The Wilmington morning star., 1945-10-27
BELLAMY REPLIES
TO ANTI ATTACKS

1--WE understand tndI Tic eLeIlhcs
Of progress in Wilmington, in their
campaign of Misrepresentation
against the city limits extension
proposal" said Hargrove Bellamy
yesterday in replying to sharp
terms OF criticism Of anti-exten-
sionists, ARE putting out two addi-
tional inaccuracies which we wish
to nail, and on which we wish to
give the public the true facts.
They are contending 1) the an
nexation Of the suburbs will pile on
the annexed people mountain OF
city debt, and co that annexation
would be so costly to the city gov.
eminent that an increase in the
tax rate would be necessary.
1.-THE true facts are these:
"u) The extension program 10
seh-liquidating, to the best know.
ledge and belief of the city council
and the Citizens committee for
City Limits Extension. Figures
have been carefully worked up
which show that the income from
the added areas will just about
balance off the cost, including the
added debt service for improve.
ments in the new areas. We EN-.
phasize that debt service Is in
cluded in the estimated cost. In
other words, the citizen in the an.
nexed area will pay the normal
city tax, just as every other citizen
does, and no more.
go It is absurd to say that
the whole Of the present city debt
will fall on the shoulders Of the
annexed citizens. The debt is
owed by the people as 4 whole.
The people in the suburbs will pay
taxes, and q part Of these taxes
will 60 to retiring bonds, but it
has been demonstrated many
times that the actual cash savings
to a small home owner WI more
than offset the tax payment to
the city. So in one sense 1t can be
said that the suburban taxpayer
after annexation will have no bur
den Of debt at all.
90 The city has capital as.
sets, consisting Of water facilities,
fire stations and other buildings,
equipment, ETC., valued at more
than $4,000, 900. This is moro
than two-thirds paid for. The an.
nexed citizens will get all the bene-
fit of the paid-for portion Of these
assets without having to pay for
any part of them whatsoever.
go What will be the effect
Of extension on the city tax rate?
The committee has received in
formation from three cities as to
what happened to tax rates after
their last annexation programs.
Raleigh, North Carolina, and
Charlottesville, Virginia, reported
no effect. In 1922 High Point add
ed five and three-fourths square
miles, IA per cent in area and
so per cent in population. Its tax
rate was $3.50 in 1922 and it is
$1.21 now.
There is no really accurate
way Of forecasting what 4 city
tax rate will be in future years,
and the opposition should know
this az well as our Committee
does. But it is the considered OPP
Union of this Committee that there
is no visible reason why extern
sion Of the limits Of Wilmington
should have any effect on the
rate, one way or the other. 1t
appears to us, from the best
figures we can compile that the
total cost will be Offset by the
lded income"
Mayors Statement
Mayor Lanes statement was as
follows:
LAS we 60 into the last stage OF
the campaign, want to take this
opportunity to thank the mem"
bers of the Citizens Committee
for City Limits Extension and the
many other friends Of the sx-
tension movement for the fine
work done to date. ! want it
clearly understood by all con-
cerned that the City Council. the
City Manager, and all depart
ment heads and employees stand
ready to provide promptly and
efficiently every service and fac
ility when city limits extension
carries November 9Th. The money
lis and will be available and we
are prepared to deliver the goods
without added cost to the present
city taxpayers and without add"
tional cost in the future"
1 Statements prepared by both the
Citizens Committee for City Limits
Extension, of which Bellamy is
chairman, and Mayor Lane were
\ released today, and took issue with
Opponents to extension whose theme
lis that the city cannot do all II
promises areas to be annexed.
RICHMOND LIVESTOCK
| RICHMOND Va. Oct. 26-(R-