Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-04-10
Lower the County Tax Rate.

An interesting problem to the tax,
PAYERS of New Castle county, at present
is whether the Levy Court will hold on tr
the county tax rate of a5 cents on the
800. or make q liberal reduction. in
view of the radical increase in the county
assessment for the coming year of about
iortv millions of dollars. Such an increase
in the assessment should lead to liberal
lax rate reduction, especially in view of
the fact that the Levy Court, unless IL
should NJ once plunge into an excess of
extravagant expenditure, will have a very
good cash balance in bank At the close Of
business on June so
Referring to the increase of about
$4,000, 600 in the next years county
assessment, the Morning News says;
This. Of course. means a long jump in
revenue and the temptation 10 spend.
with the probability that some OF It
would not be wisely expended. Cnfortu-
nately, our Levy Court has not cnioyed
a hieh reputation ss Wise or economical
spendcrs One has only to consider
the deplorable condition Of many of the
county roads 70 make one skeptical of
Levy Courts as administrations. II the
larger assessment docs not lower the
tax rate. the Levy Court will have prac-
tically an unlimited amount Of money
taken from the pockets of the taxpayers al
time when these taxpayers have inceS-
SAINT demands upon them from almost
every direction for money. No ono is de-
ecived by the scheme OF simply increasing
The valuations Such increases arc just
as if the tax rate were advanced, although
there is the advantage Of having a pre-
sumably more equitable assessment. II
he Levy Court is IN tune with the spirit
IF the times, the tax rate will be lowered
and some attention will be paid TO tho
word economy. The people arc doing
heir part without murmur, but they
should not be called upon to endure tho
possibilities Of riotous extravaganza which
s encouraged when there is a large sur
elus.
In this citation OF the situation We
believe our contemporary represents the
rue state OF public sentiment through
sut all New Castle county. Why should
aot the Levy Court reduce the tax rate
or the coming fiscal year? There is no
pressing necessity IN view for largely
increased expenditures. and it cannot be
lenied that with an increase OF forty
Millions IN the assessment, the present
AK rate would pull many more dollars
rom the pocket of the taxpayers. Is
here any necessity for an expenditure Of
-cvenues 20 increased? None that the
oeople can see.
However, the entire matter Is up to
he Levy Court As we have said before,
hat body, with all it's glaring delin-
luencies and inefficiencies, its sins OF
commission as well as of omission, its
glaring extravagances IN the past, has
oeen so tolerated by the voters Of New
astle county at election after election,
hat Its members would have reason to
eel justified in making any measure Of
IMPOSITION upon the taxpayers. Certain
they could at this time point to the
'ote of the last election in New Castle
county and say: THE voters have IN
lorsed US
But at this time 1t is pertinent to
inquire whether majority OF the voters
New Castle county, looking askance
1 that increase Of forty millions in the
ounty assessment-the bulk Of the in
rease on Wilmington property, of course
would indorse the Levy Court in con-
inuing the tax rate at the present figure
+ % cents on the 500 The increase in
issessrnents warrants reduction. VIII
ne Levy Court graciously consent TO
eduction Of the tax rate, or will il CON
Inue the present rate and spend the
dditional money thereby exacted of the
axpayers In riotous extravaganza, as it
as done in the past?