The Minneapolis journal., 1903-12-12
NEW CHARTER ANALYZED
BY MEMBER OF THE BOARD

AlAA DO1AAAA&
valuations, the proposition must be
submitted to the people, and if ap-
proved by the majority vote Of those
voting on such proposition bonds may
be issued up to per cent of the as
sessed valuation exclusive of the sink
Ing fund.
These changes WILL think, COM
mend themselves to everyone. I do
not believe we want to leave the legis-
lature with power to authorize bonds
for this city to an unlimited amount.
Over $1,500,000 of bonds for this
city were authorized by the last legis-
lature.
Improvements and Assessments.
Important changes are made in the
chapter providing for local improve
I.ments and assessments. All provi-
sions for acquisition Of property by the
! city Except acquisition of lands by
the park board) together with
provisions for construction of water
| ters and sidewalks, as well as prOvi-
| sions for assessing their cost on bene-
flied property have been consolidated
in this chapter.
The limit Of time for ordering inn
provements for which assessments are
to be made has been changed from
Aug. 20 to Aug. 1, thus giving the
posed improvements before assess
ment is confirmed.
| 1t is also provided that when an
assessment is finally confirmed by the
city council it shall not be annulled.
Distinct provision is made that no
| Improvement shall be ordered con-
structed in any year unless there are
| funds on hand or accruing sufficient
| to meet the cost.
The new charter also absolutely
prohibits the making of any assess
ments for Improvements other than
been done or contracted for and the
cost determined.
Practically all the trouble the city
/ has had in the past in reference to
rebates has arisen from the practice
of making assessments in one year for
next year. Sometimes the assess
ments are annulled; at other times
as the cost can only be estimated and
it is not safe to get it too low, the
assessment is too high. In either case
the taxpayer pays in money the city
is not entitled to-, Hence the rebate
and the rebate collector. If the new
charter is adopted all this will be
done away with.
To meet the requirements Of the
Pillsbury decision the new charter
provides that assessments for water
mains and sewers shall never exceed
the actual cost; and in order to equal
ize the burden of such taxes 65 cents
per front foot on each side of any
street is made the maximum assess
ment for water mains and S1.50 per
front foot for sewers. The assess
ment can not be above these figures
and must be less if the cost is less
in no nf nj
course comes out of the permanent
improvement fund and of water mains
out Of the waterworks fund. If prop
erty owners want an improvement and
are willing to advance the cost, they
must put up the money before the
council can order the Improvement
The new charter makes it the duty
Of the city engineer to prepare al
assessment rolls, containing lists o.
property and names of owners. The
: provision Of the present charter un
der which the county auditor fur.
nishes description Of lots and name!
T of owners at cost Of the city i:
stricken out.
: Provision is also made whereby thu
t city has a check on the county, which
| acts as. its agent in collecting taxes
= lCopies Of all assessment rolls are to b.
: made by the city engineer for the
, controller and it is made the dut!
, of the controller to keep such ac
! counts as will show at all times thu
sums assessed for each Improvement
. the amounts collected, the amount
! cancelled or rebated and the balance
uncollected for each improvement.
consider these changes the mos
important that appear in the lneV
charter.
The Franchise Chapter.
The only other matter that need b
f referred to is the new chapter OF
: franchises.
$ Briefly this chapter provides that n
? franchise shall be granted or renewed
' for longer period than twenty-fiv
: years. Upon application being, mad
V to the council for a franchise it shal
t by resolution determine whether sucl
: franchise or any part thereof, shall b
v granted and on what terms, additiOna
v to those provided in this chapter. I
r it determines to grant the franchise
: shall advertise for bids, stating tn
: terms, rates to be charged, etc. Bid
!. shall then be received which shal
: state the percentage Of gross earning
: the bidder will pay for the franchise
d A bond is required, the amount to b
e fixed by the council, to remain i
J. force until double its amount has bee
s invested in permanent Improvement
under such franchise. The franchis
is is to be awarded to the bidder offerin
It to pay the highest percentage of gros
earnings.
v But no franchise is to be granite
e unless the amount offered is at leas
IL 8 per cent of the gross earnings for tn
st first five years; per cent for the sue