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February 13, 19£3
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<br />taxes or assessments for local public improvements shall be imposed upon abutting land .owners"
<br />that the necessary discretiorm~ry power would be given to cities and towns.
<br />
<br /> I have no desire to unduly prolong discussion~on this matter, but I again call attention
<br />to the fact that Virginia now holds the doubtful honor of being the only state in the Union
<br />where ~butting owners are not assessed for i~.provements of this kind, as South Carolin~ has
<br />recently authorized such assessment. I believe it will also be rotund that the debts of Vir-
<br />ginia cities are higher per capitm than other cities of the same sizs~ I am giving herewith
<br />a few cities of apprmximately the.~same size of Portsmouth, with their bonded debts:
<br />
<br />Allentown, Pa..
<br />itlan~lc~Clty, ~'~
<br />Beaumont, Tex~s,
<br />Bayonne, N.
<br />Cedar Rapids, Iowa ......
<br />Covington, Ky..- .........
<br />East St. Louis, Ill. ....
<br />E~mira, N. Y ............
<br />Fitchburg, Mass...~ .....
<br />G~lveston, Tex ..........
<br />
<br />Haverhill, N~ss .........
<br />!~ghland Park, MiCh. ....
<br />E61yoke, Mass .... , ......
<br />Huntington, W. Va. ......
<br />Jackson, Miohl ..........
<br />Johnstown, Pa~.-. ........
<br />Lansing, Mich ...........
<br />Lawrence, Mass ..........
<br />Mobile~Ala .............
<br />
<br /> · . -1,95~,8£1.00
<br />
<br />.-. ..-.- Nothing
<br />
<br />.... · !o!73,ooo.oo
<br />..... 2,6~,500.00
<br />· , .;. o 7 55a.oo
<br />........... Nothing
<br />........... 1,162,7 9.00
<br /> ....... 2,200,000.00
<br />
<br /> ...... · 6~0,000.00
<br /> ....... l 907 ,lO .OO
<br />........ .~,Z6~,i'~l.00
<br />....... . . , a,3oo.oo
<br />....
<br />......... 3,525,o0b.oo
<br />
<br /> These em~mples might be continued indefinitely. I note Where cities of the same size
<br />of ~ortsmouth have bonded debts greater thmn Portsmouth that their assessed valuations ~are
<br />from three ~o four times those of Portsmouth. Thisis notably the case with Atlantic City,
<br />N. J,, and L~wrence, Mass. It is evident therefore that our methods of making improvements
<br />has resulted and will continue to result in piling up a bonded indebtedness which is beyond
<br />the limit Justified by the assessments in the cities. This is not.only true of Portsmouth
<br />but true of all Virginia cities of which I have knowledge.
<br />
<br /> The cost o~ sidewalks, sewers and paving on a thirty foot street for each twenty-five
<br />foot ~ot would~ecabout $200.00. If this w~re paid for in ten years, the cost to the'owner
<br />~f such property would be $2~.00 per ~ear,~mf he were compelled to pay mlt of it. I~ he paid
<br />one-half of it, it would be $10,09 per year for ten years, plus the Small'amount o~ mnterest
<br />which would be constantlydeore~smng. It certainly seems~to me that a paved street with ~
<br />Sewers and sidewalks would bsWOrth as much ~s $10,00 to $20.00 per ysmr to any proper~y owner.
<br />If he had a oar, he would save~t much in*ear ~d temr ~ud in g~solmne consumption alone,
<br />not to mention the wear on shoes,~andtemper.
<br />
<br /> The cost of sidewalks alone in the residential district, if they were all assessed against
<br />the ~butting owner, would be $2.20 per yemrffOrtten years, or about t~enty cents per month.
<br />The saving in cleaning and shining shoes al~ne would pay for this.
<br />
<br />I e~rnestly recommend that the Council adopt the~esolution proposed.~
<br />
<br />The following is the reso!uticn:
<br />
<br />JOINT RESOLUTION
<br />
<br />Requesting Portsmouth representatives in the State Legislature to secure the adoption of
<br />a resolution providing for an amendment to the Cbnstitution enabling cities and towns
<br />to assess the cost of street improvements on abutting owners,
<br />
<br /> WHEREAS the Constitution of the State of Virginia does not permit the assessment of abut-
<br />ting land owners in the counties for local improvements, and permits such assessments in the
<br />cities and towns for sewers, alleys, and sidewalks only; an~
<br />
<br /> WHEREAS ~ is desirable for cities mnd towns to have the right to assess abutting.land
<br />owners for local improvements for other purpOses besides sewers, alleys, and sldewaks'; and
<br />
<br /> WHEREAS the Constitution of the State of Virginia m~y be amended so that cities may have
<br />such general 2~ght to assess such abutting land owners for local improvements, without affect-
<br />ing the operation of the present provisions of-the law as to the counties of the State,
<br />
<br />NO~, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY TP~ COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PORTSMOUTH,
<br />
<br /> T~at those members elected to the House of Delegates and the Senate of Virginia from the
<br />City of Portsmouth are hereby urged to vote for, and use their best efforts to secure,the
<br />adgption of an amendment to Section 170 of the State Constitution whereby the cities ~ud towns
<br />off%his State may assess the abutting land owners for local improvements.
<br />
<br /> Resolved, Further, That a copy of this resolution be sent by the Clerk_of the City Comncil
<br />to each member~ elected to the House of Delegatss and Senate of Virginia from the City of
<br />Portsmouth,"
<br />
<br />On motion of Mr. Brooks, the recommendation of the ~anager was ooncumred i~
<br />
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