The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-04-06
HORNADY POINTS TOD|SADVANTAGE
 IN RUNNING CITY
 WITH SHORT FUNDS
Birmingham and Other Cities of State Hope to Get Amendment Allow ing Increased City
 Tax Rate

According to John R. Hornady, acting president of the commission of the city Of Birmingham, most citizens of Magic | City do not understand the financial con- | dltlon and the tax system of the city. It is ridiculously absurd that the munich 1 pality of Birmingham should have to operate on such small finances as it now is trying to do," he said.
 Commissioner Hopady pointed out re- lief that may be had if a proposed law is passed by the Alabama legislature when it convenes in July. This law would submit to the people of the state the question of a constitutional amend ment giving to municipalities in this state the privilege of increasing the linn it of taxation. The movement to have this measure passed by the legislature and submitted to the people of Alabama is being fostered by the Alabama Munich pal league, which was recently organized by the mayors of Alabama municipali- ties.
 ''The taxes we pay in Alabama are much too small and seem ridiculous when compared with the taxes of more pro gressiye states that are rendering great CT service to their citizens" said MT Hornady. Tn Birmingham the tax is $2.s5 Of this amount the city gets s1. Of this dollar the schools get 90 cents, 20 cents goes to the sinking fund and the remaining 50 cents goes to the city for it's expenses. Of this 30 cents, ap- proximately 22 cents is paid as interest, leaving about 2S cents for the operation of the city. Now this 2S cents has to look out for all general purposes, in- cluding police, fire protection, upkeep of streets, health, garbage libraries, parks and general administration. It is ap- parent to anyone that to do this with 2S cents is absurd and impossible. The additional money required comes from licenses, which amount to as much as taxes"
 LICENSES TOO HIGH
 Licenses Tn Birmingham, MT. Hornady said, are much too high, and turn away from Birmingham many enterprises that might otherwise come here
 If we had the right to vote 5 mill tax as sinking fund licenses would be reduced and this would encourage busi- ness,' continued Mr. Hornady.
 'We could build the city auditorium that Birmingham wants and has twice voted for, that Jefferson county wants and that all Alabama wants to see erect ed here. The people have voted their willingness for municipal auditorium, but they did not vote the money.
 ''It is like the father who, when asked by his son for a suit of clothes says,
 Well, SO dnedu ana get II, l QOn care, but who at the same time did not give the son the necessary money. That we want an auditorium there is no doubt, but we have not the means of getting 1t. In event of the passage of the bill we could vote 5-mill tax, which would provide sufficient sinking fund to take care of the interest and retire the bonds within reasonable time.
 This is just one instance. Every mu- nlclnalItV is faced with the sitions. The people are willing to vote small tax for various municipal inn provements and enterprises and the new law would give them the privilege of doing so. As it is the limit on municipal taxation is so small that the people can- not vote their own money for what they want and need. With the help that would be given Birmingham she could do many things that she wants to do and needs to do to increase her prosperity and growth. The proposed law is a gilt edge proposition throughout.
 FIVE-MILL TAX
 ''The 5-mill tax would provide about s500,000 for Birmingham. This would in- sure smaller licenses, good streets, bet ter health and better fire and police protection An additional tax of not more than mills, which is a very small tax, could provide an auditorium or any thing else the people might want"
 The Alabama Municipal league was or ganized here recently Mayors of most of the important municipalities were present and elected Mayor George Craw- ford of Mobile president. Mayor Jones of Bessemer is first vice president. An executive committee of nine mayors, of which Dr. N. A. Barrett, president of the Birmingham commission, is mem Der, has been appointed and is working on the matter of getting the municipal organizations of the state behind the proposed legislation. The committee is working to improve municipal conditions in the state. A meeting of the league will be held in Montgomery during the latter part of April and another session will be held when the state legislature convenes for it's last session.
 At that time the proposition will be brought before the legislature. If passed it will be submitted to the people of the state for ratification. If the amendment is ratified tax of 10 mills or less, all told, will be submitted to the people of the city of Birmingham at an election. And if it passes
 We'll, Commissioner Hornady is confi- dent that the people will vote it and that then there will be the beginning of more prosperous day for Birmingham.