The record-union., 1894-08-31
I TRUSTEES FIX TEE TAX LEVY.
1t VIII be Two Dollars and Twenty
Cents.
Provision for Beginning to Construct a
Sewerage System Made
at Last.

The City Board of Trustees held an ad-
journed meeting last night, Trustees
Lawton, Wachhorst, Kent, Davis, Bragg,
Devine, Tozer. Leonard and Pennish be-
ing present.
On motion of Tozer, the order of busi-
ness was suspended in order to fix the
tax levy.
Tozer enumerated the tax levy lor the
different funds last year, and said there
were some changes in the estimate for
this year. The rate for the Fire Depart
ment fund was % cents last year. ana the
estimate this year is q cents, which will
produce S23, 600. For the sprinkling fund
the estimate is 10 cents, but he thought 1t
would be better at IL cents.
Lawton thought that 10 cents would be
sufficient. He moved it be fixed at 10
cents. and the motion was carried.
The sewer fund, Lawton said, was a
subject for consideration. There were
two ways of considering it. Either the
levy must be made so as to give some
money for building sewer next year, or
issue bonds. He favored a tax. An out
let system can be built for about 0,000,
running a sewer up TO Seventh street. A
ten-cent tax each year, and building more
sewer each year, would, in about six
years, give the city q complete system.
lie favored thirty-cent. tax, as 1t Is bet
ter TO have a S2 20 tax than bonds. The
city must have an outlet system this VIM
ter. IL it does not, it will have many
thousands OF dollars in damages to pay to
people who viii obtain judgments against
Ii, and for attorneys fees. He moved
the rate be fixed at thirty cents.
Devine wanted to see the machinery OF
the Water Works put in such order that
there would be no danger Of water
famine, which people are afraid Of
Lawton said that if the Collector col
lects his rates up closely he can get in
$4,000 a year. The Mayor and he had
talked with Mr.. Meyer and were told that
they would be glad to help Sacramento,
by letting the 55-cent reserve be used to
put the Water Works in order. Beside
the big machinery works would furnish
this city with machinery, and wait as
they have with other cities.
Tozer said he did not like the idea OF
going back to a = 20 tax, but he pre-
1erred it to bonds. He doubted if To-
cent tax each year would do the work
and run the machinery, too.
Kent did not like the idea of raising the
rate to g 20 after the Estimate Commit
tee had announced the S2 would be suf-
hcient.
Lawton said that the people south of
the city had won suit against the city
and had announced their intention OF
commencing other suits against the city
ii the water was run down on them any
longer. II they do, the city will have
many judgments against it. He did not
think the citizens would object to a raise
in rate if they were given a good sewer
age system. There would be no use in
1-t. - l-~-- .. So.
the work cannot be done for less without
getting cheap and poor work. He would
change his motion TO % cents.
PenniSh did not favor 30 cent tax.
He thought it would be better to wait
two or three years. He moved to amend
by making the rate cents.
DevIne argued that many of the
farmers below the city wanted the canal
opened and the sewerage run down it to
SnOdgrass Slough.
Lawton said every engineer who has
ever examined the ground has said that
il cannot be done that way.
Davis said he was willing to pay taxes
to get start If a start is not made we
will never get a sewerage system.
Lawton said I've cent tax would be
useless as unless an outlet system is to be
built there is enough money in the fund
now to run the year out
Pennish's amendment was lost by a
vote of 6 to 3.
The motion fixing the rate at % cents
was then carried by a vote of 6 to 8. and
Devine gave notice of motion to recon
slider.
Tozer moved that tax of two cents be
levied Tor special fund for celebrating
Fourth of July and Decoration Day.
The motion was carried, Wachhorst.
Davis, Leonard and Pennish declining to
vote.
The tax for the general fund was fixed
at 81; the high school fund, cents; the
fire department fund. % cents; the street
repair fund, Y cents; the police fund,
19 cents; the street bond fund cents:
the levee bond fund, cents; the library
fund, cents; the sprinkling fund, 10
cents; the sewer fund. % cents; special
tax, : cents; making total OF y 20.
Leonard moved that culvert be put in
at the approach to the Y-street levee on
Third street. The matter was referred to
the Levee Committee, with power to act
A resolution was adopted empowering
the Mayor to appoint a suitable man as
day driver for the patrol wagon during
the State Fair, and the request of the
Chief OF Police that the wagon be used in
the day time during that time was
granted.
On motion of Deyine the Superintend-
ent OF Streets was instructed TO open the
alley between q and d. Nineteenth and
Twentieth streets.
The board then adjourned till Tuesday
hight, Monday being legal holiday.