The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-01-17
CITY TAX RATE
W|LL)GO HIGHER
And There Is Chance Also for
County Tax Rate to Go Up.
Possibly State Also.

The tax rate for the city of Mem
phis will have to be boosted from 81 so
on the 500 to $3.50 ana probably to
81, the limit the Legislature permits
the rate TO go, the commissioners be-
lteve. II the needs of the city aud the
demands being made by various de-
partments are met
The various city departments are now
engaged in fixing tentative budgets for
the year. but none has yet been sub
mitted to the commission as a whole
for consideration.
However, the final budget and the
tax rate will not be fixed until after
the legislature adjourus The mayor
said Friday that 1t would be unwise
70 fix the tax rate now, as the legis-
lature might pass an act that would
necessitate either rearranging the
budget or the rate, 1t is understood
Representative Bell, Of Memphis has
a sbil making big increase in. the
pohee department payroll However.
Mr. Mason said that Commissioner Mil
Ter plans TO cut the force TO a point
where Increased salaries will not bring
tne total over the amount Of the budget
OF last year.
departments, The streets, for instance,
are IN bad shape and dreadfully in need
OF repairs. The high cost of material,
the. nigh wages demanded By workmen
ana tt1e large amount OF work to be
aone would mean substantial increase
IN the budget for that department
Schools Need More.
Heavy demands are also being made
on the portion OF the tax rate for
general purposes this year. The por-
tioil Of the. present rate for general
purposes IS only N.2S OF the total
rats ot VI .S0 Public schools are get
| "a an t,,s ,Iei,.l A
s9 sias4slhe commissioners are ask
| insS tfsis wa come from. TAey
sksly TX psln siYaftlly come from tho Ekf I.
erai purposes portion, Iii Tint woAsla
cut down the departments. which No,
must have increases, and they can lot
see where II can come from unless IL
comes from Jan increased tax rate.
The establishment Of the two-pla toon
system for the fire department has IN
creased salaries in that department to
approximately 100000 and other de-
mands from departments must he met
Inc commissioners say that the sign
ing or the annistice has not and does
not promise much in the way Of de-
creaslng the price of materials, food
stuffS, feed and other things necessary
to operate the various departments
and little revenues are coming IN from
certain departments to supplement the
general funds, such as building permit
taxes, They admit that the depart
ment OF licenses and privileges is pro-
curing more money. but incomes from
the small departments help but little.
Budget Will Be Late.
The final budget and tax rate were
not completed last year until August
and probably will not be decided on
finally until July or August this year
The, state tax rate now Is SO cents
and that for all county purposes $i.iS,
making a total for state and county
Of 81 6s Twenty cents added to the
| city tax as indicated above will raise
that to 81 and make total for state,
county and city of $3.6S
with bonds for the auditorium. on
which both city and county pay taxes,
and other items now talked or some
| sharp financiering will be necessary to
Keep the tax rate from going danger
ously close to 81 If the sums now
| thought to be necessary are to he
raised; especially as it seems certain
that the general assembly will raise
the state tax rate.
|