The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-04-05
COMMUNICATIONS.
From the Mayor.

= April 4. 1911.
NTo the Honorable the Common Council
ocntismen--In order TO clear up 9
!. rate OF taxation in the City OF Detroit
= under its charter addressed q commun-
ication to Corporation Counsel p. J. ~.
s 0S:s. . ,S, him ag, for ., formal opinion
future deliberations OF your honorable
Body In reference to estimates. and
,ltherefore respectfully request OF you that
~ attached). part OF the records OF your
= Respectfully submitted.
WIN. b. THOMPSON.
Mayor.
Honorable WIN. n. Thompson. MAYOR.
Detroit
= Dear sIr-You ask what II the limit of
the rate OF taxation in the City OF De
troit. In reply thereto have the honor
The charter (section 22a) creates
nftesn dinerent funds. Other provisions
either OF the charter or Of the local acts
charter. create several additional funds.
Besides these, there has grown up from
the action OF the Board OF Estimates
ana the Common Council a reference to
J, fund, Belle Isle bridge fund. market
(, fund. etc.
The last subdivision OF the section Of
tne charter already referred to empow-
Tun0e
for special purposes. but they must mot
% inconsistent with nor TO be taken from
any OF the foregoing mentioned funds =
TIE council has not by formal action
oroated any OF these bookkeeping funds
put has passfvely aoauiesed in their es-
tabtishment
: One OF these funds constituted in this
= feshion Y referred to as the Department
A reference to this fund In the charter
q but fts character is not defined, nor lie
4 there any indication to show what APP
n proprfations are to be included in H.
Tis fund In the charter Is an empty
! refer to these various funds because
i IL 10 my desire to classify them as the
! provisions OF the charter intend tina,
they should be classified
N think II within the power of the
Uncommon Council TO create q public bath
10 house fund, provided the money tina,
goes Into IL Is not for the purpose OF
las was contemplated should be met out
OF some fund already established by law
n The hrst provision OF the section OF
the charter referred to says that the
the expenses of the City. for the pay.
y ment OF which there Is no other provi-
n Sion This would seem 10 indicate that
y wherever the charter In silent upon the
~ question OF expenditure OF money, and
Il no fund Is constituted for that purpose
ID ersl fund.
The general fund from time immem
etof officers. and take care OF the cur
aren't expenses OF the various depart
tments. For instance, the salaries tn,
Il repairs. improvements, the light power
N and fuel Of the Art Museum are paiC
a FOR out Of the general fund: and tn,
4 same fund pays the salaries OF YOU
~ office. or the Law office. OF the boart
g OF estimates. the Common Council, cit,
ri ri froa - ar ~.
ket fund Is used for an identcally sim
liar purpose. taking care Of the genera
expenses. including salaries Of that par
sr ss rund tss same Tss Bs Ds s Il:
IL said OF all these IL equally true o
the Public Works Department genera
= fund
* These expenditures being identica
4 with the expenditures already create
- and provided for by the general FUND
2 could not be said to be special and A
z such warrant under the charter bein
: placed In independent funds. because.
the Common Council could do this
would then be possible. by the creatio
OF various funds. 20 take care of eac
!, particular set OF items In the genera
!. mind. to entirely destroy the characte
!. ~ that FUND and thus avoid the limlta
a ton which II placed upon the taxin
I power OF the city,
4 Taking that page Of the pamphle
I which IL marked Estimates for 1911
and which. In the front part has a re-
4 capitulation OF the estimates. the FOL
! lowing funds must for the purpose @
Z this opinion. and within the intent q
4 the charter, be considered a part OF IN
4 general fund: Department OF publ
!. works general fund: public bath nous
!. fund. market fund. and Belle Isle bridg
section asa Of the charter provide
! that.
''7axes may be annually levied. as
= ssssed and collected for the purpose q
supplying the general fund, contingen
funf fire commission fund. poor com
rni~cIon fnnd. general road fund an
Eecor&ers Court fund not exceeding on
per cant OF ths Hssessed value Of all res
!. And Dersoaed eatate In the city"
IT, neans that the sum total appro
| D11n>e6 for the purposes OF these vsriou
! -. nost not exceed one per cent o