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pa == a -- WINNETKA WEEKLY TALK, SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 1924 19 pi IPL IDI L | NE 14 = ETE -- |) B- a RA = RY -_-- gh : I = To ir] he. = = oJ | E- writ Ak : IB 0 A HH 0) A CCR i f = 1 7 ; : : Celebrate s b St. Patrick's Day by opening a savings account at the Winnetka Trust and Savings Bank; saving your money is just as impor- tant a thing to you as saving Ireland from the snakes was to the Emerald Isle. fe March Seventeenth comes on a y Monday this year; just the ideal day to A / start saving. Put that good resolu- | 7 tion into effect and DO it this time! ® 3 , . 3 »' WINNETKA-TRUST |g el o® SAVINGS-BANK y Elm Street at Center 1 RK C20. p fa a OL ON MISCELLANEOUS MIDDLE AGED WOMAN WILL DO laundry work each week for fam- ily that will give comfortable room for same in Wilmette, Winnetka or Glencoe. Tel. Winn. 1047. TN1-1te 3 m Summer European Tour Prepared especially for young ladies. Conducted by Ida B. Lascelles and LILLIAS 8S. BILL Tel. Evanston 1155 2314 Harrison St., Evanston Evanston Itinerary on request TN1-1te COUPLE OF CULTURE AND RE- finement desire light housekeeping privileges in partial exchange for care of children part time. Phone Wil. 494, Mrs. Fisk. LTN24-1tp PROTECT YOUR MAH JONGG SET with an all wool felt table cover; $2.98. Assorted colors. Tel. Winn. 2149. TN1-1te WANTED--MISCELLANEOUS WANTED -- MEDIUM SIZE WARD robe trunk, in good condition. Tel. Winn. 1225, T1-1te LOST AND FOUND LOST --A FEMALE POLICE DOG; brindle tan. Tel. Winn. 583; reward. T1-1te LOST--GOLD WRIST WATCH ON March 8th; letters "M. H" on back; reward if returned. Tel. Winn. 1562. T1-1te LOST--CHILD'S TORTOISE RIMMED glasses in case; February 29; near Skokie 'School; reward. Telephone Winnetka 1968. T-1tp CARD OF THANKS We wish to express our sincere ap- preciation of the kindness and sym- pathy of all our friends during our recent great bereavement. Mrs. Louis Marken and Sisters. T1-1te SEVENTEEN DANCE The Seventeen, social club compris- ing Winnetka and Glencoe young people, will give a dance at the Win- netka Masonic temple this evening beginning at 8:30 o'clock. The Vaga- bond orchestra will provide the music. MUNICIPAL COLUMN Edited by the Village Manager Edited by the Village Manager FACTS and Taxataion and Municipal EXPENSES 1. Does the village government prop- er "have anything to do in fixing the assessed valuation of property for gen- eral taxation or with the collection of general taxes? Answer--The Village of Winnetka has no control over the assessment of perscnal and real property for taxation purposes, nor of the collection of gen- eral taxes. The assessment of prop- erty is entirely in the hands of the Township Assessor, the County Board of Assessors, and the County Board of Review. The assessment of personal property is made by deputy assessors, appointed by the Township Assessor. Real estate and personal property taxes are collected up to March 10th each year by the Township Collector, and after April first by the County Col- lector, County building, Chicago. 2. What is the tax rate in Win- netka ? Answer--The tax rate is 11.18 per cent. 3. How is my tax figured? Answer--The amount of the tax bill is 11.18 per cent of the assessed valua- tion of your property. 4. How was the assessed valuation of real estate determined this year? Answer--The Township Assessor took 30% of the estimated actual value of the property as his full cash value. By law, he then took half of this amount as the assessed value. The County Board of Assessors later reduced this value by 15%, making the assessed value 12.75% of the estimated actual value of the property. 5. What does the law provide with regard to this? Answer--The law provides merely that the assessed value shall be half of the actual cash value of the property. It is customary, however, for assessors to take a value which is somewhat less than the actual cash value. For the four-year period preceding 1923, the Assessor of New Trier township took 45% of the actual value as his {full cash value and this year he reduced this to 30%. In other words, he took less than one-third of the value provided by law for use as the full cash value of real estate. 6. What was the increase in assessed valuation for Winnetka over last year? Answer--The increase was 27.5 per cent. 7. Please give full details. Answer-- 1922 1922 Increase Real Estate $4,209,118 $5,422,080 28.5% Personal Property 552,041 677,294 22.5% Railroad 128,125 130,475 1.7% Total $4,889,284 $6,229,849 27.5% Cites Cause of Increase 8. What caused this increase in real estate valuations? Answer--The land values on the As- sessor's books had not been changed since 1919; the same is true of build- ings in existence at the time of the 1919 quadrennial assessment; new build- ings added since 1922 account for an in- crease of approximately $350,000 in the assessed valuation stated above. 