The San Francisco call., 1910-06-08
CITY TAX RATE
MAY BE Higher
City Assessor Gross Decides
From Partial Estimates on
Probable Raise

OAKLAND. June Although all of
the estimates called for by City As
SCISSOR George Gross from the various
departments Of the city government for
use Ia fixing the tax rate for the next
fiscal year and for computing the vari-
Gus amounts TO be appropriated in the
annual budget have not yet been re-
ceived, il is evident from the esti-
mates which have been submitted that
a slight increase in the tax rate will
be necessary.
The estimates which have been sub
mitted TO date are as follows:
Street department .....-.-.....-. SG0l .S94 90
PARK commission .......-..,.-...... 53I, ,332 30
Cirv clerks Office OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 93. 800
Street lighting ..--.......--.-.-..- 131, $500
FIGURES NOT PREDICTED
In discussing the possibility OF an
ipcreased tax rate for the coming year
auditor Gross said that ii would be
impossible for him TO predict the exact
: figures at this time owing to the fact
that the estimate for the maintenance of
the police and fire departments, two of
the largest items in the city's annual
expense bill have not yet been submit
ted. while the estimate submitted by
the superintendent Of streets is merely
a tentative one and that of the city
clerk viii probably have to be in
creased. Last year the appropriation
for the city clerks Office was but $685.
645. but during the next year several
city elections viii greatly swell the eX-
pense of conducting the office, while
the printing of the new city charter
viii entail a large expenditure
The cost of lighting the city streets
viii be considerably greater during the
coming year than 1T has been during
the one Just ending because hundreds
Of new electrOliers have been installed.
The amount asked for the mainte-
nance Of the street department this
year. S601.S94. Is nearly double the sum
allotted TO the department last year,
which amounted to but. s323,00O. The
greatest increase asked by Superin-
tendent Of Streets Howe in his esti-
mate for 1901 is for sewers. He be-
lieves that the city's sewerage depart
ment win cost $4,000
superintendent of Streets Howe's es-
innate in detail is as follows:
Old city-Iabor. SIS65I9: Supplies ST7. 400:
new equipment s. 500; street Improvements.
S56 500: street maintenance. S1O.615; asphalt
plant. $500; land lease. S1.200: steam asphalt
sewers S29.oJ0 This makes total for the
old city Of S439 s94.
Annexed district-Labor for street work and
sewers S632f5: new equipment. S69,505; street
Improvement. Sl9-2J0: sewers. catch holes, cul-
TeCtS. etc. $1,000 Total Tor annexed district
Sl6z.o00 Grand total. S60l, S94.
s'The tax rate will not be fixed until
August or possibly September said
Gross. and it would be impossible for
me to say now just what the figure
win be. but even If il is necessary to
increase the rate on city property 1
understand that the county and state
tax will probably be lowered, so that
the total taxes which must be paid by
city property holders viii probably not
be in excess Of last year"
Last years tax rate was S1.26 in the
city Of Oakland, the finance committee
of the city council deeming II necessary
TO increase the figure proposed by Au-
ditor Gross. who suggested s1.20 in his
preliminary report
IN the estimate Of the park commits
sion for the coming year provision is
made for the purchase Of MosswOod
park, as well as the Merritt hospital
property on the shores of Lake Merritt.