Evening journal., 1915-03-20
LEVY court TANGLE
dates BACK 10 Years
lContinued From PAGE 81

as then constituted. consisted of Pres
ident Willitts, Philemma Chandler,
Isaac G. Elliott. John J. Mealey,
Charles e. Megginson, John G. Arm
strong and S. Frank Ewart. Finding
that the so cent tax rate produced suf-
flcient revenue to meet the require
ments and leave a substantial balance,
the members did not sharpen their
pencils evidently very we'll, because
they reduced the tax rate only ten
cents on the S100. This reduction was
considered a wonderful piece of fin
ance work although the rate was still
a high one. At the end of the second
year the taxpayers had paid sufficient
taxes to leave S122,304 on hand. The
rate was reduced TO 20 cents and at
the end Of the year 10000, the bal
ance was $135,512.75, the average tax
rate having been for three years suf-
ficient TO cause a great change.
"The county at that time fOUnd the
workhouse appropriation 25 per cent
less than at present, the Delaware
Industrial School for Girls, the three
Wilmington hospitals, the Hope Farm
the fire companies receiving nc aid
and the appropriation to the trustees
less than at the present time.
"The new good roads law went into
effect at that time and instead of 200
miles there were only FIVE miles of new
roads and the maintenance amounted
to nothing. Then the Levy Court cut
the tax rate to fifty cents on the 500
and that rate continued during 1906
06 and the balance which had been
I
Court listened to public clamOr against
raising the tax rate and allowed the
1906-07 tax rate to remain the same
with the result that at the end of the
year there was deficit. The building
of good roads was now under way in
general and the court to meet the DE
mands increased the tax rate to 65
cents which was in force up to 1913.
THAT amount seemed TO be the low
est rate that could meet the demands
as the Levy Court had been paying
outstanding bonds at the rate OF $780,
600 per year, and paying interest on
100000 bonds issued for building
good roads. At the time the budget
for 1894 was prepared sentiment
was brought TO bear on the members
of the Levy Court and the rate was
AtuuNtu W % ttAlcs lnsh lllt UuDlll
clamOred for more roads and a lower
tax rate.
The purchase of the Philadelphia
turnpike was demanded by the rural
and city taxpayers in order TO encour-
age the people TO deal here. Nexi
came the Concord crossing for the re.
moval of which a sentiment arose
which could not be offset: the STREE
and Sewer Department demanded aiG
in repairing Pennsylvania avenue anC
Market street in the Ninth ward, the
increase in the workhouse and trus.
tees Of the poor, the additional money
TO Ferris School, the Girls Industrial
School. the Wilmington Hospitals anC
fire companies and increased expenses
of the county courts and the State
election all went to increase the def
cit Of the county. The demand fol
an eastern route as we'll as the build
ing of the gaps in the western State
road continued from the best men in
the county.
when the budget was prepared ar
increase of five cents instead of fif.
teen cents was made and as a result
of the low tax rate and increasins
expenses required by the Legislature
TO be met the Levy Court finds itsel
with a deficit of about $4,000. The
Levy Court cannot borrow money tC
meet the demands and as a result tn,
present condition exists"