The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-11-05
Milwaukee's Tax Revolt
washington STAR

Last year Milwaukee received con-
siderable publicity through news dis
patches which pictured it as one of
the nations municipalities tn
through sound local government had
achieved a balanced budget and re-
auctions in local taxes while other
cities were groaning under a tax
burden threatening municipal bank
ruptcy. For this reason, if for NO
ether, the news story in todays Star
reporting that everything is not as
bright as pictured in Milwaukee is
interesting. Part of the discomfort
by taxpayers in Milwaukee may be
attributed to politics and efforts to
capitalize the local tax burden for
purposes Of defeating the Socialist
city administration. But without re-
gard to the political complications. it
is interesting enough to note the
methods taken by taxpayers in this
admittedly well-governed municipal
ity to decrease their tax burden.
Taxpayers have formed organiza-
tons to bring about a $5OOO,OOO re-
duction in the city budget by charter
ordinance. The fate of the ordinance
will depend upon the result of re-
ferendum vote in November, by
which the voters will express their
choice regarding initiation of the
tax-reducing legislation. Should the
vote favor reduction. the tax rate
would be cut by about 50 a thousand
Of assessed valuation. This effort OF
the taxpayers to take budget making
into their own hands is in addition
to law suits contesting assessments
the result Of which might be to hold
up collection Of taxes, as in some seq
lions of Cook county, Ill.,, and by
petitions to the state tax commission
to reassess real estate, the petitions
alleging unequal and exorbitant as
sessment.
The 1880 census figures give Mil
waukee a population Of $50, 400; a
realty assessment of 1888 ,874,19O and
total property assessment of ST..
1892 The figures for the same
year for Washington are: population
200; realty assessment, 81, 1872, 463,.
345, and total property assessment
81 1884 ,858,008. Milwaukee's total tai
levy, less interest on bonded indebt.
edness. is $32,577,03l (for 1890, a.
compared with WaShington's $26,.
878,73O. From these comparisons il
is seen that Washington, with prac.
tically one hundred thousand les.
population than Milwaukee, pays tax.
es on an assessed valuation that ex.
ceeds Milwaukee's by something NOR;
than $700 1000 900. If the relation be-
tween Milwaukee's and Washington
total tax levy Qess INTEREST," is tn
same now as in the fiscal year 1890
Milwaukee would reduce its tax lev,
to figure approximately that O
Washington. Because Of the differ
ence in population the per capita ia,
burden Of Milwaukee would, o
course, be less.
An arbitrary declaration by tax
payers that their budget must be re
duced by as much as 100000 is
hazardous method of effecting eco
ncmies. It is apt to destroy essen
tial activities and result in no rea
savings. The interesting thing abou
the. taxpayers revolt In Milwaukee
however, is the illustration of hoy
the taxpayers themselves feel towar,
their tax burden. This is especial
interesting to Washingtonians, VIII
not only have no power to expires
themselves on how much or why the
are taxed, but who are denied eve
the privilege Of knowing the size {
the budget now being prepared fc
them.