The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1923-11-01
PER CAPITA TAX IN STATE
OVER DOUBLE 1912 FIGURE
Maryland Public Debt Jumps 1913
Per Cent in Same Period

| State, according to a report issued
October 18th by the Department of
Commerce.
This marked an increase of 1879 per
cent over the amount collected 10
years ago. The percentage increase
per capita was not ascertained by the
department, due to lack Of taxation
statistics for 1912 from some small
incorporated places, but this capita
increase apparently would be some
thing over 100 per cent.
During he same ten year period the
public debt of the State and all its
subsidiary taxing divisions showed
similar skyrocketing. This debt in
creased from S59,545,797 in 1912 to
$120, 1902 last year, an increase of
1913 per cent.
For those figures the department
also offers the per capita increase,
which is a more correct method of
measurement. 1t shows a jump from
S44.76 per capita in 1912 to S81. 43
last year, or a fraction under So per
cent increase for each individual in
the State.
A total sum Of S46,753,173 was col
lected in taxes by the various taxing
units last year. The revenue came
from four generous bases-general
property taxes, special taxes, licenses
and permits and special assessments.
General property taxes provided
| $36,306,223 Of the total revenue;
special property taxes totalled $685.
SAT; the income from licenses and
permits was S6,517,776, and special
assessments for improvements ac-
counted for $99O.827.
In 1912, statistics on revenue were
not collected from incorporated places
with a population under $500, and
from certain other minor subdivisions.
BY emitting the same places from
last years returns, the department
has obtained however, a pretty ac-
curate comparison Of the percentage
of increase in the various types Of
taxes,
This comparison shows that the in
crease in the general property tax
over the 10 year period was 1873 per
cent, Or within / per cent of the IN
crease for all taxes as a whole. In
1912 the revenue from general prop
elty taxation, in round figures, was
SIS, 900 while the last year it was
1866, CAB, goo.
Special taxes increased 305 per cent
i'll the same period, or from total
Of $725,000 to $685. 900. Special
improvement assessment showed an
even greater increase, jumping from
S163, 0G0 in 1912 to $929OOO last year,
a raise Of 40 per cent.
The revenue from licenses and per-
mits made the smallest jump, the
total 10 years ago being $3.373, 900,
while last year it was S6,508,OOO, an
increase Of % per cent.
The ALLEGATION of last years tax
burdens shows that most of them
were levied by the towns and cities,
with state taxes next and county
taxes last. Of the S40,OOO,OOO total
the cities and towns over $500 popu-
lation collected some $25,O16.OOO; the
state gathered in S12,442,O0O and the
counties S8,955,000.
Of the revenue the towns and cit.
les got S22,650,000 from genera
property taxes, $567 900 from specia
taxes, $884,00O from licenses and per.
mits and S915,000 from special i'm
provement assessments.
The state got S4,73S,O0O of its in
come from the general property tax
S2,126,000 from special taxes, S5,57S,
600 from licenses and permits anC
none from special assessments.
The counties obtained PRACTICAL,
all their revenue from the genera
property tax, the income from thi
source tOtalling some $3.50, 900. Spe
cial taxes provided the counties will
S240,0O0. licenses gave them S46,000
and special assessmens $4,000.
The report also allocatec the publi
debt among the various taxing divi
sions. This table shows that tn
states debt has increased, IN roun,
figures, from S7,334,OOO in 1912 t.
, 500, 10000 last year, a jump of 20
) per cent; the county's debts have in
creased from S$2,859,OOO to 1888,
600, a l76 per cent increase, Will
the debt of all other subdivisions
including cities, towns, villages, an
sanitary districts, has risen frar
T $40, ,000to S90,939,0OO, an increas
| of "a per cent.
The assessed valuation of all prop
{ erty subject to general propert
= taxes was $1,795 100000, in roun
= figures, last year, as against $1,235,
457,00 ten years ago.
This is an increase of only As pc
cent, as compared with an increase