary for years, and involves too
| large sum to be raised from the
levy. Nothing has actually been
| paid on the Rescue Hose House, as the
money was raised by note, the note
being met at the beginning of one
fiscal year, only to have a like sum
borrowed towards the end of it.
Second street is almost completely
lined with houses and it should be
paved. These three items make ur
| most of the proposed expenditures