9. How did the Township Assessor secure his figures of estimated actual value of real estate in the several parts of the Township for 1923? Answer--Every four years, as in 1923, the Township Assessor is re- quired to make a general revision of the assessed valuation of real estate. Because of the fact that he is paid a comparatively small amount by the County Board and also because the as-- sessment books are not turned over to him until a few weeks before the time when he must make his return to the County, 1t is a physical anvestigat.on oi real estate values. For th.s reason, it has been customary for the various village governing bodies, in- cluding the village boards, the school boards and the park boards, at the time oi quadrennial reassessments, to have prepared for the use of the Town ship Assessor an appraisal of the real estate in each village made by as re- sponsible a real estate dealer as can be induced to assume the responsibility for this work. This appraisal is turned over to the Township assessor, for such use as he may make of it, but has no official authority whatever. If this were not done by the local taxing bodies, the Township Assessor would be compelled to base his returns on the most meager, incomplete and inaccurate information as to property values. 10. Has a similar plan been followed in previous quadrennial years? Answer--Yes, in 1915 and in 1919. 11. What has been the usual increase in assessed valuation in quadrennial years? Answer About twenty-five per cent. Assessed Valuations 12. If the assessed valuation of my property shows an increase greater than about 28%, the average for the Village this year, what is the trouble? Answer--LEither your property has been previously under-valued in com- parison with similar property about the Village, or a mistake has been made in either judgment or in calculation. It is also possible that the increase in value in your locality may have been greater than for the village as a whole. 13. How can 1 get the facts in the matter ? Answer--Apply to the Township As- sessor, Mr. George R. Harbaugh, 179 West Washington Street, and ascertain how the assessed values were computed on your street. 14. In case I am convinced that an error in judgment or calculation has been made, how can I obtain redress? Answer--Apply to the Board of Re- view in July tor an adjustment in the valuation for 1924 to 1926, which will allow for the overcharge on the 1923 tax. System Not Satisfactory 15. Is our present system of assess- ing real es.ate and personal property satisfaciory from the standpoint of the taxpayer and the local governing bodies ? Answer--It is not. The system is en- tirely antiquated and inadequate for our present conditions. Inasmuch as 80% of the general taxes are for the bene- fit ot local schools, parks and municipal government, the assessment of property and the collection of general taxes should be in the hands oi local authori- ties, as it is handled in many states. The Assessor should be a full time of- ficial, qualified by training and exper- ience to make accurate and equitable appraisals after scientific methods which have been worked out and approved by taxation authorities, The adoption of this system is impossible under our pres- ent State law. 16. Give a simple rule for determin- ing whether my tax bill is high or low? Answer--As the assessed value is about 12.75% of the actual value, and the tax is 11.18% of the assessed value, the tax bill should be 1.4% of the actual cash value of the property. 17. How does the Winnetka tax rate of 11.18% compare with Chicago and Evanston? Answer--The average Chicago rate this year is 7.95% ; for Evanston, 9.57%. 18. Why is it unfair to compare the Winnetka tax rate of 11.18% with tax rates in Chicago or Evanston? Answer--Because the assessed valua- tions in Chicago and Evanston, as well as in most localities outside of New Trier township, are a much higher per- centage of the actual cash value than here; thus on property of the same value, a lower tax rate there may give a «tax bill as high or higher than in Winnetka. Chicago Taxes Higher 19. In order to get an appropriate comparison, how does this year's tax in Chicago figure as a percentage of the full cash value of the property? Answer--We are informed that taxes in Chicago are averaging over 2% this year as compared with 1.4% for Win- netka. 20. How does the Winnetka tax rate of 11.18% compare with the other vil- lages in the Township? Answer--The Glencoe rate is 11.46% ; Wilmette 11.01%; Kenilworth 10.56%. 