Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1922-03-17
Financial PROBLEM
FACING THE CITY
BECOMES GRAVE
City's Sources of Revenue Un-
changed, Tax lncieaso Re-
mains Only Solution.
CHECK UP ON DEPARTMENTS

That the finance committee OF City
Council IL going To be confronted with
a grave problem when II comes 10
raising additional revenue for the
city's needs during the next fiscal year
becomes evident from the fact that
i'm the assessment Just completed there
has been practically no change of any
consequence over the figures for the
current year, This is due largely To the
fact that last year building opera
tons in Wilmington fell far below
those for the previous year and con-
seauently there has not been tho nat
ural growth upon which assessments
could I've made and from which the city
might naturally expect to derive more
money in the way Of the usual taxes
The annual report OF Building In
spector Ellis l.. Preston for the last
year shows there were 1853 less permits
issued when compared TO the year
1920. The city lost In fees as CON
sequence Of this drop $3.50 and there
was a decrease in the valuation of the
new building work OF sI,603,S2l as
compared To the valuation OF the new
building work done during 1920,
In January of this year the total
value of the new building work was
Sl9S.6i7 according TO Mr.. Preston'a
report as compared with SAL ,b0A for
January OF 1920 but this years figures
We're boosted by one item alone Of
$79. 900 for a church property which
cannot be assessed. In February of
this year the total value was 1851 .770
as compared with S47,l0l for the same
month the year previous. This years
total was made SO large because Il
contained one item Of $500 900 for a
new sugar refinery In South Whining
ton and this cannot be assessed for
ten years because II Is To he built on
made or reclaimed ground.
| As n consequence the finance com
mittee can see one OF two things FOR
them to do. increase the tax rate FOR
next year. or cut down the depart
mental appropriations If they wish tC
avoid an enormous deficit nj the enc
! Of the fiscal year beginning July !
. 1922. As far as an increase in the ta>
rate is concerned the committeeman
are known 20 be averse TO It and they
are aware Of the public protest which
of the fact that the residents nov
claim they are carrying a greater bur
den than they can handle. All cit,
departments are seeking additional
appropriations because of their eve
increasing needs and 10 reduce any %
them would mean the curtailmeut -
much OF the city work.
II is in connection with this prob
lem that City Council has asked a
departments for statement OF thci
employees, the duties Of each and wha
salary they are getting and also III
investigation or municipal affairs Il
= which Council has allowed the financ
! committee $500 Is 10 be made 10 d,
, termine where the city's moneys 3
. and how the cash is spent. Some OF
ticiais see in this an inclination -
the part OF the finance committee {
J reduce departmental appropriation
and as a result many city employf
are much concerned as 10 what ma
happen 10 them il there is any ger
cral reduction.
The whole problem Of financing th
city has become such a serious matte
that II is giving all the officials cor
Cerned much worry and they are FIRE
to admit that some drastic action
: going to be necessary in the near II
. ture if the city Is 10 avoid actual ~An4
- ruptCy.