Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-01-10
INCREASE IN TAX RATE
FAVORED BY AUDITOR
Crensl,aw Says Pay Roll and Inter-
est Will Take Up Whole
Revenue.
NO MONEY FOR IMPROVEMENTS
Suggests 2J-Cent Levy for Street
Work and 2O-Cent Levy to Pay
City's Large Floating Dcbt-Al-
dcrmen Order Report Printed

Because the estimated icvenuc Of the
city for the fiscal year OF 1917 will
provide only for the operation of mu-
n!cipal departments and permit
nothing whatsoever for permanent i'm :
provcments. City Auditor George s
Crenshaw. in report submitted to
tho Board Of Aldermen last night. sug-
Sests that "A levy OF - cents be made
against real estate and tangible prop
cr;y. and that the further SUM Of 20
cents he levied for the payment of the
floating debt AS an alternate propo-
:i,ion nc advocated that the city tax
rate be fixed a; s2.25.
Alderman Grundy. who ~ chairman
OF the Finance Committee. said that
he regarded tho AUDITORS statement
as highly significant or the city's
financial condition. and urged tho mem
bcrs OF tho Council to give i, their
earnest consideration. Al tho sugges-
ton OF Alderman Pulicr tho report will
| members OF both branches for their
mature thought
PAY ROLL AND INTEREST
TAKE ALL or GTTl'S REVENUE
You Will observe" Mr.. Crenshaw's
statement points out, that by the APP
plication OF the } per cen, charter re-
serve provision there mus, bc de-
Quoted from tho estimated revenue of
si.l5o.o15 the sum OF sl6l.e33 leaving
the amount to bc apportioncd saga
1876. which sum viii provide only for
n Ion
listed not providing any amounts
whatever for permanent improve
mcnts; hence this Office suggests that
there be levied on the rca! estate and
tangible property valued at sl37.366.-
. 06S an additional amount OF % cents
on each 500. which will net s3434l5.
and that tho proceeds from said levy
be applied as follows: to streets gem
orally. 100000: TO opening and widen
ing streets, si3.4l5. and that further
sum of 20 cents on each Sl0O be levied
for the payment OF the hoating debt.
tho proceeds of which. after deducting
tho per cent charter reserve on both
icries Will leave approximately s2i3.-
S2t.
As ALTERNATIVE SUGGESTS
INCREASE IN TAN RATI.
AS an alternative proposition, that
the city tax rate he fixed at sa.25
divided as follows:
| For school maintenance zoos
For interest and redemption 0Os
General government - OvS5
On each 81 of values s.o2a5
We've got 10 face the music" com
mented Alderman Fuller after the re-
port had been read. and we had hest
get down to work at once. Something
must be done TO remedy the city's
financial condition.
Alderman Grundy said that the city
would enter upon the fiscal year facing
deficit OF more than S50o.aoO
Tho Board refused TO concur in n
resolution to allow the Finance Com.
mittee to borrow 100000 from time
to time. as may be necessary TO carry
on the city's affairs. Mr. Puller said
that Nc was opposed TO the principlc
involved in the resolution: that when
the Finance Committee wished 10 bor-
row money from the banks il should
oner resolution specifying the sum
desired and the specific purpose for
which II was wanted. Mr.. Pullers mo-
ton TO recommit the paper was lost
fIe then sought TO amend IL to reduce
the amount from S1.000.0 900 to 5000 OOl
which was also defeated. For lack OF
two-thirds vote tho resolution failed
OF adoption. President Adams who
voted against it in order to move a
reconsideration. told the Board that he
thought the members were displaying
very little confidence in the Finance
. Committee. The motion to reconsider
was lost by lack of a thirds vote
BASEBALL PEOPLE MAY
CLOSE MOORE STREET
The ordinance to permit the closing
OF Moore Street. between Altamont and
Summit Avenues. for a period Of five
years. recommended by the Street Com
mittee. was adopted. The Richmond
Exhibition Company wishes to close
this thoroughfare, in order to enlarge
the old United States League Park into
a ball yard to meet the needs of the
Richmond club of tho International
League, although there is some doubt
I