The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1920-12-30
KENOSHA FIRST
In INCOME TAX
Report Shows Many Cities
Over the Legal Limit
in Taxation.
WEST ALLIS HIGHEST
Income Tax Assessed in Coun-
ty Largest for Any of Cities
Outside First Class.

Inc city of Kenosha is ranked first
IN the state in the amount of income
tax collected in other first class cities
by report of the Wisconsin state tax
commission, made public today, and
henosha is also shown to be one of
the cities of the state where the regu-
lar tax levy was in excess of the av-
erage of q mills. Thirty Wisconsin
cities exceeded the legal tax limit of
50 mills in their assessments the past
year, according to the report dealing
with financial statistics of cities. Ris-
ing costs of carrying on city govern
ment without a proportionate increase
IN the assessed valuation of property
/. IS given by the commission as the
probable cause for the existing con-
dition
Financial statistics for each of the
1873 cities Of Wisconsin have just been
compiled showing the activity of each
and its relative financial standing
The bonded indebtedness, the tax rate,
assessed valuation Of property, proporI'
ton Of taxes given to school purposes,
salaries of city officials and total cash
receipts and disbursements of the ci-
ties, are among subjects considered
in the report.
The bonded debt Of Wisconsin cities
is shown to be $39,000,oO0 or $29.53
per capita. The legal limit of indebtS
edness for all of the cities is estab-
lished at S93,OO0,0OO. Madison showed
the highest per capita debt with S62.65
while seven cities under 5000 showed
no debt at ALL
West AIIis Has Highest Tax.
General property taxes and per CAPT
ia property taxes were given showing
that West AIlis had the highest tax Of
$39.41 per capita, while the average
for all cities was $50 81; Milwaukee
had $3407; Kenosha $4,000 and Madi-
son $25.66.
The tax rate whose legal limit was
exceeded by 80 cities was established
for all cities at 27,2 mills on the dol
lar Hudson had the highest rate with
5G,2 mills, while Wausau with 36.5
mills and Eau Claire with Al mills
were among the cities which exceeded
the limit Of 35 mills set by law. The
rate in Madison was 20 mills and in
Milwaukee 26.5 mills.
The assessed valuation of property
in each city in proportion to the true
value when determined brought out
that Wausau had the lowest percent
age Of assessed to true value with
53.49 per cent. Superior was set at
1910 per cent and Marshfield at 1925
per cent.
Madison's School Rate.
Cities were compared for their ex-
penditures for school purposes. 1t
was found that Madison had the low
est tax rate for educational work with
AZ mills or $420 per thousand dollars
of assessed valuation. The highest
rate was in Hudson where a tax of
28.9 mills was levied. \ The figures
show that the tax per school child
enrolled in the cities having school
superintendent was $56.49. Cudahy
had the highest tax per school child
with $94.17 with the lowest in Hay
ward with S2325.
Milaukee was shown to have had an
income tax roll of $3,939,0OO, of which,
81 $50 900 was collected in cash. Out
side of Milwaukee, Kenosha ranked
highest in income tax with 100000.
The income tax roll of Racine was
$448 900.
Salaries of elected city officials are
shown for June 80, 1920. Cities with
commission form Of government wers
found to pay much higher salaries
than those where the mayor and coun-
Gil system is in effect. The highest
paid mayor outside of Milwaukee was
the mayor Of Superior, who receives
$4,000 a year. Oshkosh and Green Bay
both pay $4,000.
Receipts and Disbursements.
Total cash receipts and disburse-
ments of cities are summarized for
each city. The figures. are said by the
commission to be of great practical
value to cities because they form a
basis for comparison with other cities
of the state. 1t is expected that with
the development Of the reporting sys-
tenn cities will be able to improve their
methods Of handling finances and will
better be able to determine wherein
they have shortcomings in comparison
with other cities.