Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1920-03-10
TAXES ON REALTY
To BE BOOSTED
Finance Committee Recon-.
mends Rate of $3.50
On S100.
CITY FACES DEFICIT
Action Deferred SO Public May be
Heard on Matter--Ahermen Vote
Against Giving Armory

.
The finance committee of city coun
:cil last might recommended that th'
new tax rate be increased from s.
to 50. so on the $500 assessed valua
ton for the year beginning June !
1920 and ending May 81, 1921, 1
was stated that the increase tax Of
fifty cents on the 500 would be useG
for the public schools.
TIE proposed increase was opposed
by number of the members and af.
ter protracted debate the resolutio: ;:
of Councilman Fletcher that the mat
ter be referred back to the finance
committee and public hearing b.
held in order to give the taxpayers
an opportunity to ae heard was adopt
ed.
President Burke told council that
the city is facing a deficit and will
have to do something. Unless some
thing is done, he said, the public
schools would have to be closed and
he added none desired to do this. MIR.
Burke said speedy action was neces-
sary in order that the Commissioners
of revenue may get up his bills. He
further stated that the city is now
spending more money than it receives
and the time IS coming when the
banks will not loan the city any more
money. There is no use in dodging it,
he said. This condition, he said, has
been known. Mr.. Burke also said tha.
eventually the city will have TO clear
the present floating debt, by bond
issue. The new assessment he stated
probably woul,! result in a decrease
of the tax rate rext year.
Those who participated in the de
bate on the measure included Coun-
c;lmen. icer, Ruben, Fletcher, Me-
CaEfrey Rageett, Sullivan and others.
The ordinance provides a discount
of. five per cent if paid BY July /,
1920 and three per cent if paid by
September !, 1920. .-If,fnot paid by
December i, 1929, five per cent is ad-
ded and if not paid by June /, 1921, G
per cent; !ssmages. is collected
An ordinance for imposing and col
lecting Licenses for the year begir-
ming June l, 1890 and ending May, 81.
1921 was referred to the finance
committee.
A resolution. authorizing the finau-
ce committee to borrow an amount
needed to meet deficit caused BY ex-
cess appropriation for public schools,
fire department, health, repairing
streets and other things was refer
red to the Snance committee.
DR.. Louis E. Foullss, citys health Of
ficer, presented an ordinance for the
collection Of garbage and its resu-
lation under the direction of the
health department. and providing
penalties for its violation.
DR.. J.,J. Garvey, deputy health Of.
ficer, took the floor ahd stated HI
had conferred with number Of per,
sons engaged in the work and the cits
. would be divided off into district:
and there would be a number Of lie
ensed collectors under contract for :
wear and probably there would be ter
not under contract. After a debate
this was referred to the health com
~mit.ce. He also told courril j
would not cost the. city a cent, ant
the heai. hdepartment would be re
sronsible.
Permission was granted John S
West to place. gasoline tank in from
Of 900 Duke street, aud L W. Recke
to erect garage in rear of 206 Sout
Fayette street.
Petition of W. W. Bosee to erec
gasoline tank in front Of 104 Sout
Washington street was referred I
street committee as also was petitio
Of r. NJ. Dunbar to erect porch. !
rear Of 1908 King street.
Resolution appropriating 800 #
improvements at Reliance Fire Con
pany's house was referred to finanf
and public property committee.
The beard of aldermen non eoncu,
red in the action Of, common cow,c
in granting the use Of the Armorr :
the Community Center and America
Legion and also in refunding the s2t