Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-12
ALEXANDRIA MAKES
CHANGE IN TAX LAW
Grants Citizens Six Months
LeeWay in Paying Second
Half of Levy.
Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
) ALEXANDRIA. Va, July 12.-The
law governing the semi-annual collec-
ton of real estate taxes was changed
by the City Council at its meeting at
City Hall Yesterday with the adoption
extension of six months before the
second half of their annual tax bills
becomes due.
AS the law formerly stood the first
half Of the annual bill fell due on May
Is, and if unpaid, the total amount of
the annual bill was Immediately ad-
judged delinquent and the penalty for
delinquency was at once imposed for
both the first and second halves.
Under New Ordinance.
Under the new ordinance the first
half of the annual tax bills will become
due on June Is and the second half
will not become due until November
Is, whether or not the taxpayer has
paid the first half of the yearly bill.
The penalties to be assessed for nom
payment will be. on the first half l per
cent If paid during the period June l6
to 30: 2 per cent if paid in July; 3 per
cent If paid in August, 4 per cent If paid
in September, per cent if paid in
october, per cent if paid in Novem-
her and 7 per cent in December. On
the second half there will be penalty
of per cent If paid in the period from
November 16 to 80; per cent If paid
in December, and in addition to these
penalties interest at the rate of per
cent per annum will be added from
January l. 1880.
We have made a change in ordi-
nances governing real estate tax collec-
tons" said Mayor William Albert
Smoot. in explaining the change, be
cause the old method works a hardship
on the taxpayer.
For Convenience of Payers.
1.-THE adoption of the semi-annual col.
lection of real estate taxes was made
for the convenience Of taxpayers after
careful study Of the tax laws of citiet
collecting their tax bills sen1i-annually
We adopted the method which at that
time deemed best to us.
Since then We have learned thai
when the taxpayer did not pay the first
half OF his taxes, this made his entire
tax bill delinquent working a hardship
because the second half really was not
delinquent for six months. The new
ordinance rectifies this, and the seconc
half is not delinquent now until Novem-
Der IS, six months later than was the
case in the former ordinance.
To Connect Gas Mains.
An appropriation Of $500 was made
by the council for the connection OF
dead end" gas mains on Morgan place
and Elm street in Rosemont assuring
resident in that section a much i'm
proved flow of gas.
The Council also appropriated $3.50
to defrav one-haif of the expenses of
sending the Citizens Band to Lexing-
ton. Va, with the Alexandria Fire De-
drft4 fAy 10 -
the Virginia State Firemen'S AsSocia-
ton August %. q and %.
Mrs, John w. Travers. president OF
the Alexandria Fire Department Auxil-
lay. who appeared before the council
end asked that the appropriation for
the band be made, promised the coun-
Gil that the auxiliary would raise the
other $3.50 needed to take the band tc
Lexington.
Resolutions appropriating S2,50o to
retain the Tan Yard sewer, on South
Washington street. which caVed in re-
Gently as a result of heavy rainfall;
$1,000 for the construction of a con-
crete culvert at Janrey's lane and Tay-
1ors Run; ST 900 for the construction of
a wooden bridge ID feet wide by ~ feet
long over Hooff's Run at Prince street,
and sr,500 for bulkheading and filling in
at the King street dock were received
and held over.
Several other measures, including one
for the purchase of an aerial truck for
the Alexandria Fire Department and
several for street repair work, were
scheduled for consideration, but were
postponed until the council meets in an
informal session at City Hall Tuesday
afternoon at O'Clock
The council also deferred action on
the application filed by Agnes G. Gael
for permission to construct and main
tain a gasoline filling station at the
southwest corner of Washington and
Wilkes streets.