Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1853-02-18
CITY TAXES,

of the press, in public meetings, and else
where, in respect to the enormity of our city
taxes. These exaggerated statements are pro-
ductive Of no good, but tend to mischief, es-
pecially, whera the facts in the case ,are not
known. When capitalists and strangers are
told that taxes in this city range from eight to
twelve per cent, they will not be likely to be
fayorably impressed with the condition of
things among us. Yet it is to be regretted
that there are some, who through ignorance
or design, grossly pervert the facts in the
| case
If any one will take the trouble to look at
the city records, he will find that the taxes
levied in this city for city purposes, have av-
eraged only two per cent. since, our organi-
cation under city government. The first year
(l650) there was levied for city purposes p
! per cent. At this time there was an old in
debtedness of between three and four thou
sand dollars for money borrowed of Corning
and Schoolcraft, which had been expended
on the harbor There was also at the time,
an old Indebtedness of the town of South
port and the village of Southport, amounting
to nearly fourteen hundred dolars-making
our Indebtedness at the commencement of
city government, over five thousand dol
lars. More than three-fourths of this indebt-
edness was paid off during the first year
In the second year ofcity government, l85D
there was levied for city purposes tax Of l
per cent In the third year, (l852) tax of
. per cent was levied for city purposes.
1t will be seen, therefore, as above stated,
that the average city taxes, during the three
years of city government, has been two per
cent. During this period, in addition to the
amount of Indebtedness contracted before the
city organization, that has been paid, there
have been many necessary and expensive inn
provements made and paid for. Among
these Improvements and expenditures may be
mentioned the Main St. Bridge, costing over
$500; Grand street bridge, near the Con
gregational church, $3.50 the engine for COM
pany, no. 2, which together with hose, engine
house and reservoir cost about $1,000. The
balance of the harbor debt Of l849, amour
ting to $500, has been provided for out Of
the taxes levied for the present yerr.
Added to the foregoing, are many neces-
sary items for sewers, culverts, DC, amour
ting to sums of from fifty to two hundred
dollars each.
By taxes for city purposes, we Of course
are understood to mean, such as lcgitimately
pertain to the objects contemplated in the
city charter; such as the support and care Of
the poor, the building of bridges, sewers,
drains, culyerts and reservoirs, the expenses
of the fire department, and other incidental
expenses, such as are common to village or
town government We do not include state
! and county taxes, nor school trxes. These
are distinctly provided for by state laws, and
not connected any more with city government
than town government. Nor do we :nclnde
harbor taxes. The people Of this town be-
gan to levy taxes for harbor improvements
before they had city charter; and no doubt
would have continued to tax themselves for
that object, under the special act of the Leg
islature, had the city never been chartered.
1t is extreme folly, therefore, to charge the
harbor tax to the cost and expenses Of the
city government
1t is not our object to vindicate the city
government in all its transactions, since the
city organization While much has been
done we'll, there doubtless has been much in
iudicious management. The same may be
said generally of cities, villages and towns.
Our chief purpose is to correct the msrep-
reservations in respect to our city taxes, and
also to show that the monies which have
been collected for city purposes, have not been
recklessly squandered away, as some persons
are endeavoring to persuade the public.