Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1919-02-12
FINANCIAL STATEMENT

crease in Taxation-Additiona Rev
enuc Would be $1,000 Estimated
A financial statement of the city
affairs was read last night By Presi
dent Burke to the members Of Com
mon Council in connection with tn
resolution increasing the rate Of taxa
ton from S1.S0 to 50 on the 500 OF
real estate and tangible property.
For the purpose of comparison Il.
to what the increase Of twenty cents
would realize Mr.. Burke estimated
that S6,l00,000 for 1918 on real cs-
tate and 100000 on personal prop
erty c. S7,OO0,O0O.
The increase would be $4,000. The
discount, cost of collecting, errors,
ETC., estimated at $1,000. The net in
crease in real estate Improvements,
East Roseront, ETC., "ould amount
to approximately. $1,000 or a grand
total Of $1,000.
Continuing Mir Burke said:
But this increase from improve
mcnts will not come anywhere near
equal to the amount we have mad to
expand directly for streets, sewers,
gas service for those places. Indeed
six or eight dollars has been spent
where one dollar comes back. It will
be argued, and to some extent cor
rectly. that Indirectly the benefits will
accrue from these new industries Of
course business will be benefited
should these enterprises continue.
The Torpedo Assembly Plant il has
been stated will employ man" per-
sons. Yet the real estate forming
on this site will not Dc taxed. Last
year it was suggested that tha in
crease be made in our tax rate but it
was allowed to remain as 1t w.s III
the hope that we could get along
with the old rate. The finance COM
mittec reluctanly report the necessity
for an increase, but we cannot close
our eyes to its necessity.
The appropriation bill Of last year
amounted to $23l, 100000 Not one
dollar was appropriated for streets,
other than cleaning and repairing.
And the amount for this is lnsnt1lc-
lent to do the work for the balance
OF the fiscal year. New York il First
Ward, Hunting Greek road and
bridge. The sanitary expenses. The
total will exceed 10000 or $3S $4,000.
Add these to the $23 100000 "A the
appropriation bill, all payable this
fiscal year, and out Of an estimated
revenue less than $lSS,G00.OO.
have said $1SS,000 may lc placed
as our probable receipts during pres
cnt fiscal year. This is the way t IS
arrived at. all in excess woulc Of
course help just to what II amounts
to.
CITY taxes, Collector Gormah ,5l3l!-
900; City taxes, treasurer Robinson,
SIT. 800: From licenses $2l 800: Elec-
trio light franchise $4,000; Washing
tonVirginia Railway franchise, l.
500; Commonwealth of Virginia. caD.-
tatjon tax, 81 400; Police Court fines,
$1,000; Sewer taps $4,000; M'sceIIanc
Gus, 81 900; Total $lSS,0OO. To tbs
add haan:e in the city treasury,
June /, 1918. $4.4S3.27; Total Sl"2,-
1927.
| have stated that the appropriar
tion bill 1915 1919 amounted to S23l,-
600 and also items not named III th&t
ordinance have been ordered by Con"-
ell, nan:ely streets, sewers, etc. VIII
amount to $4,000 or $4,000, making
a total of S270,000 and to pay with
what? With $l93 or Sl94,OOo ana
loan already authorized amounting
to 100000. Including the school APP
proprjation of $4,000 we haXe eX-
pended S240 900 or more 10 date. -Four
months of the fiscal year remains.
Further loans, both for gas works ana
general fund.
The sale of gas for four years end
ing Nav 81, 1918 amounted to 49,
900 900 feet or 44,500,000 as the year
" average. 1t may be safely said the
consumption will increase to at least
46 900 900 or 47.OOO,000 and the in
crease in price will yield an additional
revenue of $4,000 per annum. Under
these conditions it will require three
81 years for the gas works to pay
off the loan Of $4,000.
All>of this is not pleasant to the
ears of those who hear it, nor Will II
be a welcome to those who, read 1t
Temporary loans started years ago
TO build school houses engine houses
etc. streets and sewers: ETC. as for