Evening journal., 1921-05-02
SI6O,OOO in
TAXESDUECITY
Council Will Try Again to
Collect Money Which is
Due
$6,OOO,OOO MORE
ON ASSESSMENT

AllnOuEn members OF AuuuCll
have admitted that the apparent de-
hcit OF the city this year will be at
least 100000. # is said that the
unpaid taxes for 1920 tmount toI
100000. This amount Of unpaid
taxes is based on an estimate made
by City Auditor Charles H. shep-
pard. and in an effort to collect this
sum notices are to be sent to all
delinquents by Clerk OF Council
Simmons.
II is thought that an effort will
be made by tho city through City
Solicitor Huxley to collect 10000
from the surety company that was
on the bond OF the Wilmington Sani-
tary Company and an additional
suit may be brought against the
companys officials for the city's
share Of the S3S.0OO Insurance policy
collected on the incinerating plant
that was destroyed by fire.
The Board OF Assessment Revi-
sion and Appeals which completed
/ the hearing OF appeals on Saturday
will begin this week the work of
computing. the assessment to serve
as a basis for the finance committee
! to work on in its calculation Of the
taxes for next year. II is estimated
i that the increased assessment will
( be in the neighborhood Of s6.OOO.OOO
/ which will bring the total assessment
up 10 approximately S112,O0O.0OO.
The greater portion OF this in
crease Is made up by the assess
ments on the Delaware Trust Build
ing and the Wilmington Savings
/ Fund Building. both at Ninth and
Market streets: the new theatre on
Market street. near Eighth. the
theatre on Market street near Fifth.
and the new Industrial Trust Build
ing at Tenth and ShiRley streets
The number OF appeals made was
slightly in excess Of last year. when
256 were filed, The number Of
cases considered. however. was in
excess Of the total number OF appeals
filed Under tho law assessments
arc required 10 be equitable on Sim
liar kinds Of properties. In cases
where an appeal was found TO be
well founded and there were other
houses Of the same kind I'm the
same neighborhood assessed in the
same ratio. the board reduced the
other properties without an appeal
being taken by the individual own
ers
Probably one hundred more cases
in all were considered over last
year. and in about half q ,hese re-
ductions were made.
Considering that there arc close 10
$4,000 parcels Of property in WI
mington. the number Of appeals is
) considered remarkably small. While
= the number has not been figured eX-
actly. IL is certainly not over two
] per cent. OF all the properties In Will
mington and may be under that fig
ure.
Many changes made during the
year were due to additions made in
properties. There were few dwell
lings erected but an immense num-
Der Of alterations were made and
these naturally increased the value
on a considerable number OF proper
ties. The increase i'm value were not
confined to any particular section Of
the city and a number Of reductions
we're madc In different sections
Most Of the appeals were made on
residences and in many cases they
were based on the claim that the
, properties were assessed for more
than the HOUSES were purchased for
number OF years ago. They could
not figure out that their property
) had increased in value when they
had not offered il for sale. Mosi
owners were satisfied when shown
, that their property was assessed on
the same basis as other property of
a like kind.
In making the assessment for tho
, coming fiscal year the assessment
board aimed to equalize assessments
and to get like properties as nearly
/, as possible. on the same basis. Their,
were number OF adjustment,
made In business sections and on
these few appeals were made. In
, some instances slight adjustments
were asked and were made wher,
IL was found that the appeal wal
we'll founded.