The Morgan City daily review., 1917-03-07
TAXES AND SCHOOL BUILD.
INCS.


INCS.
It was mentioned to a Review re-
preventative yesterday that beca ,se
of the proposed fifty per cent. as
sessment basis to be enforced this
year, the good people of Morgan
City would not welcome bond is
sue in any considerable amount for
school building purposes. 1t vas
said that the bond issue coming to-
eether with an increase in state ard
parish assessments tax would be
burdensome. It was also causIally
mentioned that the people of Mol
gan City were the most badly spoiled
set Of individuals in the state from
a standpoint of taxes.
Of all the statements made
above, the latter is probably the only
one which might be said to be en-
tirely truthful. with a total state.
parish. levee and city tax Of "a
mills for the citizens to think that
they are heavily taxed is atsurd. 1t
is true that enough taxes ar be-
ing raid to meet the needs Of the
city for school building, street
building and every other needed
Improvement if the taxes were at
the discretion of the people who
pay them. But with a 10 mill levee
tax and with five and a quarter
mills paid over to the parish and
with the other ALLEGATIONS for fixed
expenses it leaves the city as bare
as Mother Hubbard's cupboard. The
levee tax which is paid by Morgan
City is money apparently thrown
to the four winds; the criminal tax
Of 3 mills paid to the parish nets
the parish handsome profit. With
these Sums at the disposal Of the
city, it would be unnecessary to ask
for a bond issue for school build
ing, street building or other pur-
pose.
But the glaring fact remains that
Morgan City needs greater school
facilities and that there is no way
to provide additional facilities other
than a bond issue. The seventeen
and one-half per cent. increase in
the prorata Of the property valued
for assessment does not mean the
amount Of the present values will
be taxed an increased rate of taxa
ton. Instead Of paying "a mills on
one-third Of the property value,
$1,O33, 900, Morgan City will pay
81 mills on one-half of the value or
about 81, $4,000 which will pro-
vide an increase in tax revenues for
city, parish and state but none for
the badly needed additional school
buildings. The fifty per cent. basis
Is provided by state statute. Thirty
four mills on fifty per cent. pro-
perty valuation basis is not high
rate Of taxation when compared
with the forty, fifty and even sixty
mill tax which most communities
nay. It is a prominent fact that the
communities deriving the most
from their property in the form Of
selling value, rentals, etc., are the
communities paying the higher taxes
It is further true that the communi-
ties affording good roads, good
streets, good lights, low insurance
rates and good schools are the COM
munities paying the higher rate of
taxes. From a comparative stand
point of the number of mills paid
one must speak Of the greater num-
Der paid by other communities as a
higher rate, but in reality they are
enjoying a cheaper rate of taxation
when benefits are summed up.
To take her place in the sun to
which she is entitled, Morgan City
must accept the idea that she is in
sufficiently taxed and take the long
delayed steps whici, will give her the
returns to which she is entitled. The
initial step in this direction will be
to meet the present matter of pro-
viding greater facilities. Here is an
investment which will not only be
worthy from a standpoint of provid-
ing proper educational facilities for
the children of the community but
will mean greater revenues for
business interests, increased values
in property interests, greater rental
returns end the aetting-in of cur
rent of improved social and COM
mercial conditions for the future.
The proper school facilities in Nor
San City will be large factor in in
crcasing the population and wealth
of the city and it is especially
<l,.o,,cg, tho ;ucraasinc density of