The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-07-07
ADMINISTRATION
DETERMINED ON
HIGH TAX RATE
Special Committee Will Make
Final Report Tuesday to Sc
cure Reduction to Rate
of So.
WOULD PROVIDE HALF
MILLION OVER 1918
Collections 0utSiue-~af Tax
Levy 81 Per Cent Over
1918 During Five Months
of Present Year.

final effort will be made Tuesday
afternoon TO persuade the mayor and
city commissioners to reconsider their
determination to fix the tax rate at
$2.20 for the current year.
No statement was forthcoming from
the city hall Monday, but it is gem
orally understood that Mayor Monte
verde and Commissioners Mason and
Quinn intend to disregard the recon-
mendation of the special tax committee
that the rate be raised to not more
than 81, or 20 instead Of 40 cents above
last years figure.
The committees report was very clear
and although it dealt with the city fl
nances only in a general way, it indi-
Gated that even at a rate of 81 an in
creased assessment or more than ST.
260,000, and steadily increasing revenues
from all departmental collections, Would
give the city this year from 100000 TO
S750,O0O more money from all sources
than the revenues for 1918
City Commission 0bdurate.
Efforts to convince the city COM
mtssioners of that fact nave since been
made by members of the committee, but
apparently they have their heads set
on tax rate to stand as it is in the
ordinance. which only awaits third and
final reading.
Members of the special committee
which made the investigation will pre-.
sent supplemental report Tuesday af
ternoon and members of the general
committee from the commercial and
civic organizations ana taxpayers who
are interested, probably will atteno the
commission meeting.
Members of the special committee will
meet Tuesday evening to formulate
their supplemental report. That report
viii reiterate that in the opinion of the
members of the committee, the city OF
Memphis can meet every legitimate and
necessary expense, for the current year
Ample Increase in Sight.
The committee will show that aside
from tax collections from the regular
tax levy estimates based upon receipts
from other sources this year, such as
licenses and privileges, fines and for
FIXTURES collected in the city court, col
lections in the weights and measures
department, and other sources, will
bring in not less than $500,O00 more
revenue this year than during 1918.
A report of collections from these de-
partmental sources for the first five
months Of this year, as a matter OF
fact, shows an increase of 81 per cent
over collections for the corresponding
period last year, Members of the COM
mittee realize, however that collections
in the license department are heavier
during the first three months of the
year than during succeeding months
and will make allowance in their esti-
mates for that fact. Receipts in the
office of the bf Nding inspector, how
ever, for eXamp l. are running heavier
each month and are likely to increase
each month during the year. The same
is true in several other departments ir
which the revenues depend more or less
upon building operations.
The supplementary report also viii
call attention to the fact that the as
sessment, upon which the tax levy |.
based, Is this year more than a mil
lion dollars more than the figures fo
1918, which will produce a total est
Continued on Page Il Column a