Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-31
$17,O0,000 Increase Over
Last Year Is Estimated
by Richards.
NEW BUILDINGS PROVIDE
W0-THIRDS or BOOST
Advances on Existing Structures
Put at 100000, Due to
Changing Conditions.

AS washington property owners pre-
pare to pay during the next 80 days the
first half of their real estate taxes for
the current fiscal year, some of them
will find their assessments increased
for the total assessed value for this year
is estimated by Assessor William P.
Richards to be approximately $780,
100000, or about $17,50O, 900 more than
last year.
OF the $17,500,0o0 increase in the
total valuation. Mr.. Richards figures
that tWo-thirds consists of new build
ings placed on the books, leaving about
$7000,000 of additional assessments on
previously existing properties. He esti-
mates that the increase in the total over
last years assessment is about 2 per
cent
There was not general increase of
assessments all over the District, but in
localities where, in the opinion of the
appraisers, values were affected by
changing conditions.
$2O,5OO,OOO m Revenue.
With the tax rate at s1.7o per $10o
OF assessed value, this new total as
sessment of 81 200 900, 900 in round
numbers is expected to produce some
where near $20500,000 in real estate
taxes for the current fiscal year, of
winch half is due during the coming
month and the balance next March.
according to the assessors Office. the
increased assessments will be noticed
along the outer stretches of Connecticut
avenue and Fourteenth street; in GER
tam spots IN the Northwest section of
the city proper, near business actiyi-
ties; whenever coming changes have
given enhanced value; also on the outer
cages OF the city proper in the North
east ana southeast sections. In the
Southwest there were few changes in
land values.
The assessments on which the tax
bills for the present fiscal year are
baSed we're made prior to january 1890
since the law requires the Beard Of
Equalization and Review to sit from
the firSt Monday in January to the first
Monday in June to hear appeals. Out
OIL the nearly 100000 pieces of prop
erty assessed there were 500 appeals
filed this year, which was about the
Same as for the past two or three years.
although somewhat more than were
MED fiye years ago.
Total Climbs Steadily.
A study of the figures for the seven
years since the District began assess
ing on full value instead of a two
thiros basis shows that the total as
sessment of land and improvements
here has climbed steadily from $723,-
about $l,200, 900 600
Discussing the outlook for the future
Mr. Richards expressed the view that
while the total of assessed value will
continue to increase annually at about
the same rate as the population in
creaSes and as new buildings are added,
he predicted that assessments in the
next few years will be more stabilized
than they have been in the seven-year
period just passed. Indications are that
II the Districts annual budget continues
to go up, the further raising of as
sesSments on real estate cannot be
looked to as means of producing very
much additional revenue. But If Con-
gress should require the District to meet
the growing expenditures without in
creasing the Federal share, the result
would be an increase in the tax rate,
and the effect on the taxpayers pocket
book is just as burdensome whether
his tax bill goes up by way of a grow
ing assessment or mounting tax rate.
Senate Takes Notice.
The Senate took notice in the last
session of the growing disparity between
the increasing total of District expendi-
lures and the hitherto stationary Fed
eral contribution of $4,000 900. After q
strenuous battle in conference the Sen
ators obtained an increase from the
House Of $500, 900 for the current year.
While they accepted this figure as a
| compromise to end the deadlock over
the bill the Senate group regarded $l2,-
100000 as fair proportion for the
Federal Government.
This question of how the expenses
Of the National Capital should be ap-
portioned between the District taxpayer
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