The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-09-12
MUCH Cash NEEDED.
Board Of Tax Levy Will Face Sew
eral Serious Problems Next
Monday.
Long Deferred Public improvements
Must Be Made--What Will
the Rate Be?

The first meeting OF the board Of tax
levy is called for Monday at noon, but
nothing can be done except reorganize.
for the state board Of equalization will
not by that time have fixed the assessed
valuation Of Hennepin county.
There are serious problems for the
board to solve The continued growth of
the city, and the fact that public i'm
provements along certain lines have been
neglected for one reason or another, have
imposed extensive demands for relief.
There Is a crying demand for street i'm
provements, such as paving, sewerage
and watermains. The recent bond issue
has helped considerably In these three
lines Of improvement but million dol
lars, it Is estimated, would hardly cover
the cost Of the work that may. be said to
be imperative. The general sentiment is
by bonds and not by direct taxation.
School Boards Needs.
The school board received 5000, 900 last
spring from the sale Of bonds, with which
five eight-room additions were erected.
But this does not relieve the situation
and new buildings must be provided next
year The city hospital needs an emer-
gency ward and an adequate ambulance
| service.
About $4,000 has been provided for a
bridge across the river at Thirty
avenue N, and $125,0OO more Is needed,
The Washington avenue bridge, which
carries the interurban line, needs
to be wtdened and strengthened. A public
bGthhouse and public comfort stations are
regarded as necessary. Interest on the
| recent bond issues agregating $S50,000
must be provided. The main highways
connecting with the county roads are we'll
| nigh impossible in ANY season, and ought
to have a liberal sum annually for the
next five years. The sentiment is gen
real that 1t is time to abandon the vii
| lage moonlight schedule Of street light
ing. The city hall has not been COM
pleted, especially the magnificent entrance.
| The police foroes is wholly inadequate,
being no larger than 1t was twenty years
ago. when the city was less than half its
present size. In every department there
| is demand for expansion. It cannot all
come at once, and while the board of tax
levy has no other duty than to fix the
rate Of taxation, 1t must consider all these
| questions and determine which are the
most important at this time.
Makeup Of Board.
The board will be composed OF Mayor
James G. Haynes, City Controller Joshua
Rogers, Alderman A. e. Merrill, chair.
man Of the council committee on ways
and means. President A. s. Adams Of
the park board, President John A. Schle.
ner of the school board, Chairman Fred
II. Ddlucy u IlAS COullLy
and County Auditor Hugh Scott.
Probable Rate
It may be possible to keep the rate OF
taxation down to that Of this years, which
was 1888 mills, including the special ward
taxes The assessed valuation has been
raised, thru the work Of City Assessor
G. j. Minor to $12S,620,540, or an increase
of about $6,400,000. The increase at the
last rate Of taxation will yield about $780,
900 additional, and by piecing and stretch
ing the board may make it suffice. The
state. the university and the county will
come in for .goodly shares, however, and
the city, it is believed, will be cramped II
the levy is not increased somewhat.