Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-26
Financial Statistics of Cities.

The Census Bureaus report for the
year 1929 on the financial statistics
of cities, which has just been made
available, serves again to accentuate
some of the peculiar facts in relation
to Washington's unique position among
the cities Of the United States.
Ranking fourteenth among the cities
of the Nation in population, the assessed
valuation Of its general property Is ex-
ceeded by only eight of the cities, and
all Of these cities are in the group
Of over 100000 in population, in which
Washington does not belong. Again, the
figures on assessed valuation show
Washington property valued for tax
alton purposes, above comparable prop
erty in such great industrial cities
as st. Louis, Pittsburgh, San Francisco,
Milwaukee and approximating the valua-
ton of such property in Los Angeles.
Baltimore and Boston. The valuation Of
its taxable property exceeds by more than
six hundred millions the comparable
valuation Of property of the next high
est city in its own population group.
Yet, the holdings of Washington's ma
jor industry, the Federal Government
do not figure, as they are tax exempt,
In the comparison of Washington's as
sessed valuation with such valuations
of other large cities.
Washingtons per capita general tax
levy is shown by the census report to
be 1895, which compares with the
average for the United States of $49.s4.
It's per capita general tax levy is greater
than that Of Baltimore ($38.2O and
st. Louis ($40.o5) and approaches that
of Philadelphia ($51.56) and San Fran
cisco ($5l.44), these cities being over
SOC, 900 in population. In its own group
Of cities it's per capita general tax levy
is shown to be below the average
($51.65). But Washington, among all
the cities, is the only one that lacks
Indebtedness, and is the only one that
does not have to make tax levies for
annual interest payments that range,
in its own group, from Louisville's ST.
281 900 to Cincinnati's $5,776,000, and
which constitute, for this group, total
Of So, 984o00.
The figures On Indebtedness prove
once again the Bureau Of Eficiency's
findings, in its most recent comparison
of tax levies, that most of the other
cities are living beyond their income
and running into debt in order to I'M
dertake extensive programs of public
improvements" The sum total of the
Nations municipal Indebtedness is stag
gering-$6,1 100, 289, 900, an increase in
one year of $3o4.o17,ooo.
Washington's claim has always been
that in comparing tax burdens, that
part of the tax burdens Of other cities
levied to retire and to meet the interest
on bonded Indebtedness should be de-
Quoted. Otherwise, we should be COM
pairing the tax burden of tax-free
Washington, living within its means
from year to year, with the tax burdens
of other cities that have borrowed huge
sums to launch public Improvement
programs. AS Washington has no in
debtedness, it is unfair to label its tax
burden inadequate in order to lift 1t to
a figure representing the tax burden OF
debt-encumbered cities.
So 1t is with that portion Of total tax
levy representing payments in State and
county taxes. These, in comparisons
with Washington, should be eliminated,
as Washington does not pay county or
State taxes and receives in return none
of the benefits of participation in State
and county governments.
The Census Bureaus tables will be
followed by others Analysing the various
elements considered in arriving at the
totals just announced. These, presum-
ably, will be utilized in connection with
the comparison of tax burdens which
the House Fiscal Committee will I'M
doubtedly seek from its expert, Mr..
George Lord. One disadvantage, Of
course, is that the Census Bureau is
more than a year behind. Fairly APP
praised, Washington has no fear of the
results that will be shown.