The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-09-30
REALTY GROUP
TO WAGE FIGHT
ON TAX RATES
State Group May Appeal to
u. S. Court in Move
Against Order.

First verbal barrage in the battle
attacking the declaration Of tax
emergency by the county board OF
tax adjustment, which blocks pro-
visions of the $3.50 law, was fired
shortly after the board issued an
order Friday fixing the total rate.
Albert E. Uhl, president of the
Indiana Real Estate Association,
called the order IAN insult to the
intelligence of the taxpayers" and
Lawrence G. Holmes, secretary OF
the indianapolis Real Estate Board,
threatened appeal of the order which
raised the total tax rate above the
ST rural limit and the $3.50 urban
maximum.
"It is possible that We will at
tempt to enjoin the collection OF
taxes in federal court on the theory
that the boards disregard of the
$1.50 law will mean conf1scation OF
property without due process OF
law" Mr.. Uhl declared. 1--WE are
not certain of carrying the matter
to federal court, but I will say that
we intend to take the matter into
court, if the state tax board does
not reduce the levies."
Brands Act Insult
"The action of the county tax
board in reducing the tax levies for
the various municipalities in the
county by only 2 cents is an insult
to the intelligence of the taxpayers
Uhl said.
Required by law to explain why
an emergency exists for raising the
tax rate above $1.50, the board
adopted a resolution establishing
seven separate points.
Forest M. knight, Indianapolis
.realtor, was the only member of the
board to vote against the resolution.
He explained his vote by stating
that he was not in favor of the
resolution except as it provided for
debt service and the reductions
made by the board during its seS-
sion.
Cites Reasons for Act
The points are:
l. Existing contractual and gov
ernmental obligations.
2. Fixed charges of municipal cor
porations.
3. Necessity of maintaining rea-
sonable efficiency in governmental
functions, protecting and preserv-
ing property of municipal corpora
tions, together with the preservation
of the peace, health, safety, SANTA
ton, we'll being and educational IA
cilities of the general public.
4. If the respective levies should
be combined to meet requirement of
the $3.50 law it would be impossi-
BILE to carry on and maintai ma rea-
sonably adequate and efficient gov
eminent.
Action Near Deadline
5. Large reductions in taxable
property valutions made by the Off
Gals having authority in such mat
tiers.
6. That board must act before
Oct. l.
7. The pressing necessity and
eXigency which exists on account OF
each and all of the foregoing.
Inclusion of the valuation reduc-
lions in the formal order of the
board appears to represent a posi-
Bile solution of the tax situation in
the future.
Russell Wilson, representative of
the school city on the tax board,
moved adoption of the resolution.
1t was seconded by Frank Quinn,
vice-president of Kingan & Co.
The order was prepared by
Joseph Daniels, school board at
torney; Edward Knight, corpora
ton counsel; James E. Deery, city
attorney, and Charles Clarke, coun-
ty attorney.
After the vote was announced
the board members signed the reso-
luton and adjourned.
A change was made in the pre-
viously adopted Pike township rate
to raise the total rate to $1.85.