Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-09-11
The taxes as levied are shown by the fol-

| az sieBaIlnS .............. .".S3 500 80
or $5.3OS.67 more than was raised last year
| No provision was made by the council for
| paying interest on the city's compromise
bonds, but no complications will follow, as
under the law of 1875, in case of failure
on the part of the council to provide for
meeting the interest on such bonds, the
clerk is direct ed to insert in the tax roll
such an amount as the treasurer may certi-
~ TO him to be necessary for that purpose
We learn that the sum thus required is l z
mills, aggregatng S2,7l7-75, which added
to the $3l ,697.39 above, makes a total OF
s34, 4l4.l4. In the above, i. will be seen,
the state ana county, and county school
taxes, are not included, as the same have not
probably not differ much from last year,
when it was $8,65476. Assuming this to
be the correct figure, and we have grand
total for the year of S43,269.9O, which
we should say is large enough to satisfy the
gormandizing demands Of tax eaters, though
it doubtless will not be so agreeable to tax
payers.
With reference TO the special tax named,
which was raised, as the resolution direct
ing it states, .'for purchases of fire engines
and engine houses and bridge building, as
provided in chapter 2l5, laws of 1871 we
.han tl,a 10, lol 80,
thority. The law spoken of authorized the
levy of ia special tax" of Eve mills, for
been levied and collected, and there is no
further power under the law for raising one
cent. 1t will b. remembered that the board
of street commissioners run in debt for the
purchase Of steam engines, and ia order 10
pay the same, and provide for the erection
of an engine house, mot engine houses,)
and pay the deficiency on Labaree bridge
this act was passed. 1t was not intended
to confer II power 10 levy tax of FIVE mills
annually, and it is stretch of authority for
the council to now undertake to do so.
That our readers may see precisely the re-
stric,ion imposed, we copy the law, as fol-
lows:
SECTION l. The common council of the
city Of Watertown are hereby authorized to
levy special tax, not to exceed FIVE mills
on the dola-, upon the property liable to
taxation in said city, towards the purchase
of Gro nuip ,vI a h,lo.
building; provided. that the amount so
levied and collected, as authorized by this
act, shall be appropriated to no other pur-
pose, except the purposes specified in this
act, and in this respect shall be deemed and
considered an amendment to the city char
ter. -. III .HrEtHr a..f .""-
.Mr. S. S. Woodland. who was then chair
man .of the Fire Department Committee,
at whose instance the bill was framed, and
Aid. Finn, who was ia the legislature,
know very we'll that the law was intended
to be made available only for that one year,
and such was the general understanding, as
the sum realized under its operation was all
sufficient to meet the emergency calling for
| suppose that special tax can be levied an
nually unless the law says so, and here it
will be observed that provision is lacking.
1t is the opinion of some of our best law
yers that any tax levied now in pursuance
thereof is invalid, and it will not be strange
if means are taken to defeat its collection.
| 1t seems to be inevitable that tax payers
| must resist these illega! assumptions of pow
er on the part Of the council. or be swat
lowed up by taxation. Year after year the
taxes are increasing. and the practice will
| continue unless measures are adopted to
keep the council within the bounds pre-
| scribed by law. And this seems to be q
pretty good time for tax payers to assert
their rights and make themselves heard.
l