The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-10-17

Tax rate for the city of Richmond
TOR 1920, as announced Friday by the
state board of tax commissioners viii!
be S1.68, which is $182 less than the
rate for this year
Ihe total rate was given out bv the
state board, but the individual levies
nave not been received. The certified
levies will probably be sent to the
local officials by the first OF next week.
county Auditor Howard Brook said
today.
The assessed value OF the county un-
der the old law was $4,000. 600 and
under new valuation Is $4,000 900.
The assessed value of the city OF
Richmond alone, under the old law,
was S2O,OO0,000, and it is SIS, ,000. 900
Under the new, The old city rate,
S1.24, Is now reduced to Il cents
Although the decreased tax rate
will lower the amount of taxes paid
by majority of the people of the
community, it will also have a decid
ed tendency to lower the standard of
the various public corporations of the
state. for which tax levies are made.
according to Auditor Brooks
schools, roads and the city will
be hit harder than any other taxing
unit Brooks said Il believe that
with this decrease it will be necessary
TO curtail a great many of the i'm
provements needed by the citv. and
might even in some cases lower th4
standard OF city government"
Assured of Increase
AT the last appearance of the coun-
ty, city and school officials before the
state tax board, they were practically
assured that the requests of the units
for Increased appropriations would be
granted. in compliance with the fig
ures presented by these representa-
tives.
This, however, according to Brooks,
is practically impossible, as the tax
rate, is figured on the basis of ap-
preparations asked, would amount to a
total of $202 in the city of Richmond.
for all purposes.
Ihe city tax levy, as presented by
the city officials, and approved by the
board, was y cents, but what the GER
titled amount from the board will be
cannot be determined until the figures
are received by the auditors.
This year, the city of Richmond ex-
pected TO raise. from all sources, and
on all levies, $685., 900" Auditor Brooks
added, but with the tax rate an
nounced, we will only be able to raise
about S5S8,000 for taxes from all
sources.
| This naturally means that some
thing has to be cut, and with practi-
cally every necessity for managing
the city government greatly increased
| in cost, II appears to me that the
standard Of the city will have to
suffer.
The effect of the taxes. however.
probably will not be felt until 1921. as
the various units will be able to run
over next year, with a slight deficit.
! The year following will see the neces-
sity for some tight pinching, however,
unless the rate is increased, or the
cost of running the government drops
off greatly.
May Get Injunctions
Auditor Brooks also pointed out the
fact that some Of the railroads, which
had been greatly increased in assess
ment, were planning injunctions
against the opera ton OF the tax law.
and If these injuncuons were sus-
tanned, it would mean that a still
greater burden would fall on the
finances of the city.
The new tax rate will probably
mean that every city public official
will have to watch his step" in the
matter of expenditures according TO
Ed. Weidner, county treasurer.
Community Must Curtail
THE new rate may mean that some
decided curtailment of public expense
will be necessary, but the community
has been in such difficulties before
and by keeping close watch on the
public funds, we ought to be able to
pull through all right" Weidner said
! Weidner also said that payment OF
delinquent taxes will probably be
pressed harder.
Continued on Page Thirteen