The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-10-05
$3.50 TAX TO
Be ENFORCED,
MAYOR TOLD
Three Members of County
Board Insist Budgets
Must Be SIaShed.
COMPROMISE POSSIBLE
Sullivan Warns Absolute
Collapse of Government
May Result.

W0 lbG0AIbR
Enforcement of the new $3.50 tax
limit law in Marion county APP
peared highly probable today as
the county tax adjustment board
ended its scrutiny of department
budgets.
Although the board tentatively
has fixed a county tax rate of Alps
cents, three members definitely are
advocating adoption of the tax
limit law. thus baking four re-
manning members from raising the
rate above $1.50. A 5-to-2 vote is
required to set aside provisions of
the new law.
Possibility of compromise
doomed, however, at the close of the
session, when Leo K. Fesler, one of
the three members advocating en-
forcement of the new law, stated
that the minority would accede to
a higher rate if other members
would agree to keep the 1888 rate
to an irreducible minimum.
He is supported in his stand by
Albert Uhl and Nicholas Noyes,
other members of the body.
Sullivan Defends Rate
Four remaining members of the
board opposing invoking of the tax
limit law are Charles Grossart,
county auditor, and county coun-
cilmen Charles RoeSener, John New
house and Walter Boetcher.
Close of the boards deliberations
came after Mayor Reginald H. Sui
Ivan appeared to defend the city's
budget and to argue against dras-
tic parking of public expenditures
to avoid what he terms collapse of
government"
Sullivan declared that the city's
new budget actually represents a
savings of 100000 to taxpayers as
compared to last years budget.
The budget, on which next years
taxes will be levied, actually repre-
sents substantial tax decrease, eff
feet of which has been nullif1ed
however, he declared, because of tax
delinquencies and reduced assess
ment rolls.
Stresses Poor Relief
Sullivan declared city budget
makers had scrutinized every item
with the aim of eliminating waste
and eXtravagance, and pointed to
numerous departments of the gov
eminent as necessitating fixed funds.
These he qualified as unacceptable
expenses"
He cited poor relief as one Of the
largest factors in budget making.
The city, he declared, has reduced
pay rolls and salaries more than
prescribed by the special session of
the legislature.
Absolute essentials in conduct OF
city government next year require
rate of Slip, leaving an 18-cent levy
With which to finance such branches
as the park board, planning COM
mission, airports and city market.
Sullivan struck at utilities, assert
ing city officials had attempted to
obtain from the Indianapolis Water
Company and the Indianapolis Pow
err and Light Company a cut, of
$2500O0 for next year. This saw
ing finally was. reduced to only
$4,000, he pointed out.
Hospital Levy Cut
Fesler told Sullivan that as far
as he, an individual member of the
adjustment board, is concerned, the
$1.50 tax rate will be enforced in
Marion county. Fesler declared he
is supported by Uhl and Noyes.
Protests of the three members,
Fesler declared, will prevent raising
of the 1882 rate above $3.50.
Caucuses were expected to be held
by the board to arrive at decision.
Only one reduction, a 12-cent
slash of the 21a cent tuberculosis
hospital levy, was voted by the
board.
This cut only affects the county
hospital at Sunnyside, where sal
aries of employees receiving more
than $4,000 we're reduced Is per
cent. Salary of the superintendent
was reduced 40 per cent.
Clear Legal Questions
Several legal questions were
cleared for the board by two attor-
neys, Charles Remster and Robert
T. McCord, called into the session.
They advised the board had au-
thority to refund 1895, 1898 of poor
relief bonds next year, suggesting
that only so per cent be refunded.
They warned the board to avoid
refunding other bonds, due to the
clouded tax situation imposed by
the $1.50 limit law.
Authority of the board to say
where various cuts shall be made
/ in budgets was questioned by
Remster. He gave an opinion the
board can cut the total levy of any
tax unit. make suggestions where
cuts can be made, but leave it to
The units to apportion the reduc-
] ions.