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June 13, t922
<br />
<br />Whitens moti6n was adopted, and by the following vote:
<br />
<br /> Ayes-~ Brooks, Hutchine, Oast, Smith, Stew~t, White,
<br /> Nays- EN~eeck, 1.
<br />
<br /> The Finance Committee presented the following ordinance:
<br /> ~n Ordinance for Imposing and
<br />Collecting Taxes on Real Estate, Tangible Personal Property, Ints~ugible Personal Property, and
<br />Banks Within the Limits of the City of Portsmouth, Virginia, for the Purpose of Raising Revenue
<br />for the Support of the Government and the Public Free Schools, and to pay Inter,st and Sinking
<br />Fund on the ~blic Debt, for the Year Beginning February 1st, 1922o
<br />
<br /> On motion of Mr. Esteeck, the ordinance was placed on its first reading,
<br />~ng vote:
<br /> Ayes-- Brooks, Esleeck, Hutchins, Oas:, Smith, Stewart,
<br />
<br />and by the follow-
<br />
<br />The Fiance Committee submitted also the following =eport~
<br />
<br /> "Hon. Cit~ Council.
<br /> Gentlem~n:-- The tax rmte on intangible pers~a~=operty is fixed in
<br />accordances with State law, and that on both real estate and pe=sonal'~prope=tyin the Eighth
<br />and Ninth ~rds is for this Year fixed at $1.50 per hunclred, which is t~he required rate ~or real
<br />estate ih thes~ Wards, and the required rate fforboth ~eal estate and pesonal property, so fmr
<br />as railroads are concerned. ^
<br />
<br /> A ra~e of $2.10 for the old City for the our~ent year is recommended, provided that
<br />continued special efforts are made to collect delinquent taxes on ~e~l,'personal property a~d
<br />on li~ estates. It is our belief that i~ taxes on personal property are not oolle~ted~within
<br />two years,~%hey may be practically regarded as lost ~nd ~he delihquent taxes on li£B estate
<br />seems uncollectable, should the person enjoying the inte~set in this li~ estate die with de-
<br />linquent t~xes on thei~ interest.
<br />
<br /> ~ The t mx on real estate is an asset £or an indefinite period and the Committee does
<br />not feel that the present time is Opportune mo be unduly severe with owners o~ real ~etate who
<br />are delinquent ~n their taxes. I~, therefore, believes that the efforts ~o collect taxes on
<br />real estmte should be limited to leving on re, ts, to wa~ning letters and definite assurance
<br />that if the ~ax is still d~tinquent in 1~23, the property will be advertised and sold under the
<br />law.
<br /> In order to insure the collection of taxes on life estate and on real and personal
<br />proper~y ~nd to indicate to the Collector that he has the support o~ the Council in his efforts
<br />to collect d~linquent taxes, the attached ~esolution is suggested~
<br />
<br /> "WHEREAS, The payment of ~axes is an essential dutF incumbent upon all residents of the
<br />City, who en$oy the rights and privileges of citizens, and
<br />
<br /> WHEREAS, A large percentage of taxes for the Year 1921 and o.ther yea~s is now delinquent,
<br />and
<br />
<br /> WHEREAS, The Fmilu~e to pay taxes on the pa~t of any citizen is a grave injustice to and
<br />discrimination against those who. p~y~taxes.
<br />
<br /> BE IT RESOLVED, by the Council of the City o~ Portsmouth, Vi~inia,' That the City Clerk
<br />and Auditor is authorized a~d directed to adcLress a letter to the Oily Collector to the follow-
<br />ing effect:
<br />
<br />1st. Make every effort by warnings and levies on rents to collect taxes due.
<br />
<br /> 2nd. Publish in the local p~ess at least three conspicuous w~nings that a list o£ de-
<br />linquent tax payers, so far as tangible ~ersonal p~operty and life estates are concerned will
<br />be made and after such list has been submitted by the City Collector to the City Council, e~me
<br />will be published or posted unde~ Sections 47 an~ ~ of the Charter of the ~ity of Portsmouth.
<br />
<br /> 35d. Publish another conspicuous warning, not exceedi~ three times that a final list of
<br />~elinqusnt t~x payers, so fa~ as ~angible~l~e. rsona~l property and life. estates are concerned
<br />Will he published or posted; that ten days thereafter the necessary legal ste~s will he taken
<br />to sell such delinquent property o~ interests in life estates for taxes, under Paragraphs 39
<br />and ~O of the Charter of the City of Portsmouth.
<br />
<br /> ~th. That the City wfll sell such property or interests in life estates on which zaxes
<br />are deli~nen~ in manner prescribed by law."
<br />
<br /> (Signed) L.G. White, Chairman~
<br />
<br /> On motion of Er~ B~ooks, the privilege of the floor was granted to F~ank C. Hanrahan,
<br />City Collector, ~he ~ty~6ollector made a statement of tax collections made by him.
<br />
<br /> Nr. White moved that the ~esolution be adopted. Mr. Brooks moved that same be table~.
<br /> Mr. Brooks motion was lost, a~.d by the following vbte:
<br />
<br /> Ayes-- Brooks, ~sleeok, Hutohins, 3.
<br /> Nays-- Oast, Smith, Stewart, White, 4.
<br />
<br /> Then Mr. White's motion.was adopted, and by the following vote:
<br />
<br /> y~s Brooks, Esleeck, Oast, Smith, Stewart, White,
<br /> Nays-~ Hutchins, 1.
<br /> In this conneotion,~. Brooks moved that the City Collector be in~truct-ed to have printed
<br />~cross the ~oe of the tax t~bket in ReA the following: "$1.00 of the $2o10 ra~e goes to the
<br />Schools."
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