Evening star., 1948-12-02
Alexandra Tax
RateUnchanged
In 1949 Budget
500, 900 Increase
In Spending Gets
Tentative Approval


main the same next year despite
All increased city budget for 1949
adopted tentatively last night by
City Council.
The proposed budget amounts to
$3,936,624 and is an increase of
slightly more than 100000 over
the current fiscal year, which ends
December 81. A public hearing on
the proposal will be held at 7:30
pm. December II in council cham
bers at City Hall.
In giving tentative approval to
the measure, the council estimated
that business and professional
license taxes will yield $500 900 next
year. This estimate is an increase
OF $4,000 over the anticipated pro-
ceeds from the tax during the cur
rent fiscal period.
Observers pointed out, however,
that the yield from the business and
professional license tax will be about
S50,000 less this year than the ex-
pected $525, 900.
Tax Inspector Plan Rejected.
At the same time, the Council, by
Q 4-3 vote, refused to approve estab-
lishment of the Office of tax inspec-
tor to police individuals and firms
liable to the business and profess
sional taxes. AS proposed, the office
would have had authority to check
the gross receipts of such taxpayers
to make certain they used the
proper basis for determining the
amount of their taxes.
Councilman Albert A. Smoot as
serted he could not vote to elm
mate the proposed inspector because
'iif adequate funds do not come in
from the business and professional
licenses taxes, the city will face a
deficit"
Opposition to the proposal was
led by Councilman Jack Tulloch,
who characterized the proposal as
"Gestapo" tactics. Mr.. Tulloch was
Joined by Councilmen Leroy S.
Bendheim, Roy Bragg and Marshall
Beverley. Mayor William T. Will
kins and Councilman r. Samuel
1uckett, chairman of the Finance
Committee, cast their ballots with
Mr.. Smoot.
Afterward. though, the Council
on motion of Mr.. Bragg, established
the post of license inspector within
the police department. The license
inspector would have authority only
TO determine If license fees were
paid and not to check on whether
or not correct bases were used.
Practically all city departments
would receive increases under the
proposed budget.
S322,25s for Construction
The largest increase, however,
would be for the retirement of
bonds. This item is increased from
420o, 900 to more than 100000 to
take care of s5,250.000 bond issue
approved this year.
The proposed budget also provides
1922, ,258 for construction. This is
an increase of more than $4,000
over the item for the current year
and includes a project which would
cover the open Hooff's Run in the
business section of the city between
King and Duke streets. The project
has long been advocated by Alex
andrians.
The amount for schools Is 1884,
494, an increase of $105;O00 over last
year. This represents a compromise
arrived at last night by School
Board members and the council.
The latter had proposed 100000
cut in the budget as propo~ ID by
the School Department, but this
was reduced to. $4,000.
Raise for Policemen.
Other department budgets include
welfare, S201 ,435, an increase of s32,-
500; police department, $286, ,497, an
increase of s25,000; fire department,
S193.456, a $4,000 increase, and
health department, $103,715, a SILL
600 increase.
Under the budget as proposed,
most policemen would get salary
increases, and the salary of the
health officer, a post now vacant,
would be increased from $4,000
to $1,000.
The budget also provides for res
toration of dental program in the
school system, which was omitted
last year. The budget also sets up a
central purchasing Office for city
departments and provides funds for
an alcoholic and mental hygiene