Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-04-24
SUBSCR|P PT|ON
PLAN OFFERED
IN TAX MATTER
Number Of Business Men
Propose to Raise $4,000
as Gift to City if Taxes
are Not Increased.

the increased valuations placed on Of
tumwa property by the new commits
sion plan council, sitting as board OF
equalization-increa that add about
a million and half to the valuation
of property situated mostly in the
original plat-was approached from an
other angle today when a. subscrip-
tion plan was taken up by number
of business men. The leading property
owners, those who would be called
upon to stand the greatest part Of the
increase in taxation, were asked to
sign a subscription paper toward a
fund OF $1,000 or $4,000 which it was
planned to present to the city on con-
dition that no changes whatever be
made in the taxes this year.
The Subscription Plan.
1t was argued In behalf of this plan
that II taxes on the increased valua-
tions were levied on a basis of 100
mills, the present total levy for city.
county, state and school, more than
100000 would be brought in whi1-Sll the
city would receive in the two funds in
which there Is shortage, the general
fund and light fund, would be about
$4,000. The remainder of the money
raised from taxes would 60 to special
city funds, where it is not needeu, and
to the county, state and school funds.
where no demand for increased funds
from taxation has been requested.
"In a word" said one of the business
men behind the subscription plan, "our
proposition Is that we should not be
taxed 100000 in order to raise $4,000.
and we would rather raise $4,000, or 60
little better and make 1t $4,000,
right hut sol our pockets and present 1T
to the city than pay the Increased
taxes, when the bulk or the taxes will
go to the county and schools where
the money is not needed" t-,
Z Not Favored by Council.
The members of the city council are
known to look on the plan with dis
favor First they raise question as
to the legality of wiping out all the In
creased valuations after once having
passed on them and without showing
of just cause for reduction being made.
They say that II they would reduce the
valuations placed on these properties,
many Of which have been doubled,
there Is no reason why all the citi.
zens should not come In and ask that
their valuations be reduced proper
tionately. Furthermore, they believe
that a subscription taken now would
only have a temporary effect and
would compel the taking up Of the
The matter was taken up with the
council by the business men, but no
Official action was taken and 1t is the
plan of the business men to secure the
pledges on the subscription papers and
then present the matter again to the
council
viii Reduce City Levy.
Members Of the council say that the
city levy will be reduced next Sep
tember when the new levy is made.
At present 1t has not been determined
whether greater reduction than five
mills can be made, but several of the
special funds will stand reduction.
The councilmen believe the school
board will be able to make reduc-
tion, as greater fund will be avail
able for school purposes, based on the
increased valuations Whether the
county will decrease the present levy
or make some increases in farm valua-
tions is not known The state levy, Of
course, Is fixed, and cannot be
changed.
The present total levy of 109 mills is
made up as follows:
City levy ..... .................. 48.0
School levy ...... ....... 1875
County and state levy .......... It's
Total law 100 n