The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-07-08
TAX RATE SHOULD
Be FIXED At 81,
SAYS COMMITTEE
Members Stand by Statement
That Increased Revenues Of
Mere Than Halt Million
Provided Under That Rate.

Based upon s. tax rate, and the m
creased revenues from other sources,
the city would have IN 1919 more than
$500, 900 Of revenues In excess OF the
amount received from all sources In
1918
That. briefly. Is the summary OF the
supplemental report Of the special taY
rate committee, which was handed to
Mayor Monteverde at 1880 o'clock
Tuesday
The members Of the committee insist
upon the stand taken In their original
report Since that report was made
the merchants ad Valorem assessments
have been completed, That assessment
was estimated formerly at $4,000, 900
The total Is $40 t79 $50, The commit
tee points out that there is half mll-
lion Of additional assessment, Ihcy
also point out that report a. depart
mental collections for the first five
lections OF more than 6b per cent In
excess OF collections for the same
months In 1918
Issue Squarely Joined,
The estimated additional revenue 10
be derived from the 20 cents increase
insisted upon by the mayor and COM
missioners, In addition TO the 20-cent
raise coneurred In by the committee s
in round figures, 100000 The mayor
insists that estimates in his budget can
not be met unless that additional sum is
provided by the tax payers,
That Is the point on which the tax
rate committee takes issue with him,
The supplemental report SAYS that the
committee accepts tho statements Of
the mayor and the city clerk that the
estimates OF special revenues from last
year included some S236,000 OF special
revenues not applicable to the general
fund
They point out, however, that II that
sum was applied to special purposes
last year II can he applied to similar
purposes this year without affecting
the general result and that after cltmi-
mating that sum the estimated in
creased revenues this year should run
more than half a million In excess OF
collections for last year. They also ac-
cent the city clerks figures OF a pay
however according to Mr. Pashby' s
figures, include any employees Of the
river and rail terminals. wharf or mar
ket house
Want Earlier Budgets.
on that point, however the commit
"Our figures were used in a way
which In no way affects the main ques-
ton at issue, namely: How much more
revenue Is to be raised and spent un.
der the $50 rate than undG the for
mer rate?
THE only question involved is wheth
er or not II IL possible to get along
with a sum less than the estimated
"1dttio""' rN""'''0 above described and
II 80, how much?
N,i'u 40 Keutr4l increased valuation
placed on property Of approximately
$1234, 600. together with our proposed
increase Of cents in the tax rate for
general purposes and the increase in
other revenues due to better conditions
and greater diligence in enforcing col
lections, we believe that n rate of 81
will produce sufficient funds to take
care OF every actual necessity provided
expenses are properly reduced by strict
economy
The report concludes with recon-
Imendaton for a general survey Of the
eity's finances and administration and
that hereafter the budget be published
at the beginning Of the year, as re
quired by law, so that citizens may be
advised Of proposed expenditures before
the year Is half gone,