Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-04-01
Aldermen Pass Amended Com
mittce Ordinance, Fixing
City Levy at $1.65
TOTAL RATE WILL BE S1.75
Auditor Crenshaw Estimates
Budget Deficit on This
Basis at Sol, 900.


VIDE that tho city tax rate on rcnl cs
'".e' tangible personal property and
'""ihS stock OF railroads other than
"'eafn roads. shall be S1.G5 The States
eNtra ievy OF 10 cents on the 500 for
Schooi purposes, VIII mako the argre-
F"'" rate on these subjects s1.75. which
was IN" combined city and state rate
'etore tho tax system was changed
Az drawn by the Finance Committee.
nc ordinance provided for n base ratio
si''' plus AN extra 10 cents for the
year 1918 for street improvements
WITH the States l0-ccnt levy the total
rate. under the committcc's ordinance
would have been slo5
BOARD ~ no MOOD
TO RAISE TAXATION
~ necam me apparent as soon AS the
'ncasnr" was reported last night that
inc board was In no mood at this ti,no
10 vote for an increase In tho tax rate
HiHcrman Melton. OF Jefferson Ward
oHered an amendment fixing the city
Fh'e AT Sl65 In order to make the totnl
my ana state rate what It was before
t"e tax system was changed-sl75
inc amendment was opposed by AL
"e'Hiah Grundy. chairman OF the FL
nance Committee. The city. he said
INC only means Mt It's disposal TO meet
us expenses was to increase tn. tax
rate He reminded the Board that the
increase proposed by the ordinance was
IN no sense permanent and that II
would not be levied longer than was
Hccessary.
In the Finance Committee" said Mr..
''rundy. Il advocated nat So rate as
"a. best solution. II is not n pleasant
or popular thing to increase taxes and
no one knows that better than tho
Finance Committee. But the committee
had 10 find n way out and 1t decided to
reconmend the small increase provided
In the ordinance as the wiscst thing
70 do under The circumstances"
POWERS AND GUNsT
SUPPORT AMENDMENT
A!hcrrHan Powers supported the Mel
ton amendment. With backward bus,-
ness conditions and other hardships
that have marked the present year. he
said, il was n poor time TO raise taxes
The city, he thought could we'll AFFORD
TO walt another year and find out how
tho new tax laws affect II before de-
Gliding upon so serious a step as an
Increase OF the tax rate.
Much the same position was taken
10y alderman iGnSt. Inc new assess
uent he said. may show such an en-
c"ura-inE !ncreas" as TO make unncc.s-
sary increasing tho city tax rate. u
vas not the part of wisdom. hc thought
TO DISPOSE Of so important "a matter in
summary fashion without waiting to
sec how the new tax system viii affect
the city's revenues. No permanent
harm. he said, could result from taking
"A little more time.
GRUNDY SAYS CUT
MEANS RIGID ECONOMY
Alderman Grundy here declared his
willingness to accept The Melton
amendment in order not 10 delay fur
,her the fixing of the tax levy for the
year, The adoption OF the amended
rate however. he warned the Board
VIII mean al the same time Its ap-
proval OF policy OF the most rigid
economy in expenditures for the COM
ing year. II genuine disposition TO
curtatl expenditures and enforce
economy Is 10 be the result, he said,
he would himself welcome the lower
rate.
The amendment was put to n vote
and carried. y few minutes later the
amended ordinance was placed on it's
passage and adopted unanimously
OF the ordinance, moved suspension
OF The rules to permit City Auditor
Crenshaw to read n statement show
ing the present state of the city
finances. but the motion failed to poll
the necessary two-thirds votes, and
WAS declared lost.
Cpon a motion of Alderman Ciunst
the Board directed the clerk TO have
Mr.. Crenshaw's statement printed for
! dlStribuuon to the members of both
branches OF the Council as soon as
\ practicable.
Will FAII. DY SGI, 900
( no MEET BARE; BUDGET
according to the City Auditors
h statement. the revenue this year from
Il the rate fixed last night by the amended
/ ordinance, employing the best inforrna-
/ uon in the Finance Committees pos
session, Will fail by sGl,3lS to meet
the total of $3,soa, 1888 appropriated
/ ny the last budget.
The statement draws attention TO
/ the fact that the city began the pres
Il ant tscal year with deficit OF $547,-
4 tyi Ihis amount was the contingent
Liability OF the city at the beginning of
II BUSINESS thlS year, arising from the
] cvpenditure OF bond issue funds for
| other purposes than that for which
they were appropriated. to be recouped
| from the current revenue
nuDGET MAKERS WILL
FACE S50O,O0O DEFICIT
|. is estimated that at least $500 Ooo
OF these deferred improvements to
make which the city is obligated will
have TO be carried out this year Since
the money for this work, provided by
| bond issues, has already been expended
for other city purposes, this amount
will have to he raised before the next
budget is made MP out of the current
| revenues.
n Tie tax rate ratified by the Board.
however. 1t Is estimated by tho Audi
Continued on Third Page.)