The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1939-07-14
Tax Rates Increase
On Eastern Shore
Eight Of The Nine Counties
Push Rates Up.-Cecil Has
Second Lowest Rate

The average county tax rate
among the nine counties ON the
Eastern Shore Of Maryland is twen-
ty and seven-tenths cents higher to-
day than it wastive years ago.
And the only Eastern Shore
county whose 1889 tax rate is
lower than its rate back in 1895 is
Queen Anne's county.
Eight of the nine counties have
increased their tax rates for 1889
from one to SO cents on 500 assess
ed valuation. The ninth, Kent coun-
ty, cuts rate two cents for this year.
Dorchester county struck its 1882
l94O fiscal year levy on May LIST Of
this year. The remaining eight East
ern Shore counties followed suit
during the month of June.
For the third consecutive year,
Queen Anne's county boasts the
lowest tax rate for 1889 of any East
ern Shore county, with a rate of
only "a cents on the $10O. Cecil
county is second with SO cents, while
Talbot county is third with $1.12.
Worcester county made the great
est boost for 1888 SO cent hike
sending the county rate soaring from
rs cents to slips on the $1O0. Last
year Worcester county had the Sec
ond lowest tax rate on the Shore.
Somerset county sent it's tax rate
to $1.60, the highest of any Shore
county for 1889.
Increases of the eight counties
are: Worcester, SO cents; Dorches-
ter, 40 cents; Wicomico, rs cents;
Somerset, Is cents; Queen Anne's
IA cents; Talbot, five cents; Caroline
two cents; and Cecil county, one
cent.
AS whole the average tax rate
among the nine counties for 1888
figured at $1.22 20 on the $1OO-
is the highest it has been in five
years. In 1885 the average county
tax rate was $1.O1 4-9; in 1886,
$1.O5 So; in 1887, $1.10 SO; in
1888, $1.O5 SO.
In the past five years county tax
rates have been increased total of
40 cents in both Somerset and Dor
chester counties; 80 cents in Wor-
cester5 81 in Talbot; % in Wicomi-
co; 16 In Caroline; Is in Cecil, and
IL in Kent county. Over the same
fve-year period the rate has been cut
in Queen Anne's county a total of 16
cents on the 500.
Cecil county's tax rate was boost
ed only one cent despite a $4,000
levy for a new re-assessment of
property due this year, new laws
calling for increases in school and
health appropriations, and other
items, including $13,5O0 of an adj
dition to Kenmore School.
Kent county managed to cut its
tax rate two cents despite a $685.
400 increase for school purposes,
$1,000 to the Betterton Fire Com
pany, and 1881 for bulkhead at
Rock Hall.
Queen Anne's county rate jumped
l. cents due to new re-assessment
costing $4,000, erection of a new
Sudlersville high school building and
special congressional election costs.
New legislative laws, calling for
county increases in appropriations
ito public schools, boost in teachers
salaries, elections, public health and
welfare costs were responsible for
the hike of five cents in the Talbot
county tax rate.
Caroline county's rate rose two
cents to take care of items similar to
those in Talbot county, plus a $1,000
addition to the Ridgely School. Car
oline has adopted a "pay-as-you-go'
plan.
Dorchester county boosted it's tax
rate 4ONcents to take care of new
state-required appropriations, plus
100000 school program of new
buildings.
Wicomico's tax rate went up 22
cents to take care of a deficit Of
some $4,000 hanging over from the
past year, and said to be due to ex-
penditures for relief. There were
legislative appropriations for schools,
welfare and health to care for plus
other items.
Somerset county attributed its In
crease of 15 cents on costs for q
new re-assessment of property this
year, together with necessary funds
authorized by the Legislature to aid
education and other programs.
A $4,000 general re-assessment Of
property; $4,000 Pocomoke River
dredging program; a $12,5OO new
county jail and required funds au-
thorized by the Legislature for the
schools, teachers salaries and well
fare were the chief causes of the SO
cent hike in Worcester county.
Added to this Is the increase in
the State tax rate. In 1887 the state
tax rate was .2225 cents on the
500; in 1888 it jumped to .23O1
cents while fhia voar tho ~a+, To-