991806_Page_06

4
Robinson Copy

WILL H. PARRY,
Comptroller
J. M. E. ATKINSON
Tresurer

The City of Seattle
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE
COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE
Seattle, Washington November 3, 1894.

Hon. F. W. Goodhue,
Chmn. Com. License and Revenue,
House of Delegates.

Dear Sir:

You have asked me to furnish you a statement concerning the
probable effect upon the finances of the City of the proposed reduction
of the fee for retail liquor licenses from $600 to $500 per annum. In
reply I desire to say that it is my belief, founded upon close obser-
vation of the situation, that every dollar of tax taken from the liquor
dealer by a reduction such as the one proposed must be added to the
burden of taxation upon the people at large when we fix the rate of that
levy next week.

At present there are about 113 retail liquor licenses. Each
one costs the licesee $600 per annum. Of this 10% goes to the State,
leaving a new revenue to the City of $540. Under the proposed reduc-
tion the net revenue to the City would be $450. Now:-

113 licenses at $540 would yield -----------------$61,020
113 licenses at $450 would yield ----------------- 50,850
Loss of revenue by proposed ordinance ----- $10,170

It will therefore take twenty-three new saloons at the new
rate to make up the shortage. I doubt if the reduction would cause

4
Robinson Copy

WILL H. PARRY,
Comptroller
J. M. E. ATKINSON
Tresurer

The City of Seattle
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE
COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE
Seattle, Washington November 3, 1894.

Hon. F. W. Goodhue,
Chmn. Com. License and Revenue,
House of Delegates.

Dear Sir:

You have asked me to furnish you a statement concerning the
probable effect upon the finances of the City of the proposed reduction
of the fee for retail liquor licenses from $600 to $500 per annum. In
reply I desire to say that it is my belief, founded upon close obser-
vation of the situation, that every dollar of tax taken from the liquor
dealer by a reduction such as the one proposed must be added to the
burden of taxation upon the people at large when we fix the rate of that
levy next week.

At present there are about 113 retail liquor licenses. Each
one costs the licesee $600 per annum. Of this 10% goes to the State,
leaving a new revenue to the City of $540. Under the proposed reduc-
tion the net revenue to the City would be $450. Now:-

113 licenses at $540 would yield -----------------$61,020
113 licenses at $450 would yield ----------------- 50,850
Loss of revenue by proposed ordinance ----- $10,170

It will therefore take twenty-three new saloons at the new
rate to make up the shortage. I doubt if the reduction would cause