Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-11-01

oennlCe plan Tor mOdern1Zing the
Districts tax billing and collecting
methods, as well as the mechanical
equipment used for that purpose, will
be submitted Wednesday to the special
committee appointed by the Commits
sioners to make an exhaustive study
of the subject by Rufus s. Lusk, one
Of the members.
Lusk, who is chairman Of the sub
committee on Office procedure of the
full committee, has just returned from
trip to Cincinnati, Louisville and
Pittsburgh, where he studied tax bill
ing and collecting systems, firmly con-
vinced that the Districts method Is
outmoded and inefficient.
The system used in Hamilton Coun-
ty, Ohio, in which Cincinnati is To-
Gated, particularly impressed Lusk.
1.-THE adoption of an addressing,
billing and collection system such as
exists in Hamilton County" he de-
clared, would pay for itself in reduced
costs within less than year, save
every taxpayer much annoyance and
trouble, and lift a great burden from
the shoulders Of the assessor"
Ohio County's System.
Lusk pointed out that in Howard
County, with q number Of different
tax rates. such as those for schools,
roads, ETC., the entire tax billing job
Is handled by 80 employees, using, of
course, modern automatic billing ma
chimes. In Washington, which has
only one tax rate, he said. about so
employees are needed to handle the
real estate bills.
Howard County, according to Lusk,
has q central billing Office in Gin
cinnati, where bills are made up for
all tax accounts and mailed out to
taxpayers. The office is equipped
with the most modern billing equip
ment, which notes all taxes on the
same bill.
In Washington, however, Lusk ex-
planned, separate bills are prepared
for the various taxes-real estate, per-
sonal, special assessments and tax ar
rears. Not only does the District
fail to mail real estate tax bills. I'M
less specifically requested, he said, but
these bills do not list the arrears in
taxes, if any exist.
The efficiency of the Howard County
system, Lusk declared. has resulted
in about rs per cent Of the taxpayers
paying bills by mail, and enabled q
reduction from IL to 5 in the staff
of cashiers.
Sees $20o, 1000 Yearly Loss.
Howard County's method of collect
ing delinquent personal property taxes
also impressed Lusk because Of his be-
lief that the District Is losing between
$150,000 and 100000 year because
of its failure to push vigorously the
collection of delinquent personal prop
erty taxes.
In Howard County, the day after
personal taxes are overdue, the de-
linquent taxpayer is notified by the
machines that keep an automatic
check on his account. On this notice,
the following warning Is printed:
If this bill for taxes-now delin-
quent-is not paid within 10 days, the
matter will be referred to the prose-
cutting attorney Of Hamilton County.
In that event there will be additional
court costs"
This notice also cites the law which
requires the treasurer of the county
to enforce the collection Of unpaid
taxes by civil action.
by the use Of that system, Lusk de-
clared. Howard County has increased
the collection Of delinquent personal
taxes by 400 per cent"
In comparison, Lusk said, the Dis
trict's system IS archaic" Here, he
explained, q notice Of personal prop
erty tax delinquency Is not mailed