The Washington times., 1925-05-05
The Increasing Tax Rate for
the District
By BILL PRICE.


For the fiscal year which will end June So the tax rate
of District citizens $40 per 500 assessed valuations
For the year. beginning July the rate will be fixed
meet the appropriations for that District authorities
by the end Of june will know what the tax collections were
the present year and will be able to estimate the
that will the fiscal requirement Of the following
year.
is now estimated that the fiscal year 19266
will be between $1.60 and SITS per $100
This merely straight rate upon the citizens of
the District It include various special assessments
the auto tax, the water tax intangible taxes etc.
increasing is due to the determination Of Congress
give the Federal Governments part Of revenues
necessary to the Federal Capital 100000 year.
certain cotee House Appropriations Committee has
had its way in Of Federal participation overriding
the literally inclined Senate This coterie has served
notice that District people spend all the money they want
in the future making FEDERAL CAPITAL beautiful,
but that Congress will go beyond 100000 each year.
about oneuh of the total necessary for municipal
needs at the present time
that policy is adhered to in future years people
Washington will bear increasing burden that this
NATIONAL CITY may be what it should be.
Notice has already been that the newly selected
Advisory Council will face Of the sfest propositions
to before it, that of this increasing rate The Council
will presumably take hand in framing the estimates for the
fiscal year 1851 These estimates submitted
another Federal agency the Budget Bureau which viii slash
them in accordance with its own fancies.
Thus far than teefourths Of the money necessary
for the District Of Columbia including that collected from
people Of the District Is fully controlled By two Federal
agencies-the Budget Bureau and Congress Despite all
vast interests this great city the Federal Government
in measley proportion but absolutely controls and directs
the expenditure of EVERY DOLLAR that is paid out.
With the growing needs Of this city in future years and
the burden Of supplying the money upon the local public
matter Of future tax rates is becoming the foremost Of all
local questions.
The Commissioners and the Advisory Council for example,
win be confronted with many demands for the fiscal year
1851 these demands result in larger appropriations than
for the coming fiscal year the expenditures be supplied
from the pockets of District taxpayers.
There fast approaching the time when local people viii
rebel carrying the major load of national responsibilities
tn in
the distribution of the moneys they pay into the Treasury
the form Of all sorts Of taxes.
So the framing Of the estimates for 192627 going
be soft Our municipal needs in the future be
met but must do it with great Our pride
beautiful city must not lessen but it is not right fair that
the people Of Washington shall be compelled carry
cesve tax burdens for the maintenance of strictly Federal
city IN the running Of which they have voice and no
suffrage or other rights.
Even suffrage and active participation in affairs
would net ene to be imposed upon. We being i'm
posed upon by Congress in its attitude of 100000 lump
appropriation each year. and Congress should
not shift to shoulders the load Of keeping Washington
worlds most attractive city We must continue the fight for
justice and right for ourselves and for the beloved which
belongs to the whole nation.