Evening star., 1943-03-14
Cost Of City
Maintenance
BIZ Frederic J. Hdsktr.

With major emphasis now being placed
on the financial requirements of the
Federal Government, 1t is easy to lose
sight of other taxing powers, especially
the many cities that have constantly
increased the tax burdens of their resi-
dents.
For instance, survey shows that last
year more than 100 cities having popu-
lation of over 100000 increased their
per capita cost of operation more than
81 over the previous year. and increased
the per capita tax levy in excess of so
cents In addition, each Of these cities
increased its per capita debt by slso
When these figures are considered
separately. or even when added for one
taxpayer, the amount is relatively small.
but the total reaches a staggering. sum
when multiplied by the whole popula-
ton of city. Moreover, since there are
in every city more persons who do not
pay taxes than do pay, it can be visual
lied how the minority must bear the
brunt of all expenditures.
There is no one answer that suffices
for the constantly increasing cost of
maintaining cities, but it seems that most
of them, like the Federal Government.
are honey-combed with bureaus and SUBJ
agencies, departments within depart
ments Also there is an r-increasing
tendency on the part of the residents
to make greater demands upon their
city governments. They insist upon
better and more police, more adequate
fire protection, more and better schools.
more adequate parks and recreation
centers and better methods of santa
ton.
And this is wherein Mayors, managers
and councilmen defend the ever -increas-
ing cost of city maintenance They say
the voters, taxpayers and even those who
do not pay taxes, make demands that
cost money. and more money cannot be
had without increased taxation On the
other hand, a large sector of the public
Is OF the opinion that the higher per
capita cost of maintaining city govern
ments is like that Of the Federal Gov
ernment, largely fault of management
The subject is important at this time
many cities to higher local taxes, while
there is an unprecedented increase in
Federal taxes. Feeling that opposition
to Federal taxes would be OF no avail
now the resistance to any increase in
local taxes becomes sitter, This re-
sistance is best measured by many recent
instances where certain local tax pro-
posals have been submitted to popular
vote and badly defeated.
THIS resistance to any further in
crease in local taxation is causing
public examination of expenditures of
tax receipts. Whether the interest ts
temporary and will pass when Federal
taxes are lowered, cannot be stated
but 1t would seem to indicate a keener
interest in the administration Of local
aHalrs When tax money is rolling In
ana tnefe is little or no opposition to
taxation or expenditures. a CITY can he
one of the most extravagant spenders
Of all.
One element in the upward cost y,
maintaining cities is important and OBJ
vlously favorable to the city that finds
1t dlfncult to reduce its cost of OPERA
tlon. States are constantly shifting
many of their burdens, in whole or in
part, to the shoulders of the Federal
Government, but in the same ratio a
city cannot shift its financial obligations
10 the State in which it is located. The
oinerence IN the degree of influence of
state and local politicians is the answer.
HOW rapidly the United States has
changed from rural to city life. and
thus created the problem of CITY gov
ernment, is reflected in the fact that
IN 1900, only 2l0,873 OF it's inhabitants
equal to per cent of the population
hVed In six cities of more than 80oo
each. Now, approximately so per cent
OF the country's population live in more
than loo such cities The industrial
revolution made the cities and the tide
toward them has not been checked
Administration of cities has grown
complex because of necessity and be-
cause OF social and educational demands
lhelr governments, in many instances
are complicated and only experts can,
adequately manage them. City prob
lems nave become too specialized for
citlzens to take more than a minor mart
IN general discussions. City admins.
tratlon has attracted the attention Of
many OF the countrys largest UNIVERSE
Ties, and courses are being offered in
city management. 1t is believed that
this tendency toward specialization will
eventually have a bearing on lesseninc
the cost OF city operation, for efficiency.
Is the watchword of the courses offered =
CITY problems now are many. demands
great, needs ever pressing, and munici.-
pailtles, having reached their ability to
carry on without additional taxes, feel
that they must ask for more revenue.
what this tendency will lead to, and
what will be the final outcome, no one,
can foresee. If local standards are to be
maintained, many civic leaders point out
that a choice must be made between
acceptance of new activities with in.
creased taxes and opposition to increased
expenditures for activities which. how
ever desirable, cannot be carried on by.
present local taxation. -
The present session OF Congress will
likely give definite consideration to n
broad revision of Federal tax LEGISLATION
These revisions, If made, will have much
effect on local revenues. If the revis-
ions are favorable to small enterprises.
people in the smaller cities will derive7
great benefit, and this will aid them in
supporting their local governments with
more ease When Federal and locaI ooy.