Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1891-03-24

Inere Is TO be auQed 10 tnlS the expenses
for Illuminating the streets, and also
for water service, which can not be ascer-
tanned with any kind of correctness, as
the required amount of lights, and by
drants within the incorporated limits
must be first known before such expenses
can be definitely determined
We are of the opinion that 50 500 will
fully cover these expenses, in which
event the total expenditure would not be
beyond $1,000.
Additional expenses such as cleaning
the streets, guardian for the plaza, Of
flee rent, interpreter, police office, santa
and successfully be avoided until our in
corporated city becomes financially able
to provide for increased expenses.
The prisoners Of the city could be used
advantageously for cleaning the streets.
The police could take charge of guarding
the plaza without interference with their
other duties. AS to Offices for the &C.
commodation of the city officials and
police station, We have no doubt they
could be obtained free, from the coun-
| ty, at the county court house.
Sanitary duties will be filled by the coun-
Gil and marshall, and as to Jail the law
authorizes the use of the county Jail for
| city purposes.
We have estimated the sum of $500 as
salary for city physician, but we are Of
the opinion this expense could be largely
avoided by making some satisfactory
arrangements with the county ply stefan
in regard to taking care of the sick poor
people of the city. The city attorney will
receive no salary, the law expressly pro-
hibiting it,
We have 40 estimate for salaries for
mayor and alderman, for the reason that
the persons who will be called upon to
fill such offices, will have to fill the same
without compensation.
The assessed valuation OF property SUBJ
ject to taxation for county and territorial
purposes, was, within the limits of the
proposed city, about 81 100000 last year.
Taking now into consideration the fact
that the former exemption from taxation
of property to the amount of $500, has
been cancelled by action of the last legs-
lature, it is estimated that the assessed
valuation of property within said limits,
will now reach the sum of 81 ,250, 900.
Now if the levy on the last mentioned as
sessed valuation for city purposes, should
be the per cent regulated and provided
by law, it would result in the payment
into the city treasury of the sum of $l2,-
500 per annum.
The licenses and fines, at the very low
est estimate, would amount to at least the
sum of $4,000, and the poll tax to about
81 900 per annum, making total of $751;
900. We desire to here state that taxa
ton for city purposes can not exceed, in
any event, l per cent of the assessed
valuation of taxable property within the
limits of the city, a greater rate OF taxation
per annum being prohibited by statute.
On the other hand the taxes for county
purposes will consequently be reduced,
| for the reason that the present county ex-
penses for police, for water and several
other minor items, will be discontinued,
being charge to the county and will be-
come an expense to the city government,
which is included in the above estimate
of per cent taxation. Should the city
have to provide an independent jail, then
the estimate above mentioned for Jail
would not be sufficient, but your commit
tee based their estimate upon the fact
that as the law authorizes the use Of the
county jail for city purposes, as above
stated, arrangements could be made with
the officials Of the present county jail for
the custody and care of city prisoners.
Respectfully submitted,
s. WEDELEs,
BENJAMIN M. READ,
GEO. w. KNAEBEL,
Of the Committee.
Dated, Santa Fe, N. M, March 20, A.
D. 1891.