The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1920-08-29
Member of County Excise
Board Refutes Charge
of Petty Politics.
,JUSTIFIES REDUCTIONS
Says City Wanted Increase of
$13,722.79 to Keep Up
New Offices.


partisan politics" has been made,
submits TO The world the following
letter. In which he states his and
the count yexcise boards premises
upon the actor. taken I'm regard to
the city budget for lo20-1921'
An open Letter to the Tax Payers
OF Tulsa.
"Gn as much as the city admins
tration has found Il necessary pub
ncally to Criticise the Tulsa county
excise board for its action on the
cjty's budget consicdr that the tax
Hayers OF the city have n right to
Know the facts upon which the board
based its action In decreasing the ap-
propriatons and In refusing to allow
the application for an Increase Of
Sl2,722.19.
Judging from the "squak" of the
members OF the city administration,
j know fun well that the facts will
never cmanate from them, but on
the contrary the true facts will be
concealed by the cry n partisan
politics the usual cheap style OF
demigogs who seek to divert the
public eye from their shortcomings.
am. therefore, submitting to the
pubic tho real facts In IN ccontro-
versy, II controversy exists.
t-upueycfromtheir -cominbliNU
"The citys budget was presented
20 the excise board and appropria-
tions totaling 373S,6S5.02 requested
an increase OF S7l,i4O over the prev,
ious year. This amount would neces-
state a tax levy OF approximately
2O mills. Under the law, a city OF the
Jirst class, or one operating under 4
charter, can be allowed for general
fund. $ mills for current expenses,
two mtlls for library purposes and
one hair mill for cemetery per
pctual care fund Unless the charter
authotizes levy UP to the Consti-
tutional maximum OF 10 mills.
''rhe city commissioners were re-
cuestcd to appear before the boacd
and show by what authority the
board could order a tax levy greater
than eight and one-half mills, as
authorized by the statutes. At a
meeting OF the board following this
request, IL Was agreed thai, in vir>
tue OF n charter provision. the city
could ask for n levy OF 10 mills, and,
hy virtue of the same provision and
following a decision of the supreme
court u the state. the excise board
had no power or authority to revise
or correct. by increasing or decreas-
ing. the appropriations as requested.
Acting upon this constructing OF
the law aud charter provision. the
board concluded to return the bud
get without action, as II was appar-
entity without power to act In any
mariner on any subject arising out
of the city's appropriation or rate OF
levy. However. upon further eX'
animation OF the city's charter. II
was found that an amendment there
20 had been adopted, and that the
amendment specifically provided
that th, lCVying of advalorcm tax for
the city Of Tulsa should be done by
the same authority as the constitu-
tion and laws OF the state fixed for
cities Of tho first class. The board
directed tho attention Of the city'f
legal department 20 this amendment,
and he commissioners ana the city
attorney appeared before the board
for the purpose of determining and
agreeing upon just what were the
powers and legal duties Of the board
over the Ciy's bu lgct.
The amendment 20 the charter
as found IN Article Six, page Al, com
piled ordinances for the year 1911
provides: Tho assessment of prop
erty, for the purposes OF levyinS
thereon an ndvalCrem tax. shall be
made By such officers ard in all
respects In the same manner as -
provided IN the constitution and laws
Of the stat eof oklahoma. or may
hereafter he provided by the con-
stitltiou and laws of said state for
tho assessment OF property In cities
Of the first class for advalureh
purposes
section two provides: The ad-
.valorcm taxes for the city of Tulsa
tshal hereafter be levied in the same
manner and blythe same persons or
officers as Is provided by the con-
stitutlun or laws OF the state, or may
hereafter bc provided by the laws OF
the state applicable TO cities or the
first class
After careful consideration OF the
above am sndmcnt to the citys char
ter. IL Will be seen tina: the original
pawcr under the charter OF lcvying
the adValorom tax was taken from
the city authorities and specifically
placCd in the hands OF the excise
board. In other words. the excise has
the same power and duties to per
form in approving appropriations
and fiNinr leNics ior the city Of Tulsa
that Il Is specifically chaiged with
for cities. towns and other ,munict-
palitics With the county by the laws
Of 1917 cYhapter 226, page 40.
"Undcr the law 1t Is the duty OF
the board TO determine tht amount OF
appropriations necessary and IN"
rate for each municipality and to
approve the same. This law further
provides; The said board shall have
the power and autho4ty TO reviSt
and correct any estimate certified To
them. by either striking items there
from, Increasing or decreasing items
thcrtof. or adding items thereto,
when in its opinion the actds OF the
municipality shall require
IT IL plain that. under the laws OF
this state and the amendment 10 the
'ity'a charter, the txcisa board has
logal duty To perform In connection
with tho city's appropriation ant
rate OF levy, and that from the per
formanco Of this duty, as duly sworn
officials. they could not shirk. Hence,
the board voted TO examine into thr
items OF appropriations requested by
the city administration, and atlcr hn
examination II was found that the
increase over the prior year was az,
sorbed practically in salaries, and
that n very small amount was asked
for permanent improvement
II The engineering department
hsked for an increase over the prior
year ot 1887 I'm salaries, and no
pubic work going on. Tht board Ee-
duccd this increase $4,000, Leaving
q net increase over the prior year Of
$j,2S7.
The auditing dopart ncnt asked
for an iDsrcagt pVpr tn pTiOT year