The Parisian. (Paris, Tenn.) 1907-1962, 1920-10-22
FIX TAX RATE ON
LAST YEARS COST
City Council Determines Upon 60
Cent Tax Rate; Last Year Was
Only One Dollar.

After having for years enjoyed
possibly the lowest tax rate of any
city its size on top of the Globe, with
limit of One Dollar, the city coun-
ell met in executive session on
special call Tuesday night and fixed
the new rate consequent upon the
revised assessment, at so cents.
The old Dollar-Rate included ev-
erything except a 25-cent special
school tax, the various bond issues
not carrying any special taxation.
And so, the new rate of so cents is
on the same basis.
The 60 cent new rate is to be
applied against an aggregate of 49,
638,979, which will bring the money
return to $21,833. This aggregate
Includes Public utilities, $141,709;
personality, $637,600 real estate,
$2,859,670 In addition to the
$21, 1893 the city will get from direct
taxes, there is to be added the fol
/! lowing: polls, $3.50; advolorem, $3,-
| 900; police court, $911; city scales,
$500; delinquent taxes, $459; ceme-
terry lots, SITS; and the grand and
glorious ability of the water and
light plant to turn over $4,000 ad-
ditional, making the total revenue
for year, $33,32S.
In determining the 60 cent rate
the council had figures before it
showing that last year the total ex-
penses of running the city aggregat-
ed $38,807. This included some
$4,000 paid for new boiler at the
wcter and light station, leaving the
expenses not including extraordinary
expense around $4,000.
AS it is anticipated the cost for
next year to operate the city will be
the same as last year, viz: $4,000,
the tax aggregate Of $33,328 will pro-
vide $8,328 surplus against which
there is an Indebtedness of $4,000
representing money borrowed from
local banks, that must be retired.
This SIS, 5000 is what the last years
! receipts from taxes, etc., fell short
of the expenses, under the old Dollar
rate. Thus, in retirinp this $4,000
of notes out of next years revenues,
the city will actually have $6,672 less
to operate than it used in the past
year.
Wherefore, the city will be worse
off than it was last year, ard if any
thing in the way of improvements or
progressiveness was demonstrated
last year, it didn't show on the sur
face. Therefore, Paris is again as
signed in the column of ineligibility
to supply the long green, and make
the needed improvements of it's
streets, provide court park with the
wanted pavements, curbing, ETC., and
do the hundred and one little things
that it should do from a standpoint
of civic pride It'll be the same old
town--non-progressive from civic
standpoint; advertised as SO by all
the drumrers that kick the water
melon rhines out of their patl, and
dodge tie business end Of the mules,
after serving as their own traffic cop
in oetiing across the street. The
dreams of white way and other air
castles that the people have been
building in anticipation of more
money to spend for progressive steps
/ VIII ilOI COile tfue.
The pore ole city water and light
plant will have to "put" to the tune
of $4,000, and it's dollars to dough-
nuts that never cent of the per-
cent depreciation that has been fig
ured in the new exhorbitant rates
will ever stay in the plants bank
balance. For years and years, and
then some, the w & l. Company has
turned from $4,000 to $4,000 per
year into the city treasury, as net
earnings. Last year tie city put
some $4,000 of it bHck into new
boiler, and the board of aldermen
hasn't quit talking about it yet. If
the city would put back, from what
lit has taken over in all time, all sur
plus over and above five percent
depreciation, plus the interest
money on the bonds, into the w &
l. Company's bank account, the w &
L Company would be able to declare
a dividend that would outdo the
Paris Medicine Company. But,
some ancient members Of the council
can't get away from the good old
easy money from the water and light
plant, and next year when the bread
and molasses don't come out even,
the rates will be raised again.
It's a great life in gayless Paree,
Mr.. Renter, if you can buy water
and light plant, sewerage system, fill
ter plant, etc, etc, to enhance the
: property you are renting so you can
; have the privilege of paying more
l rent, and then if you get disgusted
! and leave town have nothing to show
t for your certificate Of ownership in
: said plants, while those you rent
: from laugh in their sleeves at your
ignorance and lack of fight as they
: pass the buck to you in building up
t their city-their city by reason of
;, their ownership of the property, and
e the property is the city, and the city
=, owns the municipal facilities. That
S is, it is great life if you don't
y weaken.