The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-06-05
COUNTY WILL NOT
RAISE TAX RATE
State Tax Higher, But County
Court Possibly May Make
Slight Reduction.

1t seems to be the opinion of the
county commissioners, influential coun-
ty court members and others that the
tax rate committee will not recommend
any increase in the county proportion
Of the tax rate when 1t makes its
recommendation to the county court at
the July term. The budget will be
made out and passed on at that tim
and the tax rate will be fixed.
II there is an increase In the state
and county tax it will be on the side OF
the state n not the county, some
squires say. In other words, the coun
tvs proportion probably will remain
at Sis on the hundred, while the
states proportion will be Increased
under the recent act from 50 cents &c
rs cents. The present rate is 81. IS. The
increase in the state rate which is man.
datory by legislative enactment, will
make the rate 81. 93.
Some squires and others who have
influence in fixing the tax rate, ever
profess to believe that the county's pro
portion may be reduced, but jus,
how mich they would not be able tc
say until the assessment for the y1ai
is announced and all budget needs are
surveyed.
The new state figures as shown by
~ = hAihNA ''lS ~" III NltiIlpIllS, HUI
cate the following rates: Regular state
tax 80 cents, highway tax 10 cents
University Of Tennessee S cents, ruraI
schools 5 cents, making a total OF 81
cents. Added TO this are Is cents for
schools within county where collected
and five cents state tax for high
schools, making a grand total for state
tax Of rs cents,
County Budget Held Up.
Now all of the state AK @ does
not leave the county. as Is cents for
schools will be spent in Shelby county,
that may mako 1t possible to reduce
for rural schools have never been col
lected and r. Lee Bartels, county at
torney, said Thursday that he was
afraid the state would sue the county
for this tax.
One county commissioner said Thurs
somewhere that would enable the
squires to hold the tax rate for the
county to $1.1S. the same as last year,
and there might be a chance to reduce
the county's proportion.
At the June meeting of the county
court the county commission presented
it's budget for the year. The budget
was not accepted at that time but filed
for further consideration.
A total of 30 cents was asked for
the general fund. The general fund Is
for The maintenance OF the county in
s~titutions, commissioners salaries and
chairman's office expenses, The coun-
ty commissioners want for their par
OF this fund, Is cents, two more cents
than they had last year, leaving only
10 cents for the rhairman's office.
Commissioners Want More.
The county commissioners also asked
- .~- az =
~tprnpikes and roads to 80 cents, Theii
| reasons for asking this large increase
| they stated was because Of the damag,
OF Approximately 500, 900 sustained
| from the floods OF the spring to roads
and bridges, They also call attention
TO the fact that a bond Is due that mus
be paid from this fund Of 100000 witt
| interest amounting to 500, 800. Atten
ton Is also called to the fact that s22,
500 has to be paid out of this fund eacl
year to the city for work done in out
lying districts contiguous to the city
making d total OF sy5, 900 that mus
be taken from thic fund.
They ask that the fund for bridges b
increased from eight to 10 cents.
A special from Nashville WEDNESDAY
quoted A, V. Louthan, chief statistical
of the state board Of equalization a
saying hat the state tax may be re
duced to 30 cents IL all assessments o
counties are increased proportionate I
that Of the six big counties OF tn
state, of which Shelby is ore. However
IL Is not thought that such action CA
come this year.
In sum-, It is not generally believe
the county tax rate will exceed Sf
and some who are influential In tn
fixing Of II profess to believe that
may be lowered. II the state tax rat
should be lowered, sufficiently, the stat
and county rate Will not exceed $l,6'
the prcrent rate.