Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-04-11
.R|CHMOND's TAX RATE
IS ABNORMALLY LOW
Special Accountant Cofer Gives Com
parative Statistics of
Value.
NO STREET ASSESSMENTS HERE
Most Cities of This Size, in Addition
to Higher Levy, Collect Large
Sums by Local Assessments for
Street Paving.

The city's tax levy. signed by Mayor
Ainslie on Friday. changes the rate OF
taxation per s1o0 from Sl.i0 to Sl.65.
the change being made TO conform to
recent acts OF the General Assembly
changing the States method Of taxa
ton. Tables prepared by City Special
Accountant Cotcr show that there is no
increase in the total TO hc paid by the
property owner, when both city and
State taxes are considered. The table
shows the same total AS TO real estate
and personal property and an actual
decrease III the tax on intangihlcs,
bonds. stocks and tiduciarics.
Under the old system the tax on real
estate was $40 fer tho city, and 80
cents for the state, making 4 total of
31.I5. Under tho new system the State
releases most of this tax to the cities
In rctuSn for certain corporation taxes.
the state only levyine "a lo-ccnt school
tax on real estate. The city. there
fore, has fined its tax on real estate and
personal property at $l.65, making the
total sl.15. as ;lcretcforo When il is
remembered that the average assess
mcnt of property in Richmond is at
about 50 per cent of its actual market
value, MIR. Cofer calculates that this is
the actual equivalent OF a tax OF sl.37
on the 500 OF actual market values
TAN RATE HERE Is
ABNOWMAI.LY Low
When i; is considered that except for
sidewalks and alleys there is no form of
local assessment for public improve
ments II is shown by Mr.. Cofer that this
tax rate is ahncrmally low.
His table gives the following cities
having population Of from 10000 TO
10000 with their actual tax rate and
the supplemental sum paid by the citi-
zens in the form Of local assessments
Tor street improvements:
Atlanta, Ga. tax rate. Sl.J6; amount
paid by citizens for street improve
ments in addition to all other taxes.
f3S7.Tl2.
Birmingham. Ala, tax rate, Sl.l5;
4mount paid by citizens for street i'm
provements. in addition TO all other
taxes. sT5l.iii
New Haven. Conn. tan rate, sl.75;
amount paid by citizens for street i'm
provements in addition to all other
taxes, S2..ali
Oakland. Cal, tax rate. iis5: amount
paid by citizens for street improvements
in addition to all other taxes. Sl,iS3.?S3.
Paterson. y. j.. taN rate. $l.16; amount
paid by citizens for street improvements
in addition to all other taxes. Sl27.,74.
Syracuse, y. Y, tax rate. $3.50; amount
paid by citizens for street improve
ments in addition TO all other taxes,
1851.
Toledo, -, tax rate. $40; amount
paid by citizens for street improves
m.nts in edition TO all other taxes.
S29S,7is.
Worcester. Mass, tax rate, Sl76;
amount paid by citizens for street i'm
rrovements in addition 10 all other
taN1s, s72,5S?.
COMPARISON WITH
LESSER CITIES
Taking group Of lesser cities hav-
ing a census population of from 100000
TO $4,000. Nj. Cofer makes the follow
ing comparison:
Albany, y. Y, tax rate. Sis: addi-
tionii street assessments. sl4s,63S.
Can bridge. Mass. tax rate. S204: adj
ditional street assessment. $3t,2v9.
Dayton. Ohio. tax rate. S@.l6; addi-
tionai street assessment. il.5,.ao.
FALL River, Mass. tax rate, S2oc; adj.
ditionsl street assessment, $1,000.
Lowell, Mass. tax rate. Sl.20; no re-
port as to street assessment.
Nashville, Tenn, tax rate, S2.4 no
report as TO street assessment.
Omaha. Neh, tax rate. SIT0; add.
t!onai street assessment. st5o,O6o
Spokane. Wash. tax rate, Sl.52,.; al.
ditiopal street assessment, sl,ll2,274