Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-06
Would Answer Critics.

Would Answer Critics.
In answer to critics of the District
who point out that the tax rate here
is below that Of other cities, the Board
of Trade expects to prove by means
Of the tax survey that due to the full
valuation in assessments here, the
heavy development program for the
National Capital, which is not paral-
leled in other cities, and the with
drawal of taxable property for Federal
uses here. the local tax burden Is un-
fairly high.
pared for the survey includes the fol-
lowing requests for facts:
Name of city.
2-Population.
3-Total true value Of taxable real
estate.
What is the tax rate per 500
assessed value on realty?
Show much revenue does this pro.
duce annually?
6-What is the total assessed value
of real property within the corporate
limits Of your city?
Exact Realty Tax.
What is the exact amount Of
realty tax paid on a house, the sale
price of which is $4,000?
S-WhaC is the exact amount Of
realty tax paid on a business property
the value of which is 100000?
9-Has the assessment on real prop
erty in your city raised or dropped
in the past three years, and if so, how
much?
1O-Has the real estate tax rate in
your city raised or dropped in the
past three years, and if so. how
much?
Ills there any ordinance in your
community regulating the value OF
assessments on real property?
Assessment Considered.
Eff the law of your city provides
for a 100 per cent of true value for
tax purposes, is it customary to as
sess such property at the market
value?
13-What is the annual ratio of
non-collectible taxes to the amounts
paid?
14--What is the value of intangible
property; the tax rate on such prop
erty; has this rate been raised or
dropped in the past few years?
15-Has your city any bonded in
debtedness: how much of the taxes
is due to this bonded indebtedness?
16-What is the percentage of prop
erty within your city which Is ex.
empt from taxation?
Comparison Called Unfair.
Comparison of the tax rate alone
of the District with that OF other
cities, the Board of Trade has pointed
out on numerous occasions, is unfair
because it does not show the true bur-
den borne by reason of taxation here
being based on fun valuation. Yet
time and again, it is recalled, this ar
has been used in discussions
Of the problem before Congress.
Information gathered by the ques-
tionnaire it is understood, is 10 be
employed in presenting to Congress at
the coming session a statement Of
facts showing what the actual situa-
ton is in reference to the cost of the
and upbuilding of the
National Capital and showing what
should be the proportion borne by the
Federal Government and what by the
citizens Of Washington.
While the tax burden OF many cities
IF the country in the past few years
mas been reduced. it is pointed out,
the tax rate of Washington has been
On the ascending scale. In addition.
the tax burden OF Washington has
been heavily increased at the same
time by the considerable boosts made
n the assessed valuation of property.
Capitals Position Peculiar.
Washington stands in a peculiar
position in regard to taxa ION, as con-
.rasted with other cities Of the Ma
ion, due to the fact that the District
If Columbia is the home of the Fed
orx,f r,4f &c, n F0H 9
rolled bv Congress rather than the
taxpayers and citizens.
Whereas the size of the budget nee
,ssary for the operation of the Dis
riot of Columbia has been growing
W leaps and bounds in recent years,
t is further pointed out by trade body
officials the Federal Governments
has constituted year by
rear a smaller proportion Of the total
,osts.
Aroused over the danger to the finan-
.ial stability to Washington grow
ng out of this situation, the Board Of
Trade recently Joined with the Wash
ngton Chamber of Commerce and
he Merchants and Manufacturers
association in appealing to the Dis
riot Commissioners for relief.
Joint Report Adopted.
A Joint committee representing the
hree business organizations adopted
report recommending limitation Of
he budget for the fiscal year 1899
0 not more than S43. SOC, 900 and to
odd the tax rate for that year down
o $165.
In taking this action, the Board Of
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