Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-14
Assessment Total Estimated
for Fiscal Year 1882
Boosted S18, 300, 900.
PROPOSED NEW TAXES
MIGHT NET $4,000, 900
Inheritance, Income, Extra 2-Cent
Gasoline and Auto Weight
Levies Are Suggested.

While local officials and taxpayers
were endeavoring to figure out how
much more revenue would be demanded
from local sources If all the new forms
of taxation suggested by the special
House Committee were enacted, 1t de-
veloped yesterday that there will be an
increase of $3400 900 in revenue from
real estate taxes in the fiscal year
which begins July l.
The real estate assessment for the
current fiscal year was $l,21l 1852, 6l8,
and produced real estate tax of 500
$50, 1854. The exact total of the new as
sessment for the fiscal year 1882 is not
known, because new buildings are be-
ing added, but the assessors Office esti-
mates it will be about $3.50 000, 900.
This would be an increase of approx
mately $l8,800,000 in the total assessed
value.
The assessors Office calculates that
half of the increase in the total assess
ment represents new buildings added to
the books during the year, and that the
other half is enhancement OF land val
ueS in suburban areas. In the business
SCCtlOll. IL was SIdIChi lAlCAC nCAC oOAAAC
reductions in assessments Otherwise,
there were no general revisions. In the
District the real estate assessment Is on
an annual basis and the books are open
for review from January to June /.
S3,SOO,OOO More Possible.
. Rough estimates gathered from vari-
ouS local officials indicate that If all the
proposed changes in taxation recon-
mended by the House group or sug-
geSted for further study were enacted
into law. the additional revenue col
lected from local sources might reach
So, goo, 600
Definite calculations as to the total
that would be involved in the whole
program are difficult to make at this
time, it was explained because with
respect to some of the new channels
of taxation suggested, the determining
factors would be in the detailed pro-
visions of the proposed legislation. Based
on a certain degree of assumption as
to what the details probably would be,
local officials indicate the additional
revenue might turn out about as follows:
From an inheritance tax, 100000;
from an additional 2cent tax on gaso-
line, 81 100000: from an automobile tax
based on weight of the vehicle, estimates
varying from $1.200,000 to 81 100000,
assuming it would be in lieu Of the pres
ent personal tax on autos; form the
proposed changes in taxes on public
utilities, approximately 100000; from
an income tax in lieu of the intangible
personal tax, about $780, additional,
depending. however, on the rates and
exemptions.
Estate Tax Deduction.
If the tax on automobiles by weight
is figured at 81, 100000. these various
estimates would amount to $4,000, 900.
In figuring the net increase of taxation
which would be paid out by local resi-
dents, however, a deduction must be
made from the estimate on inheritance
tax, because Washington already Is sub
ject to the Federal estate tax, and the
Federal Government allows taxpayers
to deduct similar taxes paid locally, but
not to exceed 80 per cent of the Fed
eral tax. If this 80 per cent credit
on Federal estate taxes now being paid
in Washington amounted to 100000 a
year, as one official estimated, it would
bring down to $3,600,000 or $4,000, 900
the net increase in taxation from local
sources under the various suggested
changes in the District tax system.
The Federal estate tax, effective in
Washington as elsewhere, allows an ex-
emption of $1,000 whereas it is under
stood the local inheritance measure
might carry a much lower exemption,
in which case it would take a tax from
smaller estates not reached by the ex-
listing Federal tax.
With the present gasoline tax at 2
cents per gallon, the gasoline tax fund
for the fiscal year now drawing to a
close is expected to amount to slightly
more than $1,690,O00, with May and
June estimated. The House Committee
proposal is to raise the gas tax to
cents, which would mean a total annual
collection of more than 100000 from
gasoline.
The present gasoline tax law requires
this money to be spent on street work
If the tax were raised to cents, thereby
producing $1,500,00 more, the law
would have to be amended to permit
some of this additional gasoline tax
money to be spent for some other mum
cipal activity. Although the District
is now spending $1,75O,OOO out of gen.
eral revenues for repairs to streets, II
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