Evening star., 1935-09-15
D. c, TAX REVENUE
IS CUT S6O,8S BY
j. S. LAND BUYING
Drop in Taxable Property
Expected to Bring Re-
vision of System.
HIGHER UTILITIES
SCALE is PROPOSED
New Measures May Be Dictated
Largely by Amount of Money
Found Necessary.
BY DON S. WARREN.


Real estate valued at $4,726,45
was exempted from taxation here
during the past year, due almost en-
tirely to purchases Of property for
Federal and District Government use,
causing a $60,896 loss of tax reve-
nues, Tax Assessor William P. Rich
ards revealed yesterday.
He reported the final total of realty
assessments for the present year,
on which the first payment of taxes
is due this month, amounted to ST.
l3l,798384. This shows a decline
of s1,029,00o from the total assess
ment for the past fiscal year.
Some weeks ago the assessor esti-
mated the total assessment for this
year would run to $l,138, 900 900. At
the time he did not have figures in
hand on the amount Of exemptions
to be deducted due to the Government
land purchase. Deductions since
credited for this reason account for
practically all Of the change in his
estimate
ctuuACu lut AtNNtSiOhs
The facts of the trend of assess
ments and the huge amount of land
here that is in the tax exempt class
will be considered by members of the
Municipal Taxation Committee in its
studies of possible and proposed re-
vision of the present system of tax
revenues.
This was announced yesterday by
Corporation Counsel E. Barrett Pretty
man, who is head of the committee.
Other members are Auditor Daniel J.
Donovan, Tax Assessor Richards,
Utilities Commissioner Richmond B.
Keech, Peoples Counsel william A.
Roberts and Director of Highways H
c. Whitehurst.
Prettyman yesterday made public
an outline of the plan of his COM
mittee's studies. First of all, he said,
the group would make an analysis of
the present revenues of the District,
making note of the question Of what
may be expected to be the Federal
payment towards expenses Of the Ma
tional Capital. For the present year
this Is $5,700,000. For the next year
The Commissioners will ask $8,3l7 900,
the same as requested for the present
year. which met with Senate ap-
proval but which was beaten down in
the House.
S55,oO0,O00 Total Asked.
Also. the committee will consider
the expected needs of the District in
1887, as measured by requests of de-
partment heads and the action of the
Commissioners on them. The budget
proposals of department executives
totaled nearly SIS, 100000. The Com
missioners have said they will shave
these to about 5000, 600
A sliding scale Of proposed revenue
producing measures, Prettyman said,
would be the object of the committee.
Its aim will be to suggest certain
measures if, say 1000 900 more in
revenue is required to meet revenue
demands; and other measures if So
100000 over present expected revenues
Is anticipated; and so on. There may
be some proposals for revision of pres
snt tax measures or suggestions of how
much revenue might be obtained
through adoption of new expedients
IN taxation, he said.
z Utilities Tax Raise Weighed.
The committee will consider propo-
sails for increased taxation on utili-
ties. Various District officials already
have advised the Commissioners there
Is need of upward revision there.
Other suggestions are for a boost in
the gasoline tax. adoption of a weight
tax on automobiles, adoption of an
or estate tax, and the
income tax
Outside of an increase in utilities
taxes, the committee members have
not indicated what, if any, new taxes
the committee may recommend. An
exception to this Is that Prettyman
some months ago drafted a proposed
inheritance tax measure for the Dis
trict.
Prettyman said figures studied so
far reveal clearly that the margin be-
tween costs Of operation of the Dis
trict and its total revenues has been
getting smaller and smaller in recent
years. This means, he emphasized,
that less and less money Is being left
for capital Improvements. despite the
needs Of growing city.
The report of the tax assessor shows
that the grand total assessment for
this year is expected. to produce in
taxes $16,976,975.76. OF the total as
sessment of $1,131, ,789, ,384. the sum of