21. How is the total tax rate of 11.18% made up? Answer--There are nine separate and distinct taxing bodies whose levies were combined by the County Clerk to make the total tax rate, as follows: tate a i ed 50% County i si es wa 64% 3. Township (Road and Bridge): odo. 50% 4. Forest Preserve ........ 15% 5. Sanitary District ....... A % 6. High 'Schools ......0h.. 2.75% 7. Winnetka Schools ...... 3.70% 8. Winnetka Park District .51% 9. Village of Winnetka .... 2.02% Total omifmiay 11.18% Shows Tax Apportionment 22. What portion of my general tax payment goes to the Village govern- ment ? Answer--Approximately 18 per cent. 23. What portion goes to support our grade schools and High School? Answer--Approximately 58 per cent. 1mposs bility | icr h.m to make a scientific or thorough | 24. What portion goes to the Park District ? Answer--Approximately 5 per cent. 25. What portion goes to State, County, Township, Forest Preserve and Sanitary District? Answer--Approximately 19 per cent. 26. 11 my property is worth $15,000, how much of my tax actually goes to support the Village government? Answer--18% of 14% oi $15,000, or $37.80 per year. 27. Assuming that, in addition to the $37.80, I pay to the Village a vehicle tax of $5.00 on my car, a dog tax of $2.00 and $1.25 per month for garbage and ash removal service, making a total payment of $59.80 per year, or $5.00 per month, what service do 1 get for this payment? Answer--The Village renders the following service out of its general income: - 1. Fire tion. 2. Police protection. 3. Street cleaning. 4. Snow plowing. 5. Catch basin cleaning and re- pairs. 6. Sewer cleaning and repairs. 7. Pavement maintenance. 8. Vacant parkways mowed. 9. Garbage, ashes and rubbish collection. 10. Street lighting. 11. Health supervision. 12. Building and zoning regula- tions enforced. . 13. Benefits assessed against Vil- age for street improvements. 14. Public library. 15. Study of special such as grade separation. 28. What was the tax levy of the Village council for municipal purposes for 1923? Answer--The levy on which the rate of 202% was based was $126,313. 29. Will the Village receive this amount ? Answer--No; about 5% is uncollect- ible by the county, making the net receipts about $120,000. 30. How does this amount compare protection and preven- problems with the Village levy in 1913, ten years ago? Answer--The 1913 levy was for $26,692.75, or approximately $6.70 per capita, as compared with $14.85 per capita in 1923. Cost of Administration 21. What has heen the increase in the cost of labor and material enter- ing into the expense of municipal government, in that time? Answer--The increase on some of the more important items has been approximately as follows: Common labor 130% Fire and Police salaries 120% Office help 130% Team hire 133% Coal 100% Road material 125% 32. Has there been any increase since 1913 in the quantity of service rendered by the Village? Answer--There has been a consider- able increase in service as shown by the following examples: 1. We now have a full time Fire Chief and modern pumping apparatus in the fire department. 2. The police department is now motorized, made necessary by mod- ern traffic conditions. 3. In addition to snow plowing of sidewalks, a motor-operated snow plow now opens the pavements of main thoroughfares. 4. Sewers are now cleaned regu- larly by machine. 5. Dust has been eliminated from macadam streets by Tarvia surfacing, a considerable portion of the cost being borne by the General Fund. 6. Household rubbish is now col- lected on regular schedule with- out special charges. 7. Property values are protected by zoning regulations, with a full time building inspector provided. 8. Substantial public benefits recently have been assumed on special assessment improvements. 9. Extensive engineering and legal studies of the grade separa- tion problem have been made as a basis for our negotiations with the railroads. Other Revenue Sources 33. Does $120,000 represent the amount of expenditures from the General Fund of the Village for the current fiscal year? : Answer--No; the budget provides for a total expenditure of $183,832.80. 34. Where does the additional money come from? Answer--The estimated other re- ceipts of the General Fund for the current fiscal year are as follows: Garbage and ash collection receipts $26,300 Vehicle taxes 12,000 Private police service 7,200 Street resurfacing 4,500 Justice fines 3,500 Street repairs for contractors 4,000 Special assessment refunds 3,000 Tax on fire insurance companies 800 Licenses, permits, etc. 11,505 Interest on bank deposits 3,500 Total $76.805 In addition to the foregoing, the Vil- lage General Fund will receive a dividend of about $19,000 from the Electric Department, being six per cent on the value of the municipal electric utility ? (Continued on page 20)