Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-04
OFFICIALS SILENT
ON $3.50 TAX RATE
Reluctant to Discuss Budget
Limit of $41,000,oOO
Urged by Council.

District officials were reluctant to-
day to discuss the action of the Citi-
Zens' Advisory Council last night in
tentatively recommending a budget of
SAL 900 900 for the fiscal year of 1928
1929 predicated on a tax rate of S1.S0
on 500 of assessed valuation.
Among the Commissioners who
have the authority to fix the rate of
taxation as we'll as those officials who
have to concern themselves with real
estate assessments and the making of
the budget the consensus seems to
be that it is far too early to speculate
on tax rate for 192S-1929, when the
rate for 1927-192S has not yet been
determined. The factors that enter
into the fixing of tax rate and the
conditions that determine real estate
values are too uncertain, it was
pointed out. to even attempt to pre-
dict a possible rate a year in advance.
The Commissioners, however, prom
ise to give serious consideration to the
recommendations of the Advisory
Council. as we'll asst those of the Board
of Trade, the Washington Chamber of
Commerce and the Merchants and
Manufacturers Association, which
have been given copies of the esti-
mates of the department heads for
conSiderat ton. These organizations
have not yet indicated their views as
to the appropriation they will favor for
the 192S-29 fiscal year
Council Urges $l.SO Rate.
The council placed itself on record
last night as tentatively favoring
budget for the fiscal year ending June
80. 1929, predicated on a tax rate
of S1.S0. with an appropriation limita
ton of approximately S41 100000.
Action was taken at the outset of
it's consideration of the estimates of
the department heads of the District
Government for the 192S-1929 fiscal
yeaI. which call for appropriations
amounting to $50, 762 .543. The coun-
Gil then set to work to trim the estI.
mates of the department heads to its
own figure of $41 .O00. 900.
The District Commissioners have
given the council until June Is to
submit its budget recommendations
In order to complete the survey of
the estimates of the department heads
by that date, meetings will be held
every afternoon next week, excluding
Saturday. from 2:3O to $50 o'clock.
improvements Planned.
George G.. Havenner. author of the
motion which the council adopted
favOring budget limitation of Sill
900 900 with a $3.50 tax rate, pointed
out that every section of the District
is contemplating improvements. and
that a lower rate would not permit
them, or allow the District to catch
up in accumulated arrearages in street
paving, lighting. and sorely needed
sewer and water main extensions.
Moreover, he said, the $3.50 rate
which is in effect for the current fiscal
year, should not be reduced because
it is not a psychological time in view
of the attempts being made to have
the Federal Governments annual con-
tribution to the expenses of the Dis
trict cut below SO 900 900.
A slight modification in Mr.. Haven
ner'S motion was suggested by Edwin
S. Hege, who thought that a slight
reduction in the present $3.50 rate was
advisable because of the recently in
creased assessments on real estate for
rate-making purposes. THE arSu-
ment of Mr.. Havenner is very sound"
he said, "but my only doubt is
whether it might not be as well if the
tax rate could be brought little under
$3.50. and in no circumstance under
$40"
Mr.. Havenner argued, however, that |
the District is faced with an era of |
prosperity and that the time is
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