Evening star., 1937-01-08

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saltImoEe 15a.as X e fS'95 fss5 $11ss55aa
q; eIevefsnd sSSasI - iisSS:sSs ssss:sS $9s4s
ssn Trsnsisco llls.55ss g 55aa77dd 1aS.5s S5s
erty, gasoline and motor registration taxes.
tax retail sales tax stis. etc TasEs
individuals owning the above heme are as
soSw IL Ms5Tsd psr gear Owns
value $500. weight $500, pounds. horse
power 1913. Uses 800 gallons Of gasoline
500 56Sa intansibie Sep Depsonsi property. Makes
merchandise purchases In amount OF
$1,000 annually.
In its study of real estate and other
taxes on typical classes of property in
the District and other cities, the COM
mittee also made appraisals on typical
properties in Alexandria, Va, and in
nearby Montgomery County, Md.
These appraisals and reports show
that for 1885 the real estate tax rate
per $1,000 of assessment was about
$2462 in Montgomery County and
$25 in Alexandria. Assessment rates,
the committee said, were relatively low,
at about so per cent, so that the
effective real estate tax rate per
81 900 value averages between $10.50
and S11 in these Washington suburbs.
These effective property tax rates, it
said, are slightly higher than those
found in the District.
Comparative Services:
In section devoted to comparative
governmental services in the District
and the II other cities. the committee
said that field observations and avail
able statistical information indicate
that residents and property owners
here are receiving services roughly
equal to the average Of the other cities.
It pointed out as noteworthy two
variations: Cd the relief burden Of
the District is half that of the other
cities, on an average; 81 that park
facilities and services of the District
are considerably above those Of the
other cities.
The summary Of this study of COM
parative governmental services re-
suited in the following conclusions:
THE District is considerably higher
than the average in number of en-
ployes.
washington retains a relatively
large number of children into the
high school period of instruction. The
elementary school situation in the
District is quite normal. A heavier
teacher load balances heavy high
school enrolment The number of
schools is relatively large and school
plant costs are relatively high.
The District has a comparatively
small relief problem. both in number
Of cases and expenditures therefor.
Liberal police man power and
equipment are provided although the
latter is relatively less modern. The
1885 crime record is relatively high.
Traffic fatalities are above average.
Police personnel assigned to traffic
duty is nearly average.
Fire personnel Is relatively large.
Fire equipment and frequency of fire
stations are below average. The in
surance rating of the District Is very
good. Very low losses reflect credit
upon the department. despite condi-
tions which automatically help to
reduce the number and size of fires.
The public health record of the
District Is consistently poor as to
birth rates, death rates and infant
mortality. The record is mixed as to
the prevalence Of communicable dis
ease cases reported.
THE District has more of its street
| mileage paved than have the other
comparable cities. The amount Of hard
surfacing is about average on popula-
ton and area bases.
THE District provides more ex-
tensive park facilities than the other
! II cities.
"The average citizen of the District
has available and enjoys recreational
facilities above the average available
in comparable cities.
THE local public library system is
smaller, used less and manned with
fewer employees than in the other
cities"
With respect to garbage collection,
the committee said, Summer service in
the District is above average and Win
ter service is below average. AS to
street lighting, it said Washington is
comparatively well lighted at about
| average cost.
The committee also declared the
business section Of the city Is cleaned
as frequently as the average, while
the cleaning Of residential sections is
below the average of cities compared.
Discussing sewage disposal. the COM
mfttee explained, practically the entire
population of the District is served by
a sewer system and explained that a
sewage disposal plant Is now under
construction.
Social and Economic.
A section devoted to social and eco
| nomic characteristics of the District
and the II other cities points out that
the costs of living here are higher
than the average Of the other cities
and that housing rentals are highest
of all the cities by considerable mar
gin. The report declares that hous-
ing vacancies are almost non-existent
and that higher returns to property
owners indicate a greater ability to
pay property taxes.
Statistics reviewed in this section
Of the report. the committee said. ap-
pear to support the following findings:
Real wealth in the District in pro-
portion to population is distinctly
above the average Of cities of COM
parable size. Second, incomes are
higher than the national average.
Third, there are about twice as many
income tax returns filed in the District
in proportion to population as in the
typical comparable city. Fourth. sal
aries are a larger source of income in
the District"
The report also declared that the
economic advantages to the District